2026 - Page 25 of 34 - BusinessWest

Brick Marketing Unveils System for Balancing SEO, AI Search, Content Marketing

By BusinessWest Staff March 3, 2026

Daily News

BOSTON — Brick Marketing announced the development of a structured, integrated system designed to help businesses of all sizes and across all industries grow through a balanced combination of traditional search engine optimization (SEO), generative engine optimization for AI-powered search, content marketing, and strategically aligned social media promotion.

As search behavior evolves and AI-powered search experiences become more prominent, Brick Marketing’s system focuses on helping organizations maintain strong traditional search visibility while also positioning their brands to be discovered, cited, and trusted within AI-generated answers. The approach is grounded in long-term growth, data-driven strategy, and alignment with business goals rather than short-term tactics.

“Search visibility today is no longer about choosing between traditional SEO, AI search, or content marketing,” the company stated. “Real growth comes from balancing all three in a way that supports how people actually discover, evaluate, and trust brands.”

At the core of Brick Marketing’s system is traditional SEO, which remains essential for long-term visibility and credibility. Brick’s SEO approach focuses on technical excellence, on-page optimization, content relevance, and authority building. This includes site architecture optimization, page speed and performance improvements, keyword and intent research, metadata optimization, and structured content that aligns with how real buyers search.

Rather than chasing vanity metrics, Brick Marketing emphasizes SEO strategies that support measurable business outcomes, such as qualified traffic, lead generation, and sustained visibility in competitive search results. This foundation allows businesses to benefit from compounding gains over time while avoiding the volatility associated with short-term or overly aggressive tactics.

Building on traditional SEO, Brick Marketing integrates generative engine optimization (GEO), also known as SEO for AI search. As platforms like AI-powered search assistants and generative answer engines increasingly influence how people gather information, Brick helps brands adapt their digital presence to this shift.

The firm’s GEO strategy focuses on content clarity, topical authority, structured information, and trust signals that make it easier for AI systems to understand, summarize, and reference a brand’s expertise. Rather than replacing traditional SEO, GEO is designed to complement it, ensuring that businesses remain discoverable both in classic search engine results and within AI-generated responses. This balanced approach helps clients avoid undermining existing SEO performance while expanding visibility into emerging AI-driven discovery channels.

Content marketing plays a central role in Brick Marketing’s system. The firm develops educational, authoritative content that supports both SEO and GEO while addressing real customer questions throughout the buyer journey. This includes blog articles, guides, resources, webinars, and thought leadership assets designed to demonstrate expertise and build trust over time.

Brick Marketing’s content strategies are customized based on industry, audience, and business goals. Rather than producing content for volume alone, the focus is on quality, relevance, and alignment with long-term marketing objectives. This approach helps businesses establish topical authority, improve organic visibility, and create assets that continue delivering value well beyond their initial publication date.

“Search visibility today is no longer about choosing between traditional SEO, AI search, or content marketing,” Brick Marketing President Nick Stamoulis said. “Real growth comes from balancing all three in a way that supports how people actually discover, evaluate, and trust brands. Our system is designed to protect the SEO foundations our clients rely on while expanding their visibility into AI-driven search and reinforcing authority through high-quality content and strategic promotion. The goal is not short-term wins, but sustainable, measurable business growth.”

MassDevelopment Announces $4,455,000 in Grants

By BusinessWest Staff March 3, 2026

Daily News

BOSTON — MassDevelopment announced $4,455,000 in grants from the Small Business Technical Assistance Program to help 55 community and economic development organizations that provide services to Massachusetts small businesses.

The grants, ranging from $40,000 to $104,000, will help the organizations expand advising, training, and capital access programs for businesses with fewer than 20 employees. Funding supports one-on-one technical assistance, business skills workshops, and improved pathways to financing, helping small and micro-businesses start, stabilize, and grow.

“Massachusetts’ competitiveness depends on the strength of our small businesses,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “These grants will help entrepreneurs access the expertise and financing pathways that turn ideas into growing companies and jobs across the state.”

Administered by MassDevelopment on behalf of the Commonwealth, the Small Business Technical Assistance Program was created in 2006 by the former Mass Growth Capital Corp. to empower small business support organizations — such as community development corporations, community development financial institutions, and other nonprofit business service providers — to increase access to business planning support and capital for underserved small businesses throughout the state.

Last year, in FY 2025, MassDevelopment awarded $6.7 million in grants from the Small Business Technical Assistance Program to 73 organizations, helping grant recipients deliver assistance to 4,740 small businesses across Massachusetts and unlock a total of $116,948,899 in capital to help these companies meet their goals.

Seventeen of the 55 just-awarded projects are located in Western Mass.:
• Hilltown Community Development Corp. (Chesterfield) – $83,000
• Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture Inc. (Deerfield) – $68,000
• Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Inc. (Great Barrington) – $80,000
• Community Development Corp. South Berkshire Inc. (Great Barrington) – $40,000
• Franklin County Community Development Corp. (Greenfield) – $103,000
• Nuestras Raices Inc. (Holyoke) – $90,100
• Assets for Artists Inc. (North Adams) – $80,000
• Cooperative Development Institute Inc. (Northampton) – $104,000
• The ICA Group Inc. (Northampton) – $82,000
• The Sphere Northampton Inc. (Northampton) – $85,000
• Valley Community Development Corp. (Northampton) – $95,500
• Berkshire Black Economic Council Inc. (Pittsfield) – $83,400
• Latinas413 Inc. (Pittsfield) – $40,000
• Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corp. (Pittsfield) – $96,000
• Common Capital Inc. (Springfield) – $98,600
• Latino Economic Development Corp. (Springfield) – $91,100
• Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp. (Ware) – $90,500

‘Funny Women of a Certain Age’ Coming to Chicopee for One Night Only

By BusinessWest Staff March 3, 2026

Daily News

CHICOPEE — For one night only, Jess Miller is bringing the nationally touring hit comedy showcase “Funny Women of a Certain Age” to Western Mass. The event takes place Saturday, March 21 at the Portuguese Club, 149 Exchange St., Chicopee. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 5:45 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $69.

Created and produced by comedian Carole Montgomery, this groundbreaking series celebrates the fearless humor of women who have lived enough life to tell it like it is. The show has appeared on Showtime three times, premiering as the network’s highest-rated comedy special of the year. Now, audiences in Western Mass. will experience the energy live and up close.

The evening includes dinner service (buffet style) followed by a high-energy evening of stand-up featuring Montgomery, Vicky Kuperman, and Missy Hall.

the dinner menu, included in the ticket price, includes slow-braised corned beef with mustard cream sauce or pasta primavera with eggplant parmesan, butter-braised cabbage with fresh herbs, roasted baby potatoes with Irish butter, glazed carrots, fresh bread, and salad.

“This is more than a comedy show — it’s a full evening out,” said event organizer Jess Miller, who was recently named one of BusinessWest’s Difference Makers for 2026. “Great food, great company, and nationally recognized talent all in one room — Western Mass. is in for a very special night.”

With limited seating and national buzz behind the show, early purchase is strongly encouraged. Tickets and additional information are available at jessmillercomedy.com.

Girl Scouts, Cornerstone Bank Launch Financial Literacy Partnership

By BusinessWest Staff March 3, 2026

Daily News

WORCESTER — Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts (GSCWM) announced a new partnership with Cornerstone Bank to deliver a year-long, hands-on financial literacy partnership for girls across Central and Western Mass. The program equips Girl Scouts with essential money management, financial planning, and practical skills they can use for a lifetime.

Through badge-earning activities, troop and community programs, and virtual learning experiences, girls will build confidence in budgeting, saving, banking, and goal setting. With Cornerstone Bank’s support, 1,500 Girl Scout financial literacy badges will be fully funded, allowing all Girl Scouts in grades K-12 to earn them at no cost.

“This partnership allows us to meet girls where they are and give them real-world tools that matter,” said Theresa Lynn, CEO of GSCWM. “Financial confidence is a critical life skill, and together with Cornerstone Bank, we are creating pathways for girls to lead with purpose and independence.”

Cornerstone Bank will also sponsor a virtual webinar series for Girl Scout seniors and ambassadors, offered throughout the year. The sessions will cover key financial topics including budgeting and saving, credit and responsible borrowing, banking basics, and personal goal setting and future planning. Additionally, Girl Scouts can visit cornerstonebank.com/girl-scouts to complete a financial literacy activity and bring the completed activity to a bank branch to earn the Cornerstone financial literacy patch.

“Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts has long been dedicated to empowering Girl Scouts to discover their strengths, build leadership skills, and make a difference in their communities,” said Todd Tallman, Cornerstone Bank’s CEO. “At Cornerstone Bank, we’re proud to partner with this impactful organization to help support programs that foster financial literacy, independence, and growth. Together, we’re helping build bright, confident futures.”

Harvard Divinity School Scholar to Speak at MCLA on March 11

By BusinessWest Staff March 3, 2026

Daily News

NORTH ADAMS — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) will welcome Russell Powell, research associate at the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School, as part of its Green Living Seminar Series on Wednesday, March 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation, Room 121.

Powell will present “Emerson’s Transcendentalism and Ecology: Politics Beyond Cynicism.” His talk will explore Ralph Waldo Emerson’s shifting concept of nature across the early and middle parts of his career, from the publication of his first book, Nature, through his second series of Essays in 1844, as key to understanding how he overcame the temptation of political cynicism. Given the strong draw of cynicism in today’s fraught political climate, Powell argues that Emerson’s passage from despair to hope is particularly instructive in seeking paths forward amid multiple ecological crises.

Powell leads a research initiative on transcendentalism at the Center for the Study of World Religions and is currently completing a manuscript on the relevance of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s thinking for environmental ethics and politics. His research focuses on the religious, ethical, and political resonances of contemporary environmental issues, particularly the religious dimension of American environmental thought.

MCLA’s Green Living Seminar Series brings environmental experts, scholars, and practitioners to campus throughout the academic year to engage students and community members in conversations about sustainability, ecology, and people’s relationship with the natural world. All presentations will be recorded as podcasts available at mcla.edu/greenliving. The event is free and open to the public.

Community Bank Expands Presence with Second Springfield Branch

By Joseph Bednar March 3, 2026

Banking and Financial Services

Doubling Down

Community Bank hosted a ribbon cutting at its new Boston Road branch in January.

For Community Bank, N.A., Springfield was originally a remote outpost. But now, the institution is increasing its footprint in the City of Homes.

“We really are excited about Springfield as a market,” said Matt Plasse, regional president for New England. “I think it looks pretty similar to a lot of the markets where we operate — like, in upstate New York, I think of Syracuse or Rochester or Binghamton, markets where we really do well. There’s no single industry that dominates any one of those markets. It’s pretty diverse, small to mid-sized, family-owned businesses.

“And that’s what we do,” he added. “We’re a relationship bank. We don’t get too specialized in any one area. And at the end of the day, in order to be a community bank — which is part of our name, but it’s at the heart of what we do — you’ve got to have people in the market. So that’s why we are expanding in Springfield, and investing in that community.”

When Community Bank, whose strongest roots are in New York and Pennsylvania, acquired Merchants Bank in 2017, it gained a large network of branches in Vermont … and one in Massachusetts, in downtown Springfield’s Tower Square, which had been NUVO Bank before hanging the Merchants banner for a short time.

Located far from any other Community location, it would have been a prime candidate to be shed altogether, but instead, not only did it become a strong-performing branch, but its success has led, almost a decade later, to a second Springfield branch, which opened on Boston Road in late January.

Matt Plasse

“At the end of the day, in order to be a community bank — which is part of our name, but it’s at the heart of what we do — you’ve got to have people in the market. So that’s why we are expanding in Springfield, and investing in that community.”

“It’s not a small investment. We’re excited about this area,” Plasse said. “Boston Road is on the upswing. There’s a lot of investment going on in that side of the city, and we’ve already got great people in Springfield. And now, we’re putting more people on the ground.”

Like the first Springfield branch, Plasse said, the Boston Road office offers the usual range of banking services, from checking and savings accounts to lending, both personal — mortgages, home equity loans, auto loans, and the like — and business loans, from real estate to traditional commercial and industrial borrowers.

“We do have to be somewhat generalists and meet every customer where they’re at, so we have to offer everything,” Plasse said.

The Tower Square location has proven to be a strong performing branch over the past eight years, he added, which paved the way for the expanded footprint.

“That team has proven itself, and we like the market in general; it looks very similar to other places where we thrive. So it just reached a point where we said, ‘OK, we want to invest in Springfield.’ It’s a great opportunity for us.”

What’s in a Branch?

Most community banks have found over the past two decades that online banking did not make physical branches obsolete.

“That’s really how we deliver our model: having people in the markets, in our communities, establishing relationships. Customers can’t do everything online, so they’re coming to us to help their families or their businesses,” Plasse explained.

Even for routine transactions, “there’s still certainly a bunch of folks that just love to come in; maybe it’s part of their day. They’re very loyal customers, and we establish relationships with them,” he added.

“But certainly over my career, I’ve seen a shift. It used to be a very transactional role — high volume, you have people lined up out the door, you’re just trying to help everybody get their transactions completed. Now that role — and this is why we train our folks differently now — is more consultative. You’re asking them questions about why they’re there, what they’re looking for, how we can help them, and we have a lot more services to offer that can be super helpful.”

“That’s really how we deliver our model: having people in the markets, in our communities, establishing relationships. Customers can’t do everything online, so they’re coming to us to help their families or their businesses.”

Community Bank, in fact, offers what Plasse characterized as a four-legged stool when it comes to financial products, including its banking services, a wealth management group, an insurance entity, and retirement and benefits administration products.

“We position ourselves as a diversified financial services company. We see that as our differentiator from other banks in terms of our business model. And those entities really run on their own as fully scaled businesses, and they contribute an outsized portion of our revenue,” he went on.

“So, compared to our peers, we’re number one by far in terms of our revenue mix, the revenue that comes from non-bank fee income. But the only way to cross-sell those is to interact with your customers and consult with them and deliver those other options to them every day. So that’s the synergy we’re trying to get, and to have branches on the ground is the way to do that.”

At the same time, the bank intends to get involved in — and give back to — the local nonprofit landscape.

“It’s in our name, and it’s what we do every day, but as an institution, we give about $4 million a year to the community by way of donations and sponsorships, that sort of thing. Last year, we supported about 2,200 different organizations.”

The bank does so with a regional model, Plasse added, noting that the existing Springfield branch contributed about $61,000 to 22 different organizations last year, while team members volunteered more than 200 hours in the community.

“I’m the regional president for New England, which, for us, includes Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. And we have separate committees within each region to identify what the community needs are. We don’t want to have a blanket approach. I’m part of that committee, and we decide where to put our dollars into the community along with members from each one of those states. So we have people representing Massachusetts on that committee and advocating for local nonprofits in the Springfield area, and then we have other folks from New Hampshire and Vermont as well.”

As part of the recent ribbon cutting event on Boston Road, Community Bank donated $5,000 to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and also committed $25 per loan or deposit opened at that location to Rick’s Place, which supports grieving young people and their families.

“And it’s not only dollars — it’s volunteering, too,” Plasse added. “In New England alone, it was 2,700 hours last year, and bank-wide, it was 17,800 hours of community service from our teams. Everyone is really encouraged to live and breathe the bank. We put our orange on — we kind of stand out. We look like a bunch of hunters out there, but it’s pretty fun when everyone gets together.”

Focus on the Future

Plasse said Community Bank has its eye on further growth, both organically and, when opportunities arise, with new locations.

“The big headline the other day was about the Webster and Santander merger. So we we expect we’ll see some opportunities out of that; when there’s a merger, sometimes divestitures of locations can come up,” he explained.

In any case, “we’re not done in Springfield. I don’t know what the next expansion might look like, whether it’s a de novo branch like we did on Boston Road or something else. But ideally, you have a hub and the spokes of the branch network, with the hub being downtown and several spokes around it.”

While regional expansion in Western Mass. is certainly possible, he added, the focus now is building in and around Springfield.

“We are certainly opportunistic if we feel like it’s the right time to strike. Our CEO is not afraid to do that, and we’re actively looking at similar things in New Hampshire and other places,” Plasse explained. “But in in terms of market share in Western Mass., the branch up and running downtown obviously has done very well, and we will attempt to replicate that on Boston Road.

“We’re very excited about our customers in Springfield. They may not root for the same football team as our friends in upstate New York, but they they look and feel the same, and they appreciate our core values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, and humility,” he said, while putting emphasis on the last one.

“I’ve worked at other institutions where I didn’t necessarily feel like that was evident, but humility is huge; there are no egos at this bank. We had an entire executive team came to show up in Springfield, which hopefully tells the community how important it is. The CEO was there, the CFO was there, head of HR was there, and all the CEOs of the business lines were there — the four legs of the stool. They’re all zero-ego, totally approachable people, which has been really encouraging. And I think once people come in and interact with us in the branch, they feel that.”

Window World of Western Massachusetts Continues to Grow

By Joseph Bednar March 3, 2026

Home Improvement

Home Team

Clockwise from left: Window World of Western Massachusetts team members Grace Drost, Nick Drost, Lanéa Bushey, Anna Drost, and Tim Drost.

Growing a company from within is a philosophy Tim Drost has lived out for a long time. So is the value of a family business.

That much was evident as Drost, CEO of Window World of Western Massachusetts, sat down recently to talk with BusinessWest at his Belchertown headquarters alongside four key members of his team: wife Anna Drost, son Nick Drost, daughter Grace Drost, and Lanéa Bushey, the daughter of Tim’s former business partner.

“I grew up in the business; I had a lot of family in the home improvement and construction business — everybody was in that space,” he said, explaining that he and Bob Bushey worked for many years at a large home improvement company.

“We had a crew of guys that we worked with, and we developed installation standards across the country and Canada for them,” he noted, before Bob left in 2010 to launch Window World of Western Massachusetts. “Then, as Lanéa’s dad was getting older, looking toward retirement, I came on in 2018 — I took my whole install team with me — and continued to grow this company.”

Grow is an understatement. From about $2 million eight years ago, the enterprise now records between $40 million and $50 million in annual sales through what are actually four companies under one umbrella — Window World of Western Massachusetts, Go Green Home Performance, Hometown Exteriors, and the Kitchen & Bath Co. — with more expansion planned in the near future.

Those moves have come about in different ways. The Kitchen & Bath Co. arose from the acqusition of the Kitchen Squad, a company that had been in business for 40 years.

“We had a great relationship with them, and their father was looking to retire. So we brought their team here. And we just built a new, almost 70,000-square-foot warehouse down the street. We renovated that whole property.”

One of the buildings on that site is a fabrication shop, the equipment for which was purchased from a millwork and fabrication company that had gone out of business. “So we put those two together and expanded that service in-house, and the kitchen business has been phenomenal for us,” Drost said.

“We want to be having an intelligent conversation with our customers when they’re replacing things, to not just look at fixing the thing that’s broken, but also improving the spaces where they live.”

Go Green, on the other hand — which specializes in insulation and the performance of a building’s envelope — was built from the ground up.

“We brought in some experienced guys that we’d been working with for years and years at a local company, brought their team in, and developed that,” he said. “You need to be looking at the building, not just from a carpentry standpoint, but also from a building performance. Obviously, with all the ice dams and things like that, people really can see it this year. But we want to be having an intelligent conversation with our customers when they’re replacing things, to not just look at fixing the thing that’s broken, but also improving the spaces where they live.”

All these companies — and Window World is also looking to purchase another local company in the HVAC and solar realm — essentially work together to give clients, which include builders, developers, and homeowners alike — a one-stop shop for anything they may need.

“I understand the service portion of the business and how companies need to evolve to meet customers’ needs today,” Drost added. “Also, I realized that there’s a massive gap in the way that home improvement businesses are managing the field today, compared to years ago, with a lot of the work being done by subcontractors and poor-quality labor. You don’t have an unbelievable labor pool today like you did when I was a kid, 30, 40 years ago, where people were passionate about being in the trades.

“I mean, if you look at the roofing business today, probably 90% of it is done by subcontractors or inferior labor. That’s a weakness in the marketplace, and it’s become accepted because everybody’s doing it,” Drost went on. “So we’re very focused on developing labor.”

He said he works closely with manufacturers in developing in-house apprenticeship programs.

“Then we break it down by trade. So window guys just do windows, door guys just do doors. We feel it’s been the rocket fuel of our growth — because it’s not normal to deal with subcontractors and unskilled labor. Customers want things done right,” he said. “So as we bring these other trades in to the family business, we can offer a complete service for the customer, and take the complexity out of doing home improvement. We’re very focused on that, and we will continue to be.”

From the Ground Up

Window World’s leadership, however, often wear many hats, Lanéa Bushey said.

“We have our hands in everything. But primarily, what I’m focused on is working directly with our customers, talking about energy efficiency, making sure their installation is perfect,” she explained. “I go to customer homes and do assessments; I love to work directly with our customer base and be able to be in the field, seeing what’s going on.

“And we all are heavily involved in our marketing and making sure that all of our businesses align and present a clear representation of who we are,” she added.

Grace Drost said she handles more of the back end in the office, speaking with customers at the start of the process and ensuring that the process goes smoothly on projects.

“With both Grace and Lanéa, we think that the brick and mortar is a massive piece,” Tim said of the company’s showrooms in Belchertown, Westfield, and one soon to open in Adams. “A lot of times, planning for home improvement is done on people’s kitchen tables, and you can’t get a real feel for what that actual building material is. With our showrooms, you can actually touch and feel and see those pieces installed. It helps customers make educated decisions.”

“Our family’s been in the trades for generations, so we’re passionate about that, and the apprentice program has been fuel for our growth for sure. People love working for a company that’s passionate about what they do.”

Nick Drost, meanwhile, is more focused on installations and spends most of his time in the field handling everything from the design phase and assembling a material list to seeing the job through to completion.

“I’m at pretty much every job, or at least I try to be. And if not me, one of our other project managers is,” he explained. “We decide how we’re going to handle a job, and we make sure that we’re there with the customer at the beginning, throughout the job, and at the end — that there’s always someone there for the customer to talk to and make sure that they have the exact experience that we promised them at the sale.”

That requires plenty of continuing education and staying up to date with changing codes and new technology, meaning training at the company goes far beyond its apprenticeship programs.

“We need to be able to look at the whole building envelope and the science behind it and understand the effects of what we’re doing on the house,” Nick said. “We’re doing training for energy and to understand even things like HVAC systems, things we don’t install ourselves, so we can understand what’s going on in the building, why is this happening, how we can help the customer on every front, not just saying, ‘OK, we can put this window in, and that’s the only thing we’re worried about.’ We want to help the customer in every aspect of it.”

Meanwhile, Anna Drost runs the kitchen business and also focuses on internal processes to ensure a better experience for customers, as well as technology initiatives, worker safety, and training.

The emphasis on apprenticeship and training programs helps ensure that this company — now 120 employees strong — can continue to grow from within, at a time when recruitment and retention are challenges across all building trades.

“There’s zero turnover,” Tim said. “Our family’s been in the trades for generations, so we’re passionate about that, and the apprentice program has been fuel for our growth for sure. People love working for a company that’s passionate about what they do.”

Nick agreed. “One reason why I feel like our retention is so good is, at the end of the day, people want to work somewhere they can grow and get better and have something new to learn, and continue evolving,” he said, adding that manufacturers often come out to participate in trainings on codes, technology, and the like, and the company partners with Milwaukee to make sure teams are using the latest tools.

And the passion of the workforce gets relayed to customers through constant communication, Tim added. “There’s not different companies converging on one project. It’s our employees. We have the same messaging, the same communication, and everybody’s on the same page.

“That’s why most of us live in the field — because that’s where our business is. We’re not a sales organization; we’re an installation organization. So how we communicate and how we develop our teams is part of that communication piece for our customers.”

View to the Future

Another priority at Window World of Western Massachusetts is constant growth from within, Tim explained.

“I’ve been working with some of our project managers for 30-plus years, but everybody in this company has started in the field,” he told BusinessWest. “The apprentices are working with skilled guys who have been there and worked their way up. All our foremen started off at the bottom and were very focused on constant education. We work both locally, where we see opportunities to develop our guys, and then with national programs to bring all those pieces in.”

And, as noted earlier, Drost and his team aren’t done evolving.

“We think building performance and that envelope piece are huge for our customers, and that is the future, whether it’s in remodeling or home building. So we’ll continue to add pieces,” he said.

“We really want to be a great service for our customers,” he added. “And the great thing for me is, even though I’m an old guy, the next generation is already in the business. So I think the businesses are in good hands, and our customers are in good hands.”

HVAC Contractors Find Plenty of Opportunity

By Joseph Bednar March 3, 2026

Home Improvement

Air Time

Scott Cernak says customers have long valued air quality, but the pandemic escalated that interest.

Scott Cernak recalls that, during the pandemic, the HVAC company he had just started was doing a lot of work with indoor air quality.

“But it certainly wasn’t a phase,” he said. “I’d say the pandemic probably escalated it a lot faster than it would naturally have. But people valued indoor air quality even before the pandemic — I just think we were paying more attention to it during the pandemic.”

It’s just one way the HVAC field continually morphs — for example, a recent shift toward heat pumps for people who value renewable energy — but essentially has always come down to keeping people as warm or cool as they’d like, and breathing easier, in more than one sense.

Cernak’s first interest in vocational school was plumbing, and he eventually got into HVAC as well. He started working for M.J. Moran Inc. as an intern at age 16 and turned his stay there into a career; he later spun his own company off that firm, opening Western Mass Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in 2020.

“The business has grown a lot — we were 24, 25 employees, and we’re up to 55 now,” he said. “And the revenue has more than tripled since the first year.”

He started the business in Haydenville but grew out of that location and opened a new building in Deerfield. “I always knew I wanted to grow the business. Maybe it was a little faster than expected because demand is high,” Cernak explained, noting that he’s made investments not only in new technology, but in training people who share his growth mindset in a field where there’s plenty of opportunity.

“The business has grown a lot — we were 24, 25 employees, and we’re up to 55 now. And the revenue has more than tripled since the first year.”

Sam Pomeroy, president of Climates by Pomeroy, with locations in Colrain and Deerfield, was also introduced to the HVAC industry in a vocational school setting.

“I was the youngest in a big family, and my brothers and sisters had gone to trade school also, and they were doing pretty well in life. At school, they send you through all the different disciplines, and HVAC was really interesting. Thirty-nine years later, it continues to be interesting.”

Pomeroy worked for a series of other companies before setting out on his own 12 years ago with a venture called Cornerstone Mechanical. He soon changed it to Climates by Pomeroy as a way to honor his father’s name, and said he takes pride in finding low-emission, high-efficiency solutions to customers’ comfort needs — and in sharing his passion for this work with others.

“The trade needs workers, and there are good jobs,” he said. “ Everyone that works here has got a good job, and they’re getting paid good money. And it’s a very specific job — robots won’t be doing our job anytime soon.”

As for still being enthusiastic about the work four decades in, “I guess I’m just wired that way, and I think a lot of us are wired this way,” he told BusinessWest. “And part of what keeps it so interesting is that it’s new all the time. It’s definitely not boring. I’ll work on a farm, on some refrigeration equipment for potatoes, and then go work at a bicycle shop; you see behind the scenes of lots of different businesses, so it’s forever fascinating.”

Heating Up

Pomeroy said his company’s work is typically split 60-40 between commercial and residential, though which comprises 60% can go back and forth. And he’s seen plenty of changes on the residential side, from the rise of mini-splits to much more efficient heating systems.

“When I was a kid, every house was a cookie-cutter, 100,000 BTUs. Now, the construction is so tight, we’re putting 25,000 BTUs in a house to heat it. It’s amazing to me,” he said. “When you change out a furnace in your house, it’s probably going to be smaller because, at some point, you’ve updated the windows, you’ve put a new roof on with another layer of insulation, and now you really have to think about what you’re doing. You can’t just compare apples to apples. If you are, you’re probably making a mistake.”

Sam Pomeroy says he enjoys fixing things for customers, and it feels good to be a “hero” in their time of need.

While the volume of work leans slightly to the commercial side these days, Pomeroy isn’t taking new residential customers right now because he wants to keep service response times quick. “There’s only a certain amount of us, and if I can’t get to your house tonight, that’s not so good for my business brand.”

Cernak’s business at Western Mass Heating, Cooling & Plumbing is currently about half direct-to-consumer residential service repairs, installations, and replacing existing heating, cooling, and plumbing systems; then about 30% residential new construction and renovations, and 20% small commercial customers.

He attributes his company’s growth and talent retention with finding the right people with a growth mindset, noting that skills can be trained, but the right mindset — one that buys in to the company’s ideals, learns from mistakes, and is hungry to grow — is particularly valuable.

“I also surround myself with a lot of the right people — not only employees, but also colleagues and peers throughout the construction and service industries, as well as the right partners: our bank, insurance company, accounting firm, financial advisor. When you surround yourself with enough of the right people, I think it becomes contagious.”

Tim Drost, CEO of Window World of Western Massachusetts (see story on page 23), is looking to add an HVAC service to his small group of ancillary companies, recognizing its importance as part of home design today, whether building or renovating.

“Ultimately they all go together” he said. “If you have a heating and cooling guy having one conversation, and the window and siding guy having a different conversation, and the framer having a different conversation, the customer might get good information, but if we’re all at the table in the morning, we can collaborate together.”

Cool Career

Cernak called recruiting and retention a challenge, but also an opportunity to grow the field.

“It’s not an unlimited pool to pull from, that’s for sure. But we’ve had success doing training programs. We’ve made a good investment in virtual learning and vendor training and then our own in-house trainings. I built a classroom in this new building, where we can do a lot of in-house training.

“It’s an investment we made three to four years ago in younger, talented apprentices,” he added. “They have now become leads, and we’re now hiring more apprentices and helpers, and we hope that they’ll eventually become leads as well. It’s really starting to pay off.”

That said, “anyone who’s patient will be successful in finding good people to work. You’ve got to pay well and provide good benefits, but it’s also about training and making people feel part of something bigger.”

“When somebody calls, they’re without heat, they’re desperate, and they’re grateful. When we go there and fix their heating system when it’s zero degrees, or they have no hot water and you replace the water heater — that’s very satisfying.”

But there’s another aspect of this career he feels is attractive to people who work in it.

“When somebody calls, they’re without heat, they’re desperate, and they’re grateful. When we go there and fix their heating system when it’s zero degrees, or they have no hot water and you replace the water heater — that’s very satisfying.

Pomeroy agreed. “I joke all the time that a lot of the people that are in this industry have hero syndrome. It feels so good to be like, ‘I fixed that,’ and the people are like, ‘yay!’

“I’ve left houses where it was five below zero, and I got the heat going. I was off this past weekend, and a little place I take care of, their walk-in freezer died, and I went down there and fixed it on my day off, and they were super psyched because everything important is in the walk-in freezer at the little store.

“So those kind of things really nourish me. You feel like you’re a hero, and it feels good,” he went on. “That’s one of the gifts of the job — a pat on the back for a job well done. So many jobs don’t have that; it’s just on to the next pile of papers. So it’s a rewarding career.”

New construction projects have their own type of gratification, Cernak said.

“It’s neat going into a new building, seeing it from the ground up, and you put the plumbing and the HVAC underground, and a few months later, when all the finishes are in, you know you put everything in the walls to make that house work and make the occupants comfortable and able to enjoy the modern amenities we have here in America. That’s pretty satisfying for people.”

And then there’s the bottom line view, which is another plus, Cernak added. “It’s actually a pretty high-paying industry with high demand and almost nobody with student debt because we pay for training, and so do many many companies in our industry. So you can make six figures and have no student debt.”

All that and being a hero too? For many HVAC technicians, that’s truly a breath of fresh air.

New Federal Dietary Guidelines Find Support in Medical Community

By Contributor March 3, 2026

Healthcare News

‘Eat Real Food’

When U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins released the federal government’s “Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030” earlier this year, they hailed the document as the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in decades, boiling down the report with three words: “eat real food.”

The shift is important, they say, as nearly 90% of healthcare spending goes toward treating chronic disease, much of it linked to diet and lifestyle. More than 70% of American adults are overweight or obese, and nearly one in three adolescents has prediabetes.

“These guidelines return us to the basics,” Kennedy said. “American households must prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods — protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains — and dramatically reduce highly processed foods.”

Added Rollins, “at long last, we are realigning our food system to support American farmers, ranchers, and companies that grow and produce real food. Farmers and ranchers are at the forefront of the solution, and that means more protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains on American dinner tables.”

Dr. Bobby Mukkamala

“Today, the AMA is making significant commitments to improve clinical competency, deliver educational resources for physicians, and work with Congress to enact meaningful, lasting nutrition change that can improve lives. The AMA is focused on helping physicians translate this science into everyday care and helping patients improve their overall health.”

The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), available at realfood.gov, emphasize the following recommendations:

• Prioritize protein at every meal;

• Consume full-fat dairy with no added sugars;

• Eat vegetables and fruits throughout the day, focusing on whole forms;

• Incorporate healthy fats from whole foods such as meats, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados;

• Focus on whole grains, while sharply reducing refined carbohydrates;

• Limit highly processed foods, added sugars, and artificial additives;

• Eat the right amount of food based on age, sex, size, and activity level;

• Choose water and unsweetened beverages to support hydration; and

• Limit alcohol consumption for better overall health.

The guidelines also provide tailored recommendations for infants and children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, older adults, individuals with chronic disease, and vegetarians and vegans, ensuring nutritional adequacy across every stage of life.

Measured Praise

Major medical groups largely hailed the report, albeit with some pushback on the new protein emphasis.

“The American Medical Assoc. (AMA) applauds the administration’s new dietary guidelines for spotlighting the highly processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and excess sodium that fuel heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic illnesses. The guidelines affirm that food is medicine and offer clear direction patients and physicians can use to improve health,” said Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, AMA president.

“Today, the AMA is making significant commitments to improve clinical competency, deliver educational resources for physicians, and work with Congress to enact meaningful, lasting nutrition change that can improve lives. The AMA is focused on helping physicians translate this science into everyday care and helping patients improve their overall health.”

The AMA also announced plans to launch a curated collection of nutrition education resources and continuing medical education; convene a series of roundtables with physicians, nutrition experts, and public health leaders to strengthen nutrition education and clinical competency; and work with Congress to incentivize nutrient-dense foods, expand food labeling efforts, define ultra-processed foods, and increase investment in nutrition research.

The American Heart Assoc. (AHA) also welcomed the report, particularly noting the emphasis on increasing intake of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains while limiting consumption of added sugars, refined grains, highly processed foods, saturated fats, and sugary drinks, all of which align closely with its own long-standing dietary guidance.

“In general, protein intake among Americans is adequate. Maybe some older adults have marginal intake, but the tone of the new DGA sounded like we have widespread inadequate protein intake.”

At the same time, “we see an important opportunity to educate consumers about the scientific basis for certain recommendations,” the AHA noted. “For example, we are concerned that recommendations regarding salt seasoning and red meat consumption could inadvertently lead consumers to exceed recommended limits for sodium and saturated fats, which are primary drivers of cardiovascular disease. While the guidelines highlight whole-fat dairy, the Heart Association encourages consumption of low-fat and fat-free dairy products, which can be beneficial to heart health.

“Protein is an essential component of a healthy diet, and we urge more scientific research on both the appropriate amount of protein consumption and the best protein sources for optimal health,” the AHA went on. “Pending that research, we encourage consumers to prioritize plant-based proteins, seafood, and lean meats and to limit high-fat animal products including red meat, butter, lard, and tallow, which are linked to increased cardiovascular risk.”

More Protein Concerns

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health released an interview with three of its faculty members who served on the report’s advisory committee: Teresa Fung, adjunct professor of Nutrition; Edward Giovannucci, professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology; and Deirdre Tobias, assistant professor of Nutrition.

“With some key exceptions, I was appreciative that the quantitative recommendations outlined in the new DGA are actually quite consistent with previous DGAs, carrying forward the recommended servings for the foundational food groups of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and oils,” Tobias noted. “Long-standing limits for saturated fat (less than 10% of calories) and sodium were kept the same. The new DGAs also continue to emphasize whole foods.

“However, the biggest deviation from the science is a new prioritization of animal sources within the protein food group, instead of a plant-forward pattern,” she added, echoing the AHA’s concern. “Other critical deviations from science include the recommendation for full-fat dairy. Although vegetable oils were not forbidden, they were notably absent from being listed among healthy oils, despite being primary sources of essential unsaturated fatty acids.”

Fung agreed that the emphasis on animal protein, especially red meats, stood out. “In general, protein intake among Americans is adequate. Maybe some older adults have marginal intake, but the tone of the new DGA sounded like we have widespread inadequate protein intake.”

Still, Giovannucci added, “there are some positive aspects of the guidelines, such as the call to ‘avoid highly processed packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat, or other foods that are salty or sweet’ and avoid sugar-sweetened beverages. The guidelines are hard on added sugar, especially for children. Prioritizing fiber-rich whole grains and reducing refined grains is appropriate. These are good starting points.”

Fung noted that clinicians, nutritionists, and others use the federal guidelines to teach healthy eating, and a a number of federal nutrition programs also follow its standards, including the National School Lunch Program and Women, Infants, and Children. Changes in the new DGA may affect the food and nutrient requirements of these programs.

Hometown Mortgage Named Eighth-largest Lender on MassHousing Top Ten List

By BusinessWest Staff March 2, 2026

Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — Hometown Mortgage, a division of bankESB, has been recognized as the eighth-largest lender on the MassHousing Top Ten Lenders list, underscoring the company’s continued commitment to expanding access to homeownership across the Commonwealth.

In 2025, Hometown Mortgage delivered strong lending performance while helping individuals and families achieve their homeownership goals. Over the course of the year, the company originated more than $401 million in new mortgage loans, issued more than $110 million in new home equity loans and lines of credit, and provided $3.5 million in grant and down payment assistance to qualified borrowers.

“This recognition from MassHousing is a reflection of our team’s dedication to serving our communities and helping borrowers navigate one of the most important financial decisions of their lives,” said Ryan Kirwin, executive vice president of Residential Lending at Hometown Mortgage. “We’re proud not only of the volume we achieved in 2025, but of the meaningful impact behind those numbers — supporting first-time homebuyers, strengthening neighborhoods, and expanding access to affordable financing options.”

The MassHousing Top Ten Lenders list highlights institutions that play a leading role in advancing affordable housing opportunities throughout Massachusetts. Hometown Mortgage’s ranking reflects its focus on responsible lending, strong community partnerships, and innovative programs designed to meet the evolving needs of homebuyers and homeowners.

In addition to the organization’s recognition, Hometown Mortgage’s regional director, Maria Luker, received individual distinction from MassHousing, ranking among the top two loan originators across Massachusetts and first in originations in Middlesex, Essex, and Norfolk counties. She also ranks among the top three lenders in Suffolk, Berkshire, and Plymouth counties.

“Maria’s dedication to excellence, deep knowledge of the local markets, and unwavering commitment to customers and community have played a significant role in driving the organization’s growth and reputation throughout Massachusetts,” Kirwin said.

Banker & Tradesman also ranked Hometown Mortgage among the top 10 lenders in Massachusetts across several key categories, including third in non-purchase lending, including home equity loans, home equity lines of credit, and refinances; sixth in number of condominium loans granted; eighth in condominium loans by dollar volume; and 10th in number of single-family home loans granted.

“As Hometown Mortgage looks ahead, the company remains committed to building on this momentum,” Kirwin said. “By investing in people, programs, and partnerships, we’ll continue to help unlock the door to homeownership for more residents across the state.”

Standing on the Shoulders to Celebrate International Women’s Day at GCC

By BusinessWest Staff March 2, 2026

Daily News

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College (GCC) will host Standing on the Shoulders, an event celebrating International Women’s Day, on Saturday, March 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the GCC Core Lobby. The event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.

Through story, song and conversation, the program will honor the women who came before and continue to inspire courage across generations. Organizers say the gathering is designed to kindle a shared flame of hope rooted in community connection and a celebration of diversity.

Participants are invited to reflect on a woman, past or present — from history or their own family — who inspires them. Attendees are encouraged to bring a small item or object that represents that person for a small-group activity during the program.

The event, sponsored by GCC Community Engagement, is intended for adults, teens, and children age 7 and older. The program will be led by an ensemble including Rev. Sarah Pirtle, Carol Sartz, and Swansea Benham Bleicher. Click here for more information.

Hooplandia’s 2025 Champions to Be Recognized at Basketball Hall of Fame

By BusinessWest Staff March 2, 2026

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — On Thursday, March 5 beginning at 4 p.m., the Eastern States Exposition (ESE) will roll out the red carpet at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for the most recent class of champions from Hooplandia, the Northeast’s Ultimate 3×3 Tourney + Festival. The names of the tournament’s 2025 championship teams will be engraved into the sport’s history when a shiny new plaque is unveiled at the museum in Springfield.

“I think every kid has NBA dreams,” said Jack Appleby of Hooplandia’s first-ever winning Pro-am team, How to Hoop Forever. “But in what world do any of us even fathom getting our names in the Basketball Hall of Fame? It’s a truly insane honor that I still can’t really believe, and I can’t thank Hooplandia enough for putting on a tournament like this. We all need places to play — adults and kids alike. Our team can’t wait to come back this year, enjoy a weekend of basketball, and, of course, defend our championship title.”

The display represents all that Hooplandia stands for: history, competition, and pride in the game. A plaque mounted on the center of the wall lists the team names of the most recent reigning champions. The plaque is changed year after year as top-ranking teams win their way to the top.

“Hooplandia represents many aspects of Dr. Naismith’s vision — physical fitness, inclusivity, teamwork, and the thrill of competition,” Hooplandia General Manager Drew Dawson said. “It also embodies both the interest and explosive growth of 3×3 basketball globally. This is a great opportunity to be included alongside the game’s greats, and we’re beyond excited to see the next generation of hoopers inspired and honored in such a way.”

Visit hooplandia.com to register a team for this year’s tournament, slated for June 19-21.

Retired Healthcare Executive Patricia Samra Appointed to HCC Board of Trustees

By BusinessWest Staff March 2, 2026

Daily News

Patricia Samra

HOLYOKE — Patricia Samra, a recently retired healthcare executive, has been appointed to the Holyoke Community College (HCC) board of trustees by Gov. Maura Healey. She attended her first meeting on Feb. 24, and her term runs through March 1, 2029.

Until 2025, Samra, a master’s-level registered nurse, was vice president of HR Operations and Total Rewards at Baystate Health in a career that began with the Springfield-based healthcare organization in 1986. Over 40 years, she served two 14-year stints at Baystate, starting as a registered nurse before moving into human resources.

Before returning to Baystate for her second stint in 2006, she worked for nine years as an independent healthcare consultant for the Dix Consulting Group in Portland, Maine. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in nursing administration from UMass Amherst.

“I believe community colleges are powerful engines for equity and transformation,” Samra said. “Serving on the HCC board of trustees will allow me to bring my experience, values-driven leadership, and commitment to expanding pathways that help every student succeed.”

Freedom Credit Union Supports Shriners Children’s New England

By BusinessWest Staff March 2, 2026

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union is inviting members and the community to support Shriners Children’s New England in Springfield through its Month of Giving campaign in March. Donations will be accepted at all Freedom Credit Union branches throughout Western Mass.

“Supporting children and families in our region is central to our mission,” said Glenn Welch, president of Freedom Credit Union. “Shriners Children’s New England provides extraordinary care and compassion, and we are proud to rally our members and neighbors to support their work.”

Each month, Freedom Credit Union selects a local nonprofit to benefit from its Month of Giving campaign, which helps strengthen the communities it serves. Funds collected during March will support Shriners Children’s New England as it continues providing highly specialized pediatric orthopedic, urology, rheumatology, and cleft lip and palate care using advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies. All care is provided regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

Located in Springfield, Shriners is designed exclusively for children and offers a full range of services in one location for added convenience and comfort.

Freedom Credit Union encourages community members to visit any of its branches during March to make a donation and help support life-changing care for local children and families.

Dakin Humane Society Honored with Community Impact Award

By BusinessWest Staff March 2, 2026

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Dakin Humane Society was honored with the Harmony & Compassion Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community Impact Award as part of the festivities during the Chinese American Cultural & Heritage Society’s 2026 Lunar New Year event at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on March 1. The award was given on behalf of the Asian American Pacific Islander community that has benefited from Dakin’s outreach and work.

“On behalf of the AAPI community, I want to share how much we truly appreciate the meaningful work Dakin is doing in Western Massachusetts,” said Emma Chen-Banas, who serves as a commissioner with the Asian American and Pacific Islanders Commission of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. “Many members of the Asian community have personally expressed how they have benefited from Dakin’s services and outreach. Its impact is both visible and deeply valued. We were also especially touched to learn that Dakin’s founder, Janet Frances Wilder, was born in China — a meaningful historical connection that resonates with our community.”

The 2026 Lunar New Year event marked the Year of the Horse and is one of the most significant cultural celebrations in Chinese and East Asian communities. It is a time for families and communities to come together to honor traditions, embrace renewal, and share hopes for prosperity and happiness in the year ahead. The gala’s theme celebrated the spirit of togetherness and the richness of cultural heritage, and featured world-class Chinese performing artists and internationally recognized groups, traditional music, dance, martial arts, acrobatics, and more, in addition to the awards presentation.

Dakin Executive Director Meg Talbert who accepted the award on behalf of Dakin, thanked the AAPI community for the honor.

“As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we reflect on its spirit of strength, resilience, and forward momentum,” she said. “At Dakin, compassion is more than a value — it’s the daily work of caring for animals, supporting families, and building lasting harmony in our community. True progress happens when we come together to protect the vulnerable, guided by purpose and sustained by compassion — something we strive to live every day.”

She also added that, as part of its new three-year strategic plan, Dakin is about to launch a new Community Outreach Program that expands its role as a social service organization for animals and the people who love them. This program takes Dakin’s mission beyond the shelter walls, meeting people where they are and ensuring they have the veterinary care, spay/neuter services, and resources they need before challenges become crises.

MassDEP Announces $200,000 Available for Reuse, Repair Projects in Massachusetts

By BusinessWest Staff March 2, 2026

Daily News

BOSTON — On April 15, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will begin accepting applications for its 2026 Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant Program. The application will be available on MassDEP’s website and must be submitted by 5 p.m. on May 15.

This grant program supports innovative waste prevention solutions as alternatives to the disposal or new purchase of products across Massachusetts. Funded projects will help advance the state’s goal of reducing statewide waste disposal by 30% by 2030 by stopping waste at the source.

Micro-grants will range from $3,000 to $10,000 and reimburse eligible costs associated with developing and implementing proposed projects. To qualify, projects must focus on reducing waste in Massachusetts through donation, sharing, rescue, reuse, and/or repair, and must be completed within one year. Eligible applicants include businesses, nonprofits, schools, and local governments.

MassDEP is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and environmental justice through its grant programs. MassDEP will prioritize projects that benefit disadvantaged communities.

Examples of eligible projects include starting or expanding programs that repair used furniture, appliances, electronics, and other durable goods for resale or distribution; promoting building material salvage and reuse by hosting deconstruction trainings or piloting a deconstruction project; switching from single-use to reusable food service ware at restaurants and/or institutional cafeterias; creating or expanding food donation collection, storage, and distribution programs; and more.

MassDEP will host a virtual information session on Wednesday, April 1 from 10 to 11 a.m. Online registration is required (click here) to attend the information session. Click here for a program overview and guidelines, eligible uses of funds, evaluation criteria, and details on previous micro-grant recipients.

After the application opens on April 15, questions must be submitted in writing to Leah Kelleher at [email protected]. All questions are due by 5 p.m. on April 29. Answers will be posted to the micro-grant webpage on May 4.

Eastern States Exposition Seeks Nominations for Agricultural Adventurers Award

By BusinessWest Staff March 2, 2026

Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Nominations are now open for the 2026 Agricultural Adventurers Award, one of Eastern States Exposition’s (ESE) most prestigious accolades. As ESE continues to advance as a national leader and authority in agriculture through initiatives including the Agriculture Is Our Culture campaign, it is the organization’s goal to bring attention to this effort to honor farmers in New England.

The Agricultural Adventurers Award honors those who have influenced how food is grown and produced, as well as how agriculture is understood, sustained, and passed forward into the future. These are the innovators, stewards, educators, and champions whose impact deserves to be recognized on the national stage.

The ESE trustees that compose the Agricultural Adventurers Award committee review nominations in search of candidates that embody excellence and vision. They prioritize those that have made a lasting contribution to agriculture. Intentional nominations ensure that this honor reflects the depth, diversity, and future of the industry ESE represents.

Last year’s award presentation demonstrated the growing reach and impact of this honor. The 2025 recipient, the Bloom family of Copps Island Oysters, was featured through local media coverage as well as an Agriculture Is Our Culture storytelling video that brought their multi-generational legacy to life.

During an interview with ESE, Norm Bloom Jr., owner of Copps Island Oysters, said, “this award I received means a whole lot. It means a real lot that people are watching. When they picked us and offered us this award, it was one of our better moments, I’d say.”

Agriculturists often play a thankless role in local communities, and the Blooms — like so many 21st-century farmers — rarely receive their deserved recognition. The oystermen and women at Copps Island in Norwalk, Conn. are aquaculturists, so their plots for harvesting are in salty waters along the Connecticut coastline, invisible because they are submerged. Passers-by drive over the sound and walk by the farm, unaware that the people at Copps are working hard year-round beside them to put fresh catch on tables statewide and beyond.

Cast your vote by submitting an Agricultural Adventurers Award nomination form by Tuesday, March 3. Visit easternstatesexposition.com for more details.

Ben Downing to Lead Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

By BusinessWest Staff March 2, 2026

Daily News

Ben Downing

BOSTON — The board of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) voted to appoint Ben Downing as its next CEO. Downing is currently chief growth officer at the Engine, a nonprofit incubator and accelerator built by MIT to support climate tech, biotech, and advanced infrastructure startups. He also previously served as a state senator representing the Berkshires and as Senate chair of the Joint Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee.

“Massachusetts is home to some of the world’s leading climate tech companies, and many of their successes can be attributed to Ben Downing’s visionary leadership in the Legislature and the support he has spearheaded for startups at the Engine,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “Our administration is deeply committed to growing our innovation economy. With strong support authorized under the Mass Leads Act, Ben will steer our climate tech industry and over 162,000 climate tech workers to its next chapter.”

Downing thanked Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, and Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper for the opportunity.

“My experience has taught me that Massachusetts can be the place where the solutions to climate change are invented, built, and deployed,” he added. “Doing so affordably requires activating all of the state’s resources. I’m excited to help MassCEC do just that with our partners in the Healey administration, the Legislature, the clean energy and climate tech sectors, and more. Let’s get to work.”

As chief growth officer at the Engine, Downing working hands-on with climate tech and biotech startups. In that capacity, he has supported, advised, and worked with some of the most promising and impactful teams from Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Form Energy, VEIR, Sublime Systems, Lydian Labs, Atlantic Quantum, Vaxess, Foundation Alloy, Cellino Bio, Robigo, and many more. He helped them secure hundreds of millions in federal awards, build significant connections, and make significant investments across Massachusetts.

Prior to this role, he was vice president of New Market Development for Nexamp, a clean energy company focused on community solar and lowering customer utility bills. He led strategic expansion working nationally with a specific focus in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.

As Senate chair of the Joint Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee, Downing helped shape Massachusetts’ clean energy and climate tech policy, including authorizing the first offshore wind procurement, investments in the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, support for workforce development, and energy affordability initiatives to rein in costs.

“Ben brings a rare combination of policy experience, hands-on startup leadership, and deep relationships across the climate tech ecosystem,” Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley said. “At a time of growing global competition in climate tech, Ben is the right leader to help MassCEC strengthen our innovation pipeline, support companies as they scale, and ensure this industry continues to deliver economic growth across Massachusetts.”

Downing’s tenure will begin in April. He will take over for Jennifer Le Blond, who has served as interim CEO since November. Le Blond will return to her role leading the Emerging Climatetech team at MassCEC.

Program to Discuss ‘How to Trace Ancestors Through Letters and Postcards’

By BusinessWest Staff March 2, 2026

Daily News

PITTSFIELD — On Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m., professional genealogist Kathryn Lake Hogan will present “How to Trace Ancestors Through Letters and Postcards,” a Zoom program by the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires examining correspondence as a key resource for family history research.

Letters and postcards can open a uniquely intimate window onto family history, and this virtual program will explore how these often-overlooked materials can help genealogists uncover powerful personal and historical insights. Hogan will explain how letters and postcards allow researchers to hear ancestors’ voices, document family relationships, and capture the details of everyday life. Participants will also learn strategies for locating correspondence within families, archives, and public collections, and how postal routes and geography can illuminate patterns of migration. The program will conclude with guidance on correlating correspondence with census data, directories, and vital records.

Click here for more information and to register.

Sen. Adam Gómez Nominates Gillian Hinkson as 2026 Black Excellence Honoree

By BusinessWest Staff March 2, 2026

Daily News

BOSTON — State Sen. Adam Gómez announced the nomination of Gillian Hinkson for the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus’ Black Excellence on the Hill celebration at the Massachusetts State House. The annual event recognizes Black leaders, advocates, and changemakers whose work strengthens communities across the Commonwealth.

“I am proud to recognize Gillian Hinkson as this year’s Black Excellence honoree,” Gómez said. “Her leadership across civic life, community advocacy, and political engagement has made an unmistakable impact in the Hampden District and throughout Massachusetts. Gillian’s commitment to public service, justice, and community well-being exemplifies the purpose of this celebration.”

Hinkson is a civic leader, survivor advocate, and community steward who serves in the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office. She is president of the corporation and board chair of Make-It Springfield, a member of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee, and has served as chair of the Affirmative Action Outreach Subcommittee within the Massachusetts Democratic Party. Her work has included coordinated voter outreach, cross-state collaboration during national election cycles, and sustained local party building. She has served on her ward committee; supported candidate campaigns at the municipal level and as campaign manager for Tracye Whitfield, overseeing strategy, field coordination, messaging discipline, and day-to-day campaign operations; and contributed to civic education through the League of Women Voters.

Gillian is the founder of Just Aging Different, a well-being and leadership platform for people in their prime years, with a particular focus on women of color carrying significant professional and emotional responsibility.

Shaped by her experience as a Caribbean-American woman and years of service across justice, politics, and community life, Hinkson approaches leadership as a human practice.

BusinessTalk with Mike Tautznik, Board Treasurer, CitySpace: Momentum at Old Town Hall

By BusinessWest Staff March 2, 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 253: March 2, 2026

Joe Bednar talks with Mike Tautznik, Board Treasurer, CitySpace

In some ways, progress on CitySpace — a project to transform Easthampton’s Old Town Hall into a vibrant arts and performance space — has ebbed and flowed over the past several years, but it has never stopped. And now, with an infusion of $3.5 million in federal funds, the final phase has real momentum. For the next episode of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar sat down with Mike Tautznik, treasurer of the CitySpace board, about what’s happening there now, and why it’s important to the identity and economic vibrancy of a city that has become known for its arts and culture scene. Mike also talks about his 17 years as Easthampton’s mayor, and why he’s been passionate about this city and its institutions for his entire life. 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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James Murning Creates Memories at Aurora Jewelers

By Joseph Bednar March 2, 2026

Cover Story

All That Glitters

James Murning

James Murning designs a lot of jewelry — some of it for pretty notable names. You might have seen — and heard — one of them at the recent Super Bowl halftime.

“I design a lot of pieces for musicians,” said Murning, owner of Aurora Jewelry in Easthampton. “I just sent out a piece for Bad Bunny, called the heritage necklace, which essentially is paying homage to Puerto Rico.”

Elaborating, he noted that “the centerpiece is a diamond-encrusted star for the flag of Puerto Rico, and two bezel-set aquamarines represent Bad Bunny’s birth month. And then there are three-dimensional flor de maga flowers, which are the national flower of Puerto Rico, and there is actually a dog tag hanging off the back of the chain with the city coordinates of the city block he was born in.”

For such big-name commissions, “we work with a variety of different people in rock, country, and EDM,” Murning added, but he takes as much pleasure in creating meaningful pieces for everyone — jewelry that’s not only aesthetically pleasing, but offers plenty of meaning in the design itself.

“We also do a ton of repurposing,” he said. “So if somebody comes in and says, ‘I’ve got some stuff from my grandmother or grandfather, these are heirloom pieces, I want to melt them down and get paid cash,’ 90% of the time, if it’s something really cool, I will tell them, ‘you should not melt this. Let us repurpose it and give it a new life.’ We can take the stones out and put them in a new ring; that way, they have a story to tell 20 years from now.”

“If somebody comes in and says, ‘I’ve got some stuff from my grandmother or grandfather, these are heirloom pieces, I want to melt them down and get paid cash,’ 90% of the time, if it’s something really cool, I will tell them, ‘you should not melt this. Let us repurpose it and give it a new life.’”

Just to mention one example, “I had a lady come in one night. She had this incredible, 22-karat solid gold Peruvian cross, handmade in Peru. I mean, the design work and the soldering that went into this it was incredible. And she said, ‘I want you to polish this cross for me; I want to put it in a shadowbox.’”

Instead, he convinced her to repurpose it into three new pieces, one of which was a ring she gave to her daughter. “That was a very rewarding thing — and they’ve come back. They’re really great people. But that was one of those moments where I was repurposing people’s pieces and giving them a new life and a new story. That’s so important. Because once it’s melted, it’s gone. And the cash will be gone, too.

Aurora Jewelers has a wall of engagement photos featuring rings purchased there.

“I love the stories of jewelry. Not only is it art, but you get to hear about people,” Murning went on. “It’s one way you keep people alive. Like, ‘my grandfather bought this for my grandmother in 1915 on 46th Street in New York City.’ You know what I mean? And you can imagine what that scene looked like. So the romance behind it is really nice too.”

One of the most significant aspects of Murning’s business is engagement rings and wedding bands. In fact, he has a wall of photographs on his wall taken by happy couples right after proposals using his rings — another way he sees his job as celebrating history in the making, not just selling jewelry.

“I had a fun couple come in; they said, ‘we’re obsessed with the galaxy.’ And I was like, ‘OK, why don’t I make you a ring that looks like the galaxy?’ And they’re like, ‘you can do that?’ I was like, ‘of course I can.’ It was three rows of diamonds that were circling like a hurricane. And then, in the center, was a mystic topaz which shimmers different colors. So the whole ring looked like the galaxy. And they were blown away by it.”

Murning can wax nostagic when he talks about the value of what he does, and the way his pieces reflect history as much as they reflects light.

“I mean, growing up around my great-grandparents and seeing my great-grandfather get into his light blue Cadillac and open the door for my great-grandmother was … well, you don’t see that kind of culture anymore. It’s just gone. So if I can keep some of that still living, I’ll totally try to do that.”

But Aurora Jewelers has been a success in the bottom line as well.

“Our first full calendar year was 2024, and it was great — way better than I ever expected. In 2025, we did 39% higher. So it just keeps growing,” he said. “There are many factors that come into play when you have a brick-and-mortar jewelry store, not an online business. You just hope that people want to come in and have a conversation. That’s really important. I think COVID really hurt that whole atmosphere of people just wanting to talk to people.”

On a recent afternoon in the Easthampton store, Murning was happy to talk to BusinessWest about the early success of his business, the ways he gives back to the community, and why he’s gratified by all of it.

Shades of a Career

Murning’s path into the jewelry business started at a Sunglass Hut in West Hartford, which he managed when he was around 20 years old. He struck up a friendship with members of the Hannoush family who operated one of their stores there, and was eventually offered a job.

“Joe Hannoush [one of the company’s eight founding brothers] essentially took me in, and his kids are the ones who molded me to the person I am today. Without them, there would be no Aurora Jewelers. Joe was a staple in my career.”

He credits several other mentors with influencing him along the way, including Marc and John Green of Lux Bond & Green, a family jewelry business with a 127-year history.

“Everybody deserves some type of luxury. It doesn’t matter if you’re a farmer or if you’re a construction worker, it doesn’t matter. People like to feel good.”

“I managed one of their locations in Glastonbury, Connecticut — a Rolex store,” Murning said. “And I was very honored to be able to go to Rolex trainings, which not many people get to do. To put myself in that position, where I was able to be inside the room with all these Rolex executives, was a really big thing.”

He also took some courses with the American Gem Society and eventually got to the point where he felt comfortable opening up his own jewelry store, and Aurora Jewelers opened its doors in Easthampton two years ago.

Aurora now sits in an expanded space on Union Street in Easthampton; Murning originally operated out of a smaller spot next door.

“When I walked in there, it was studs, no floor, no ceilings, completely exposed, it was gutted. And I immediately saw exactly what I wanted the store to look like,” he said, from the layout to the color palette, dominated by a blue shade called Salty Dog. “I wanted something that would aesthetically showcase the midnight sky, because that’s the only time the aurora borealis comes out. So there’s significance to everything — the coloring of the store, the greens, the purples, the blues; those are the colors of the aurora.

“Every jewelry store I’ve ever been in, aesthetically, has always been kind of white walls, light gray, and aesthetically, I’m not that kind of person. I’ve always been volume turned up, big color palette. And people have received it really well.”

James Murning has ambitions to expand his brand, including in Boston.

But running a business is much more than picking out wall colors.

“I was nervous in the beginning because I didn’t know I didn’t know if Western Mass. could handle a luxury store, and I got told by a few people that this would be better in Boston,” he recalled. “But I said, ‘you know, everybody deserves some type of luxury. It doesn’t matter if you’re a farmer or if you’re a construction worker, it doesn’t matter. People like to feel good.”

The ‘luxury’ description, he said, comes from the fact that he sells more exclusive and higher-quality items — many of which he designs himself — than other stores.

At the same time, giving back to the community is a priority for Murning, and he accomplishes this in a variety of ways, from being a major sponsor of Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts to sponsoring Easthampton athletic programs.

“The people who run Girls on the Run are amazing people, just incredible human beings,” he said of the organization, which blends a life skills curriculum with healthy activity for girls, culminating with a celebratory 5K run each spring and fall. “It’s a great cause. I went and volunteered this past fall. They do a Sneaker Soiree fundraiser, and I told them I’ll raffle off a diamond, and I’ll do some other stuff to help raise as much money as I possibly can.”

Then there’s a group of Easthampton High School students Murning has dubbed the Easthampton Sandlot; he even has a movie poster of The Sandlot that they’ve all signed.

“They’re convinced I’m in the mafia. They think I’m making millions of dollars and drive a Ferrari,” he joked. “But I have always encouraged them. And I tell them, ‘if you get a B-plus or better in school, I will rent a Rolls-Royce and drive you to New York City on graduation weekend, and I will take you to dinner wherever you want in New York City.’ This is important to me because I see a lot of myself in the youth. And I’ve been doing this since I opened the doors.”

“Boston is so consistent because there are so many young people out there, and they’re going to talk to one another: “where’d you get your ring? Where’d you get your ring?’”

He also just started the Aurora Foundation, to which he’ll dedicate a certain percentage of the year’s revenues to help deserving but needy local students attend college — with the goal of expanding it to much more good work. And he created the Aurora Achievement Award, which acknowledges an Easthampton High School basketball player who shows the most leadership or morale-building qualities — another program he’d like to expand.

What’s Next

Murning has a few business plans in the works, including the Foundry on Union, a luxury gift store that will open this summer in his first, smaller space next door, specializing in corporate gifts. He also recently released the first engagement ring created for a new private label called Daybreak. And he’s been making plans to open a location in Boston, where he said he already has a following.

“Out here, the population is a little less, so we’re hitting somewhat of a ceiling with certain things — it will be heightened again, then it’ll drop back down, then heighten again and drop back down. Boston is so consistent because there are so many young people out there, and they’re going to talk to one another: “where’d you get your ring? Where’d you get your ring?’”

What they’ll hear is that their friend got it at Aurora Jewelers, a small business whose owner has some big plans to create more jewelry — and more memories.

Under New Leadership, Greenfield Savings Bank Forges Ambitious Plans

By George O'Brien March 2, 2026

Banking and Financial Services Special Coverage

Time of Transition

Peter Albero, left, takes the reins from Tom Meshako on April 1.

As Tom Meshako remembers it, by the time he was done interviewing Peter Albero, he was convinced the latter was not only his best candidate to become CFO and treasurer at Greenfield Savings Bank, but also a possible successor when he moved into retirement in a few years.

“I thought we had a lot of similarities — we felt the same way coming from a public institution; we came here for the same reason, the right reason,” said Meshako, noting that, like Albero, he came to GSB to be in a mutual bank setting and in a position to give back to the community it was serving.

Albero, who came to GSB from Salisbury Bank in Connecticut after it was acquired by NBT Bank, added that, “as a community bank, we didn’t do a lot for the community, because we had to pay dividends to shareholders. “I wanted to work at an institution where we could give back to the community instead of giving to shareholders.”

Meshako’s initial thoughts back in the summer of 2023 turned out to be prescient, as Albero prevailed in nationwide search last year for a successor to Meshako, who will retire to Florida in the spring.

Albero, who will take the helm on April 1, does so at an intriguing time in the bank’s history — although he says the banking industry is “always interesting.”

Indeed, the institution is expected to reach $1.5 billion in assets in the first quarter of 2026, an important milestone and another threshold as GSB continues its quest for an all-important commodity in the banking industry — size.

“I wanted to work at an institution where we could give back to the community instead of giving to shareholders.”

“Scale matters, and our goal is to continue to grow our loan book without increasing our head count and become more efficient,” said Albero, noting that much of the bank’s growth has come on the commercial lending side.

Meanwhile, the bank will cut two significant ribbons in the coming weeks. One will be at the renovated Leavitt-Hovey House next door to the bank’s headquarters on Main Street in Greenfield, and the other will be at its latest branch, a key piece in a massive redevelopment project at the site of the former Tasty Top in Easthampton.

The former is a nearly $7 million initiative that will transform the landmark, built in 1797 and home of the city’s public library between 1909 and 2023, into a home for the bank’s trust and wealth management, residential lending, and cash management teams.

GSB’s ‘southern headquarters’ in Easthampton is slated to open within the next several weeks.

The latter is a $7 million investment that marks the bank’s latest and boldest effort to “move south and east,” as Albero put it, meaning into Hampden and Worcester counties, and beyond the bank’s historic base in Franklin and Hampshire counties.

And as the bank continues this expansion east and south, the ‘community’ it serves has become much larger, noted both Albero and Meshako, adding that GSB has responded accordingly, increasing its charitable giving from $300,000 when Meshako started at the bank a decade ago to $1.2 million last year, with that number expected to move higher as the bank continues to grow.

“Tom and I both agree that, if the bank does better, the communities can do better,” Albero said. “When you move into a community, you have to support that community and its nonprofits.”

For this issue and its focus on banking and financial services, BusinessWest talked with Albero and Meshako about the transition in leadership at GSB and what’s in the broad business plan for this 157-year-old institution.

Purposeful Journey

Albero spent the bulk of his career in a setting far removed from rural Greenfield — New York City.

He spent 26 years in senior roles in the financial controller group at Morgan Stanley and also worked as a risk advisory consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Desiring a change from the Big Apple, he joined Salisbury Bank & Trust in Connecticut as CFO.

He did that for six years before Salisbury was acquired by NBT Bank in 2023, prompting him to seek another significant career change, this time in the mutual bank setting.

“Tom and I both agree that, if the bank does better, the communities can do better.”

“Salisbury Bank was a community bank, but it was public,” he noted. “We found that it was very hard to grow as a public bank, trying to compete with much larger institutions, when you’re focused on growth and earnings quarter over quarter.”

While Albero was chosen as GSB’s new CFO in early in 2023, he stayed with Salisbury until the merger with NBT had been finalized before coming to Greenfield, a wait Meshako was willing to endure.

“I waited nine months for Peter to finish that transaction because I knew he was the person I wanted,” he recalled. “We seemed to be on the same page, and I kind of knew he was the person that would be taking my position when I retired; I knew he’d make a great candidate.”

As he takes the helm, Albero will be focused on keeping the bank on a strong growth trajectory, a pattern that has emerged “organically and safely,” and continued in 2025, with roughly 6% growth.

“Sometimes, when you try to grow your portfolio, you’ll do a little higher risk rating, but we didn’t — we stayed with high-quality customers while also moving more south,” Meshako said, adding that the move to open a branch in Easthampton is the latest and boldest manifestation of this strategy.

The renovated Leavitt-Hovey House will become home to the bank’s trust and wealth management business, residential lending, and cash management teams.

Actually, this will not be just a branch, Albero said, referring to it instead as the bank’s “southern headquarters.”

Indeed, the facility, due to open its doors later this month or early in April, will include a commercial lender, a wealth management and trust services representative, and a residential lender, as well as the branch, he noted, adding that it will serve as a staging point, if you will, for continued growth in Hampden County, in all facets of banking, but especially commercial lending.

Indeed, where once the bank’s commercial portfolio had 50% to 60% or more of its originations in Franklin County, that number is now less than 25%, a nod to both slow growth in the Greenfield area and the bank’s pursuit of business east and south of its traditional base.

“We have a lot of borrowers in the Springfield market, and they refer other borrowers to the bank because of our ability to get the deals closed,” Albero said. “And we have some other borrowers more toward Worcester, and they refer more borrowers to our commercial team for the same reason.”

Meanwhile, with assets now approaching $1.5 billion, GSB has expanded its sweet spot when it comes to commercial loans, its niche now being the $3 million to $7 million range, where it was once $1 million to $3 million.

“That’s another way that you can grow, not just doing more loans, but larger loans as well,” Meshako said, adding that this higher ceiling creates many more opportunities to do business across the region.

Points of Interest

When asked about plans for further expansion beyond Easthampton and when and where that might take place, Albero said there was nothing on the drawing board yet.

Indeed, the bank is focused on its two large investments — the Easthampton facility and the renovated Leavitt-Hovey House — and assimilating those into the corporate portfolio.

“We have a lot of borrowers in the Springfield market, and they refer other borrowers to the bank because of our ability to get the deals closed.”

“Our plan is to make sure that Easthampton becomes profitable very quickly,” he noted. “We’ll continue to evaluate the markets, but we’re not going to jump in immediately. We have a lot to digest from a cost perspective.”

Renovation of the Leavitt-Hovey House represents a different kind of investment in the community — not a check to a nonprofit, but the restoration and reuse of a city treasure, Meshako said.

“If we didn’t buy it, I think it would have sat in the state that it was in and continue to deteriorate,” he said. “This is something we did to help the city of Greenfield and create some tax revenue. We needed additional space, and we were looking for some place to build or possibly buy, and we thought that renovating the Leavitt-Hovey House would help this whole corner of downtown.

“We’re bringing it back to its original luster,” he went on, referring to the color scheme from the 1950s, when the home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, adding that the facility is slated to open late this month or early in April.

Peter Albero says GSB’s overall growth strategy involves moving “south and east.”

As for Easthampton, the leaders at GSB saw that community as the logical spot for its southern expansion. That city is similar to Greenfield in many ways — a former manufacturing hub that is reinventing itself as a center for the arts and hospitality, especially in renovated mills — but it also neighbors thriving Northampton, a city where the bank already has a presence.

“There’s been quite a resurgence in Easthampton,” Meshako said. “That whole mill district just took off, and it has helped the whole downtown. The city continues to prosper, and we decided that this is where we wanted, and needed, to be.”

As for the former Tasty Top site itself, plans call for a Starbucks, a steak restaurant, housing, and other developments that should bring foot traffic — and additional business — to the bank.

Continued growth is important to GSB, as it is to all banks, said Albero, as the cost of doing business continues to rise on many fronts, and institutions seek economies of scale.

“Technology costs continue to rise, and it’s difficult, also, to attract employees, particularly where we are in Western Massachusetts, so you ending up paying higher salaries to attract individuals,” he explained. “We find that’s it’s challenging. Every time you continue to grow, you can’t just continue to add head count; you must become more efficient, but the technology costs to do that are very expensive.”

And while the bank plans to continue to grow organically and safely, as Meshako mentioned, it will explore options for acquisitions as well.

“We will consider M&A transactions, but we will be the acquirer,” he told BusinessWest. “But our focus over the next three years is on efficiency, increasing our earnings, and boosting our capital so we have a long runway for organic growth. And while we’re doing that, we’ll keep an eye on the M&A market; if the opportunity is there, we’ll take advantage of it.

“We’ll keep our options open,” he went on, adding that this might be considered the overall game plan moving forward for an institution that it is in a time of transition — in many different ways.

Home & Garden Show Lets Contractors Put Their Best Foot Forward

By George O'Brien March 2, 2026

Home Improvement Special Coverage

Getting Down to Business

The leadership team at Ace Chimney Sweeps, Kelly Kapinos and her sons, from left, Kelly, Matty, and Joey.

Kelly Kapinos says it started with one of those cereal box records that were prevalent in the ’60s and ’70s.

Her husband, Jay, was looking at a trade magazine in a doctor’s office after an on-the-job injury, she explained, when he came across an item for chimney sweeping.

“It talked about how you could be your own boss, help people stay safe, meet a lot of people, and not have to work in a cubicle,” she recalled, adding that he sent away for the record, which started with “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from Mary Poppins.

“It talked about the advantages of being a chimney sweep, like being outside in the nice weather. It didn’t talk about how cold it gets, or how hot it can be on roofs, or how dangerous it can be,” Kapinos recalled with a laugh, adding that, after some deeper due diligence on this business, they bought in and hung out their shingle. Sort of.

They kept their full-time jobs and started cleaning chimneys on weekends before it became a full-time pursuit called Ace Chimney Sweeps. And 40 years later, Kelly and her three sons, Matt, Jamie, and Joe, are still at it (Jay went on to get his class A license and now moves heavy construction equipment), as one of the very few locally owned chimney sweep companies still doing business in the 413 and just beyond.

And this is one of the points they stress to visitors to their booth at the Original Western Mass Home & Garden Show, which will stage its 71st edition at the Big E on March 26-29.

The company has become a regular at the show over the past several years, said Kapinos, adding that it uses those four days to help fill an already-crammed schedule for the coming seasons, but also just to get the word out and build some brand recognition.

“For the first time in a long time, people want to sign up to get work scheduled. In past years, they’ve been so busy … they came to the show because they didn’t want to lose their spot and they wanted to keep their name out there, but they really weren’t trying to sell work. This year, there’s a different mindset.”

These are the main motivations for vendors at the show, many of which have been appearing for decades, said Andy Crane, president of the Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc. of Western Mass., which produces the show.

The showcase provides a great opportunity for businesses to do some brand building and, quite often, put some business on the books, said Crane, adding that, with the economy slowing in some respects, many vendors are more focused on looking for work than they have been in recent years, when they were booked solid heading into the show.

“A lot of businesses are really busy, but there are many businesses that would like to see more booked jobs to feel good,” he explained.

Meanwhile, for visitors, the show presents an opportunity to get a break from winter (especially this year), see what’s new, and perhaps find someone to handle the next project on their to-do list.

For BusinessWest, its annual show preview provides a chance to tell the stories behind some of the vendors — like Dimauro Carpet & Tile. The East Longmeadow-based company, now celebrating 30 years in business, will be making its first appearance at the show, and Jeff Beturne, project manager for the company, is expecting … well, he’s not really sure what to expect.

“I’m excited about what it might bring — we’re really not sure,” he said, adding that members of the company’s leadership team are putting together a game plan for the show, including deals to be offered to customers.

Overall, they will be looking to introduce themselves to the region and “get our personality out there,” he went on, adding that the company will stress its longevity and the fact that it is locally and family-owned.

Andy Crane says the Home & Garden Show provides vendors with an opportunity to be visible — and also put some business on the books.

For Earthlight Technologies, an energy solutions company based in Ellington, Conn., and with offices locally in Northampton, the goals are similar, said Andrew Bessette, content manager.

“The trade show is a good way for us to get more visibility and get direct lines to our customers,” he noted, adding that, while the company gains several jobs directly from the show, it also builds name recognition and tries to separate itself from competition that is not as focused on quality and customer service (more on this later).

For this issue and its focus on home improvement, BusinessWest previews the Home & Garden Show and talks with several area businesses about why these four days at the Big E are time very well-spent.

Home Work

This is the slow season for chimney sweeps.

It starts in January and goes until about the end of winter, said Kapinos, adding that this general quiet allows the company to make the significant investment in time required of home show vendors.

“We start revving up for spring cleanings, and then we’re out straight again until next January,” she explained, adding that the show, while time-consuming, is a solid investment for Ace when it comes to getting its name out and making acquaintances.

“The show keeps us in front of people that have been coming to us for years,” she said. “They stop by the booth to say ‘hi’ and put my face with my voice on the phone, and also meet the guys because they’re at the show with me.”

This business of putting faces with voices and ‘meeting the guys’ might be the unofficial mission of the home show, said Crane, who said organizers are on track for another sellout when it comes to vendor space.

Crane noted that, in the wake of COVID, a time when people spent more time at home — and also when many had more disposable income — most contractors and home improvement companies had all the work they can handle. Some didn’t want to come to the home show and tell those visiting their booth that they couldn’t put them on the schedule for several months at least.

Most contractors are still busy, he said, but there is now more need to get in front of people and, hopefully, fill the calendar with work.

“For the first time in a long time, people want to sign up to get work scheduled,” he said. “In past years, they’ve been so busy … they came to the show because they didn’t want to lose their spot and they wanted to keep their name out there, but they really weren’t trying to sell work. This year, there’s a different mindset.”

Like many home improvement companies, Dimauro received a significant boost from COVID, said Beturne, noting that the company’s portfolio leans heavily (about 80%) toward commercial and municipal work, and there was a lot to be found in 2020 and 2021.

“Municipalities had an influx of money, and it was just sitting there,” he explained, adding that the company gained a significant amount of work taking out carpeting and putting in hard surfaces.

“This past year was the first quiet year after all of that,” he went on, adding that there was less work to be had on the municipal side and more competition for what did emerge, and it was also slower on the residential side amid inflation, tariffs, and general uncertainty. The company is looking at home show participation as one strategy for putting more work on the books for 2026 and beyond.

“We want to be aggressive; we want to put our best foot forward in terms of getting people to knock out the room they’ve been holding out on,” he explained. “If they’re renovating a room, a home office, bedroom, you name it, then we want to be able to provide products at excellent prices.

“It’s about making sales, but it’s also about getting our name out there,” Beturne added. “It will be good to remind people that we’re here and that we’re willing to travel to handle a project.”

For Earthlight Technologies, there are several motivating factors when it comes to trade show participation, and the company takes part in several, Bessette noted.

It does so to educate the public on its many products and services, he said, listing EV charging stations, energy efficiency, and other energy solutions. But it’s best known for commercial and residential solar, which remains a popular option, despite the end of the 30% federal solar tax credit on Dec. 31 with the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“The value proposition doesn’t really go away because there’s no tax credit,” he explained. “The sky is not falling; solar is still going to be a very viable option for a long-term return on investment.”

There is a good amount of work on the books for 2026, he noted, adding that the show will hopefully generate more, while also helping the company tell its story and differentiate itself from what is still a crowded field of competitors.

“The trade show is a really good way for us to stand out, specifically when customers can talk to our sales reps,” Bessette said. “Unfortunately, our industry doesn’t have the best reputation. In any industry, there are bad actors or people that might promise more than they can actually deliver. You have that in any industry, but it’s fairly prominent in the solar industry. When you talk to our sales reps and the people at our company, that’s a differentiating factor — we take really good care of our customers.”

Bottom Line

Each company has its own message to get across, said Crane, adding that the Home & Garden Show has been connecting contractors with the public — and existing and potential customers — for seven decades now.

This tradition will continue later this month, with a four-day show at which vendors and visitors can get down to business, in every sense of that phrase.

Britt McGrath Helps People Achieve Healthy Bodies — and Healthy Self-image

By Joseph Bednar March 2, 2026

Healthcare News Special Coverage

Creating a Movement

Britt McGrath opened the Hadley studio of My Health Matters Fitness in late 2023.

In her bio on the website of My Health Matters Fitness, Britt McGrath makes it clear what she thinks of ‘diet culture.’

“I have been on a decades-long journey of learning to look at my body for everything it is, rather than everything it is not. And through years of certifications, training, and actual hands-on work, I’ve found my purpose. I’ve found my worth again,” she wrote. “And that is to help other people who have had similar histories as mine give diet culture and all of its toxic friends a huge middle finger — to finally start living our lives in ways that do not revolve around how our bodies look, but rather everything else life has to offer.”

Now in her sixth year of helping a growing roster of clients make fitness and wellness work for them, she believes in that philosophy even more.

In short, too many people have been let down by a fitness and diet industry that puts too much emphasis on weight numbers and body shape, and have grown up in a society that overly focuses on the way they look, and places all the value on that, McGrath told BusinessWest during a broad conversation at her Hadley fitness studio.

“For as long as I can remember, I always fixated on my body. I was an athlete for many years, and I felt strong, but once I stopped playing, that’s when my eating disorders started happening because I didn’t know how to control my body anymore,” she said. “And over the years, as I started healing my own body image, I started making more connections with other people speaking out and letting me know they’ve also experienced that.”

“Over the years, as I started healing my own body image, I started making more connections with other people speaking out and letting me know they’ve also experienced that.”

My Health Matters contains many trappings of a traditional gym — weights, circuit training, boxing, group classes, personal training, and much more — but with a few key differences, from a lack of mirrors to a deliberate de-emphasis on number of pounds lost. Instead, fitness plans are individualized to each member’s needs, goals, and body type, with an emphasis on improving quality of life rather than chasing specific numbers.

“We’ve created a community of people who have been wanting something like this, to be able to escape a lot of what they’re exposed to in other places or by their own families and friends — whoever is telling them, ‘you have to look a certain way, or else you’re unhealthy,’” McGrath explained.

My Health Matters features a host of different exercise modalities, plus group classes and personal training.

“A lot of folks are coming in and saying, ‘thank God there’s a place where I can just be me. I can say no to a movement that I don’t want to do. I can flip off the trainer if I want to. I can leave halfway through class if I feel like that’s what I needed.’ And I think the bodily autonomy of it, being able to make those choices without shame or guilt, is really important for us here.”

It’s an idea she’s become passionate about, and which drove her to create a safe space that’s welcoming to all body types — and women and men of all ages and backgrounds who want to express themselves and find their own path to wellness.

“I think it’s important to go against the grain a little bit,” McGrath said. “How many centers are talking about, ‘lose the weight,’ ‘burn this off,’ ‘eat this.’ There’s constantly another diet, another thing that’s coming up. But if all these diets were supposed to work, then why haven’t they worked? It’s because they’re not supposed to work, and they’re damaging to our bodies, and they’re damaging to our mental health. And they make us feel like failures if nothing happens.

“And also, why do we have to lose the weight? Why do feel like we have to hate our bodies if they don’t fit into a little box that society has deemed as appropriate this year? And that changes every year. I just felt like this needed to change,” she went on. “We have many amazing companies in our area, and a lot of personal trainers that I started getting to know as I was developing this space, who are practicing these things, but only in bits and pieces.”

Body Talk

McGrath didn’t always intend to work in this field; she has a background in environmental studies. But in many ways, fitness was always at the back of her mind.

“I was an athlete growing up; soccer was my baby. I ended up playing lacrosse for a few years, but soccer was always at the forefront.”

She picked up soccer at age 9 because a close friend was playing, and she wound up competing in a municipal league in Belchertown, then Belchertown High School, and was scouted by colleges — but a knee surgery early in her college career shut everything down. She did wind up coaching soccer at the high school level, which she enjoyed.

“Playing sports always felt really at home for me and made me feel connected to my body — but then, also disconnected, because I didn’t know how to feed it and how to take care of it when I wasn’t being an athlete.”

Britt McGrath says she wants to be the kind of positive fitness example to people that she wishes she had growing up.

Seeking to get back in touch with what she enjoyed about movement, McGrath started working as a spin instructor at Energia Fitness in Hadley, now known as 50/50 Fitness/Nutrition. Later, she became a high school physical education teacher and a personal trainer, before launching her own business in 2020 that started with remote classes and home visits, before she hung out a shingle on Route 9 in October 2023.

“What I love is teaching folks, helping people see that there’s always potential, there’s always a possibility of finding a way that feels good in your body rather than feeling like you’re stuck. You should never feel stuck,” she said. “There should always be another option that someone can provide you so you’re like, ‘wow, look how cool my body is doing these things.’ That’s what I want to teach people — I want people to experience how good it can feel to be like, ‘my body is cool,’ rather than, ‘what’s wrong with me all the time?’

“We don’t need that, especially with everything going on these days,” she went on. “The last thing we need is feeling bad about ourselves continuously. So fitness is an opportunity to be able to connect with our bodies and with other like-minded folks and be like, ‘yeah, let’s do this.’”

Having struggled with body image and eating disorders in her past, McGrath is convinced that, had she encountered a role model with a body-positive take on fitness, her experiences might have been very different — and she wants to be that kind of positive influence for her club members today.

“I wanted this to be inclusive — different bodies, different identities, different lived experiences. We wanted to have a lot of variety for folks to be able to choose what works best for their bodies,” she explained. “So we have a mix of some higher-engaging classes like spin classes and boxing and strength classes. And then we wanted classes that have a sweet balance of making sure that you’re not just like beating your body into submission to feel like your value based on that — so we have mat pilates, yoga, we’ve even had meditation in the past. Bar classes are also nice because they work the smaller muscle groups and help keep your joints supported in those ways that you might not in the larger muscle groups.”

“I hear so many stories from our clients about the crap they’ve dealt with. Then they connect with other community members and are like, ‘my God, that happened to you too.’ And then they become closer.”

Aubrey Endress gets to the heart of choosing the right activities in a recent post about ‘joyful movement’ on the My Health Matters Fitness blog.

“Whether you’re walking with a friend, dancing solo to your favorite song in the kitchen, or finding your center in a yoga class, finding joyful movement establishes a level of trust within ourselves. You are taking the time to really listen to your body and respect it by choosing movement that supports what you need in the moment. No guilt, no shame, no punishment — just connection with what your body truly will benefit from.”

McGrath loves seeing members, many of whom have been scared off by other gyms and who have struggled with body image, find their connection — and a new passion for movement.

“I hear so many stories from our clients about the crap they’ve dealt with. Then they connect with other community members and are like, ‘my God, that happened to you too.’ And then they become closer,” she told BusinessWest. “I think it’s so needed. To be able to make those connections with like-minded folks is really important for a lot of us. And it’s really beautiful to see.”

Down to Business

McGrath reiterated more than once that opening a physical location and bringing on employees — she has 14 of them now — has been challenging and scary, but also deeply gratifying.

“I was terrified to do it — still am, sometimes. At the beginning, I really was trying to figure out what was best for my mental health and how to mix the balance of work and my personal life. With the pandemic, my mental health got pretty bad, and that gave me some perspective of what I was looking to do.

“Then a lot of my clients were starting to express that they wanted to lift heavier weights and be able to go somewhere and do that. That was at a time where a lot of us were saying, ‘OK, maybe we can start going out in public more.’”

She has partnered with other like-minded businesses, like Happy Valley Nutrition, a group of dietitians who, led by founder Amanda Mittman, also promote an anti-diet, weight-inclusive view of fitness and wellness.

“I love connecting with people and making people feel strong and validated in their experiences and their bodies,” McGrath said. “A lot of times, we go through the world thinking that everyone either hates our bodies or sees things about our bodies that aren’t there, and we develop bad body image or eating disorders.

“A lot of people have specifically sought us out because they’re like, ‘you’re different. This is cool.’ This is something they’ve actually been wanting to do, but might not have had the means yet. Or they’re looking for something that can heal their own trauma with movement. I say all the time that I needed this growing up so I could have healed my relationship with my body and my mind. And a lot of people working for us have specifically come here to help people with that.”

Clearly, McGrath has figured out that relationship for herself, and is passionate about helping others get there as well.

“I think this is the first job I’ve had where my cup is filled after I leave, rather than being completely depleted,” she said. “I feel very grateful. I mean, owning a business is no joke. That can be draining. The people are not.”

Lenox Keeps Building Its Brand as a Destination

By George O'Brien March 2, 2026

Community Spotlight Special Coverage

Community Spotlight

Marion Hayden says she’s always had a “love for color, design, and merchandising,” and all three come together in her new venture, Home on Main.

When it comes to the arts, hospitality, history, and architecture, Sara Goodberlet says, Lenox has an extremely strong brand.

It’s been built over time and is fortified by institutional landmarks such as Tanglewood, Shakespeare & Company, the Mount (Edith Wharton’s home), Ventfort Hall (home to the Gilded Age Museum), spas, inns, restaurants, retail shops, nature trails, and much more.

And as the relatively new director of the Lenox Chamber of Commerce, she said one of her primary directives is to protect, nurture, and enhance that brand.

“I want to keep building Lenox as a brand, as a destination,” she said. “It’s a strong brand, but I want to freshen it up a little bit. We’re in a unique position … we have some older, mature, historical roots, but then we also have this fresher, modern vitality that’s also in the mix.”

Elaborating, Goodberlet said one of her goals is to educate and inform the public about not only the pillars of Lenox’s strong arts and hospitality sector — like Tanglewood, which has two Paul Simon concerts featured in a packed 2026 schedule, or Shakespeare & Company, which also a full slate of shows starting in June — but the many small businesses and nonprofits that help make this brand as strong as it is, and the people behind them.

People like Molly Lyon-Joseph, who owns two restaurants in town — Frankie’s, an Italian-American eatery, and Pizzeria Boema — and is set to open a third, Bea’s House, in a historic property, the former Café Lucia on Church Street.

“I want to keep building Lenox as a brand, as a destination. It’s a strong brand, but I want to freshen it up a little bit. We’re in a unique position … we have some older, mature, historical roots, but then we also have this fresher, modern vitality that’s also in the mix.”

Or Scott Shortt, a former financial services veteran turned serial entrepreneur whose latest venture is a unique event space, called the Belvedere, carved out of a former retail space in downtown Lenox.

Or Marion Hayden, a long-time employee at the former Annie Selke store in downtown Lenox, who, after the store closed, decided to keep that destination alive with a venture she calls Home on Main.

Individually and collectively, these businesses (much more on them later) contribute to the vibrancy that defines Lenox for at least three seasons each year — winter is considerably slower and a challenge for many businesses — and also to a highly supportive environment.

“I wouldn’t choose to do business anywhere else — I love the Lenox community. I feel like everyone supports each other; there’s collaboration on many levels,” said Lyon-Johnson, adding that the many hospitality businesses benefit from Tanglewood, especially, but all the major draws, and they support those institutions in kind.

Added Goodberlet, “I’ve never been in a business climate where there’s so much being created. It’s such a treat to help support them, bring people together, and market our area and continue to give it the personality it has.”

For this latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at Lenox and how its brand is stronger than ever.

The Play’s the Thing

Jaclyn Stevenson, director of Marketing & Communications for Shakespeare & Company, described 2026 as an important year for the live theater venue, for many reasons.

For starters, it will be a time to remember Tina Packer, the company’s co-founder and founding artistic director, who passed away on Jan. 9. There will be a celebration of life on May 31 at the Shakespeare & Company campus, said Stevenson, adding that Packer remains an inspiration to all those at the company, and in her honor, the Tina Packer Legacy Fund has been established to support the future of the institution and the work she founded.

Meanwhile, 2026 will mark a financial milestone — this will be the first time since its founding in 1978 that the nonprofit theater is completely debt-free, having paid off the remaining $1.7 million of the $4 million mortgage on its campus, thanks to contributions from its board of trustees and a combination of successful property transactions, community support, and a strong box office season, Beverly Hyman, chair of the board of trustees, described this financial development as a turning point for the institution.

The Arthur S. Waldstein Amphitheatre, seen here during last season’s production of Romeo and Juliet, is one of three outdoor theaters at Shakespeare & Company.

“We have some long-term board members who have been around the block a few times in terms of financial ups and downs, and even they see this as a turn into all new territory,” she said. “We now have the opportunity to expand education programs — including our nationally recognized Shakespeare in the Courts program — and to focus on our Center for Actor Training, which requires highly skilled faculty.”

There are other developments as well, said Stevenson, noting that Shakespeare & Company, named by Newsweek as one of the top outdoor theater companies in the country, is now the new home to six sculptures created by noted philanthropist Harold Grinspoon. Each more than 30 feet high, the sculptures create a new attraction on the property that visitors can enjoy year-round.

Then there’s the 2026 schedule, which includes a limited run of Midsummer Dreamers, a two-person interpretation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Matthew Barber’s Fireflies; and a production of Twelfth Night.

Goodberlet said that, while large institutions such as Tanglewood, Shakespeare & Company, and the Mount are in many ways the foundation of Lenox’s arts and hospitality base, this sector has many moving parts, with the emphasis on moving.

“You always put together a plan, you make assumptions, and you work through the details and consider a lot of scenarios and how things will work. But it’s all theory until you actually start putting it into practice.”

Indeed, while there are some constants, there is always change and new additions to the landscape, all of which contribute to the overall Lenox vibe.

These pieces include Lyon-Joseph’s restaurants, which, in addition to fine dining, provide jobs to people of all ages, but especially young people. She said she’s diligent about providing not just a paycheck, but learning experiences on many levels.

Indeed, she recently took her leadership team to the Gramercy Tavern in New York City’s Flatiron District to get a first-hand look at how that landmark establishment provides customer service, and to learn from what patrons experience.

“The Gramercy Tavern is known for their hospitality,” she said, “and I wanted my team to see what it’s like on the other side of that, so they can take it home and have that amazing experience.”

As for Lyon-Joseph’s latest endeavor, it involves renovating an 1853 landmark, as well as opening another restaurant, in this case one focused on contemporary new American cuisine.

“I love old antiques, and I’ve spent the past year and a half collecting things that are going to be placed in the restaurant,” she explained, listing, among other things, a telephone from the early 20th century that will carry a sign that says ‘Call Mom.’

“We’re a very serious restaurant in terms of our menu and our wine list, but our approach is very whimsical; we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” she told BusinessWest, adding that she’s expecting to open later this month.

Designs on Growth

Hayden brings a diverse background to her new role as shop owner and entrepreneur.

Indeed, she worked in publishing for many years, and later as an assistant to Doug Trumbull, Academy Award-winning film director and visual effects producer, before studying interior design at the New York School of Interior Design and then working for local designers.

She became the on-site manager of the Anne Selke store on Main Street in Lenox, named after the interior designer who created, and later sold, the Pine Cone Hill and Dash & Albert brands of home décor.

When the store that was created to showcase those brands closed in October 2024, Hayden sensed the disappointment among customers and those in the community and decided to take an entrepreneurial plunge and open a similar outlet at that location, taking her career in a different and rewarding direction.

Lenox at a Glance

Year Incorporated: 1767
Population: 5,095
Area: 21.7 square miles
County: Berkshire
Residential Tax Rate: $9.85
Commercial Tax Rate: $14.37
Median Household Income: $85,581
Median Family Income: $111,413
Type of Government: Select Board, Open Town Meeting
Largest Employers: Canyon Ranch, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Kimball Farms
* Latest information available

“I have always had a love for color, design, and merchandising,” she told BusinessWest. “Opening Home on Main gave me the opportunity to stretch those creative inspirations and knowledge. I can merge this creative side with my administrative skills — because a retail business heavily relies on both when you are the sole owner.”

Home on Main opened in January 2025 and recorded a solid first year thanks to a a wide range of brands, including Pine Cone Hill and Dash & Albert, and products ranging from rugs — there’s a ‘rug library’ that affords individuals the opportunity to take out samples and see how they look in their homes — to candles, diffusers, and pillows.

Hayden said she attracts a broad base of customers that include local residents, those with second homes in and around Lenox, and those vising the community and taking in all it has to offer.

“Once Tanglewood opens, the population swells — it’s a big draw,” she explained, adding that, like other businesses in town, she struggles during ‘shoulder season,’ but understands the year-long pattern of business and plans accordingly.

Shortt, as noted earlier, worked in finance for many years before moving to Lenox in 2010, when he purchased an inn and spent seven years renovating it and then operating it before selling it in 2022.

He then put his focus on renovating the former retail space at 21 Housatonic St. into something he said was lacking in Lenox, a versatile event space that could host everything from weddings to company retreats to nonprofit events.

Opened just over a year ago after an extensive, two-year renovation that included construction of a commercial kitchen, the Belvedere has become a popular alternative for all types of gatherings.

“We’ve done birthday parties, weddings, rehearsal parties, corporate meetings, product launches, baby showers, bridal showers, a little bit of everything,” Shortt said, adding that the facility’s first year was solid, and the business now has a firm foundation on which to build.

“We got our legs under us, and we had a large number of various events,” he noted. “The thing that was great was … you always put together a plan, you make assumptions, and you work through the details and consider a lot of scenarios and how things will work. But it’s all theory until you actually start putting it into practice and have all those different types of events to make sure it comes together.

“And it did — we’ve proven it out in various scenarios and ways, and we’re very pleased,” he went on, adding that, for year two, the goal is to continue adding events, especially meetings and other corporate uses.

“Those typically happen outside the summer season and usually happen in the middle of the week,” Shortt explained. “So those events are additive — they don’t take away from weekend social events.”

The Belvedere is just one of dozens of businesses contributing to the Lenox ‘brand,’ one that has stood the test of time and continues to grow, evolve, and make this community a truly unique destination.

State Awards $11.7 Million to Electrify Public School Buses

By BusinessWest Staff February 27, 2026

Daily News

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center announced $11.7 million in funding for six school districts and private transportation providers as part of the fourth round of the School Bus Deployment program. This initiative supports communities putting dependable, modern, electric school buses on the road, making transportation more reliable for students and more affordable for school districts.

“We’re helping school districts upgrade their buses and give our kids the best,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “By electrifying school buses, we’re reducing pollution and making transportation more affordable for schools.”

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) School Bus Deployment program provides both financial support and hands-on technical planning assistance to ensure a smooth transition for school districts. The program also focuses on supporting high-need and environmental justice communities.

Round 4 grantees include Boston Public Schools ($2,500,000), Acton-Boxborough Regional School District ($1,959,000), Springfield Public Schools ($598,375), Doherty’s Garage Inc. supporting Lincoln and Newton Public Schools ($2,425,000), Highland Electric supporting Belmont Public Schools ($1,839,013), and Student Transportation of America supporting Chicopee Public Schools ($2,390,000).

“The School Bus Deployment program gives communities the tools to provide cleaner, healthier transportation for students,” said Rebecca Tepper, Massachusetts secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs. “This funding improves air quality and protects the long-term health of Massachusetts children and residents.”

To date, MassCEC’s School Bus Deployment program has funded projects to purchase 423 electric school buses across 20 districts and their transportation operators, representing a total investment of more than $34 million. These projects reflect significant statewide momentum toward cleaner, healthier student transportation, while building practical experience in charging infrastructure, operations, and utility coordination.

Storrowton to Host Maple Harvest Day, Pancake Breakfast on March 14

By BusinessWest Staff February 27, 2026

Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Maple Harvest Day & Pancake Breakfast returns to Storrowton Village Museum on Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees can learn about the history of maple harvesting in New England while indulging in a meal provided by the West Springfield Lions Club and local sugar shack Ferrindino Maple. Advance discount tickets for the breakfast are available for purchase at storrowtonvillage.com, but walk-ups are welcome through 11:30 a.m.

“It’s the first event of the spring for the West Springfield Lions Club,” said Aldo Paier, treasurer of the group. “From that point on, we are busy all year through the Big E. It is the best way to start our year, and we always look forward to it.”

Maple harvesting is an authentic, centuries-old New England tradition. Early European settlers learned how to make maple sugar from Native Americans, then set up sugar camps near maple tree groves. Despite the time and labor production required, maple sugar was a very important resource that was regularly traded and sold. It remains a staple of New England’s identity.

The West Springfield Lions Club will be flipping pancakes and serving them hot off the griddle with pure Ferrindino maple syrup in the Village’s Greenwich Barn from 10 a.m. to noon. Plates include a side of sausage with coffee or juice. All proceeds from the breakfast will be donated to Storrowton Village Museum’s year-round educational programming.

“People come no matter what the weather is,” said Jessica Fontaine, Eastern States Exposition’s director of Storrowton Village Museum. “Our visitors acknowledge Maple Harvest Day as the start of spring, and we are happy that they choose to spend it learning with us.”

During the event, Storrowton Village’s historic Gilbert Farmhouse will be transformed into a sugarhouse, allowing visitors to learn how syrup has been harvested throughout many generations. From tree tapping to sap boiling, volunteers will demonstrate the process of harvesting and provide 19th-century, open-hearth cooking demonstrations. Guests will also have access to trade demonstrations, docent-led tours, trolley rides to the Eastern States Farmers Market and Wine Café, and a glimpse at the second floor of the farmhouse. Ferrindino Maple will offer information sessions, product tastings, and maple items for sale.

“I think it is interesting for families to come see the maple harvest craft,” said John Leary, past president of the West Springfield Lions Club. “There aren’t many places where people can see demonstrations like this, and they get to enjoy breakfast.”

Photography is allowed throughout the event. It is recommended that guests dress in layers and wear sensible shoes. The Gilbert Farmhouse is not wheelchair accessible. In the event of severe weather, Maple Harvest Day will be canceled.

Chic Salon Beauty Bar to Host Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting Today

By BusinessWest Staff February 27, 2026

Daily News

HOLYOKE — After a postponement due to this week’s snowstorm, Chic Salon Beauty Bar Inc. has rescheduled its grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration for today, Feb. 27 from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

The upscale salon is located at 250 Westfield Road, Suite 3, Holyoke. On-site parking is available for guests. The event wll include a ribbon cutting at 2:30 p.m. featuring Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, a live DJ, catered refreshments, and a professional photographer capturing every moment.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff February 27, 2026

Picture This

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

413 Entrepreneur Spotlight

In celebration of Black History Month, the 413 Entrepreneur Spotlight — Living Local 413 and Common Capital’s monthly series highlighting local business owners — featured the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA) as this month’s partner. The event spotlighted Black entrepreneurs driving innovation, advocacy, and enterprise across the region. Three standout BECMA entrepreneurs were highlighted: Jon Dyer of Jon Dyer Electrician, Dr. Katrina Banks of Neurologic Optimal Wellness, and Ray Berry of White Lion Brewing Co.

Pictured, from left: BECMA’s Charles Mackenson talks with Dyer, Banks, and Berry at the event.

Back to Square One

Attorneys Ryan Alekman and Rob DiTusa, principals of Alekman DiTusa, LLC, recently gifted $25,000 to Square One’s capital campaign. In November, Square One opened a new early learning center in Springfield’s South End neighborhood. Phase 2 of the $19 million campaign involves the renovation of an adjacent building, which was donated by the Balise family and will become home to a family resource center, providing workforce development programming, family support services, and emergency supplies. The capital gift comes in addition to the law firm’s annual $5,000 classroom sponsorship and $5,000 Derby Party sponsorship.

Pictured, from left: Kristine Allard and Dawn DiStefano of Square One, DiTusa, and Alekman.

Agenda

By BusinessWest Staff February 27, 2026

Agenda

Alumni Achievement Award Nominations

Through April 9: BusinessWest is accepting nominations for its 12th annual 40 Under Forty Alumni Achievement Award. Nominations are due by Thursday, April 9. They can be submitted at businesswest.com/40-under-forty/alumniachievementaward. The finalists will be profiled in BusinessWest, and the winner will be announced at the 40 Under Forty awards gala, presented by PeoplesBank, on Thursday, June 11 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. BusinessWest launched its 40 Under Forty program in 2007 to identify and celebrate rising stars across our region who are excelling in business and involved in the community. Launched in 2015, the Alumni Achievement Award was created to honor the 40 Under Forty honorees who have most impressively continued and built upon their track records of accomplishment. For more information, contact Natasha Mercado-Santana, Marketing and Events Manager, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or [email protected].

License Plate Auction

March 2-8: The Springfield Museums announced a second online auction of low-number Massachusetts license plates featuring Dr. Seuss’s iconic Cat in the Hat. The auction will run from March 2 at 10 a.m. through March 8 at 5 p.m. The Springfield Museums is home to the world’s only museum dedicated to the Springfield native and beloved children’s author (born Theodor Seuss Geisel), with proceeds from the plates supporting the its mission to promote literacy and learning. With just 26 remaining, this might be the final opportunity for Massachusetts residents to own a coveted low-number Dr. Seuss plate. The catalog of plates can be viewed online now at drseussplates.givesmart.com. Highlights include single-digit plates such as DR 2 and DR 5, as well as DR 50, a nod to the publisher’s challenge that inspired Green Eggs and Ham, written using only 50 unique words. Additional double-digit plates — potentially meaningful for birthdays, anniversaries, or other special dates — will also be offered. The auction will take place at drseussplates.givesmart.com, where interested buyers are encouraged to register in advance to receive updates. Bidders can participate in real time from desktop, mobile, and tablet devices. Registration is also available by texting DrSeussPlates to 76278.

Outlook 2026

March 6: The Springfield Regional Chamber announced that Susan Collins, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, will serve as the keynote speaker for Outlook 2026, taking place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Collins contributes to the Federal Open Market Committee’s deliberations on U.S. monetary policy and brings timely insight into the economic forces affecting businesses and communities across New England and the nation. Since taking office in 2022, she has led the Boston Fed’s work in economic research, financial stability, community development, and financial innovation. A nationally respected macroeconomist, Collins previously served as dean and provost at the University of Michigan and as a professor at Georgetown University and Harvard University. She was recently recognized by thr American Economic Assoc. as one of its Distinguished Fellows for 2025. Outlook 2026 will bring together business leaders and policymakers to explore what lies ahead from local, state, and federal perspectives. Visit business.springfieldregionalchamber.com/eventcalendar to register.

‘The ABCs of EV Ownership’

March 7: DC Station will host a workshop, “The ABCs of EV Ownership,” from 1 to 2 p.m. at 5 Fulton Ave., Northampton. Attendees will learn all there is to know about making the switch to electric driving. The 45-minute offering will be led by Greg Goff, who oversees EV Base Camp, the education center for DC Station. Goff is an automotive consultant with over a decade of experience with EVs, and he will offer a talk and then answer questions. Topics to be covered include the benefits of going electric; home versus public charging options; understanding charging times and costs; battery care, range, and lifespan; costs; ownership experience; and tax credits, rebates, and other incentives. DC Station opened in October, offering 10 fast, level 3 charging ports for electric vehicles.

First Saturdays at the Print Shop

March 7, April 4, May 2: The Print Shop Makerspace in downtown Holyoke invites families, creatives, and curious community members of all ages to explore hands-on art and design through First Saturdays at the Print Shop, a free, monthly workshop series running February through May. Held on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Print Shop Makerspace, 62 Main St., the series offers welcoming, drop-in workshops that introduce participants to the tools, technology, and creative possibilities of a working print shop and classroom space. No prior experience is required, and all materials are provided while supplies last. Each First Saturday features a different make-and-take activity designed to spark curiosity and build creative confidence. Upcoming workshops include custom sticker printing, wearable art using heat transfer vinyl, and a Print Day in May open house on May 2, part of an international celebration of printmaking and creative production. That event will feature expanded activities and demonstrations, inviting the public to circulate through the space, try multiple creative processes, and celebrate Holyoke’s long history as the Paper City while connecting to a global printmaking movement.

Women Making a Difference Award Dinner

March 9: Each year in March, the global community recognizes women for their achievements regardless of national, ethnic, linguistic, economic, or political divisions. The Zonta International community also celebrates Zonta Rose Day, a time to reflect and give tribute to the women who have empowered us. In this spirit, the Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley announces its Women Making a Difference Award dinner at the Ludlow Country Club. The theme of this year’s International Women’s celebration, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” calls for inclusive legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, and addressing structural barriers to justice and opportunity for women and girls. The honorees for 2026 are champions for this theme: Jacqueline Velez, lead organizer for Holyoke’s Neighbor to Neighbor and community project coordinator for Live Well Springfield, drives campaigns for criminal justice reform, climate action, and housing justice. Samantha Hamilton, director of Coalition Building and Community Engagement at the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts and co-founder of A Queen’s Narrative, leverages more than 22 years of experience to advance health equity, address environmental and social disparities, and empower women and girls. Marianne Winters, who has forged a career dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault, held executive leadership roles at Jane Doe Inc. and the Rape Crisis Center of Central Massachusetts prior to her nearly 15-year tenure as executive director of Safe Passage. Darlene Elias, a social worker, writer, activist, and long-time advocate in child welfare and community organizing, is a co-founder of the Writing Sisters collective and a board member of Alianza and the Straw Dog Writers Guild. The event will start with a reception at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m. and the program to folow. RSVP by March 2 at [email protected]. Attendees can pay at the door for the buffet ($35 for an individual or $30 each for a table of eight) or pay online. For more information, visit www.zontaqv.org.

‘Homebuying 101: Your Path to Homeownership’

March 12: Monson Savings Bank will host a free workshop, “Homebuying 101: Your Path to Homeownership,” from 6 to 9 p.m. at Red Rose Pizzeria in Springfield. The bank has designed this workshop to break down the homebuying process from start to finish in an easily digestible format, focusing on the fundamentals. It was developed to be informative, friendly, and actionable, ensuring attendees leave the event feeling hopeful and supported as they take steps toward homeownership. The event will be hosted by Monson Savings Bank homebuying experts Wil Morales, Terry Poloski, and Brett Charron, who will provide helpful advice and answers to attendees’ questions, as well as cheat sheets, tools, and a clear plan to make homeownership possible. The bank will provide registrants with complimentary light refreshments and free parking. To further support the homebuying success, registered attendees will be gifted a coupon offer of up to $585 off an appraisal fee, along with an opportunity to win gift card drawing prizes. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, visit www.monsonsavings.bank/homebuyers-event or call (413) 267-4646 for assistance.

St. Patrick’s Breakfast

March 18: The Greater Holyoke Chamber invites the entire community to its annual St. Patrick’s Breakfast, presented by Witman Properties, PeoplesBank, HG&E, bankESB, and Greenfield Cooperative Bank. The event will take place at 7:30 a.m. at the Log Cabin. This traditional gathering offers an opportunity for residents, business leaders, community leaders, and community members to reconnect, celebrate local achievements, and honor this year’s distinguished award recipients. Award presentations will be complemented by a raffle featuring a variety of prizes. Businesses and individuals are encouraged to submit raffle prizes, further highlighting their commitment to the community, while attendees are invited to purchase raffle tickets in advance or at the breakfast to support the chamber’s efforts. As an added highlight, crowd favorites Last Night’s Fun will return to perform. Visit holyokechamber.com to register and secure raffle tickets.

Pickleball Tournament

March 29: Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) is hosting a high-energy pickleball tournament at the Picklr, 415 East Main St., Westfield, from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., bringing together players of all skill levels for a full day of fun in support of affordable housing in Western Mass. The tournament is a two-player team round robin event, with the day divided into timed sections based on skill level to ensure competitive and enjoyable play for everyone. Registration is required, and tickets cost $50 per person. All proceeds from the event will benefit Greater Springfield Habitat and its mission to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. In addition to tournament play, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets and Habitat merchandise throughout the day. GSHFH is also seeking event sponsors to help make the tournament a success. Sponsorship opportunities include four levels: ace sponsor ($1,500), kitchen sponsor ($1,000), court sponsor ($750), and community sponsor ($500). Sponsors will receive recognition and visibility while directly supporting affordable housing efforts in the region. For registration details, sponsorship information, and event updates, visit habitatspringfield.org/pickleball.

Women’s Leadership Conference

April 2: Bay Path University announced that award-winning journalist Gayle King will serve as the keynote speaker at the 29th annual Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC), taking place at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield. Since joining CBS News in 2011, King has interviewed world leaders, political figures, and cultural icons, ranging from Barack Obama to Billie Eilish to Elon Musk. Her work exploring social issues, politics, pop culture, history, and race has earned her three Emmy Awards, induction into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame (2018), and inclusion on TIME magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People (2019). The WLC will also feature lunchtime speaker Michelle Poler, an entrepreneur and brand strategist whose motivational philosophy, Hello Fears, has inspired thousands to step outside their comfort zones and unlock their full potential. She has presented to organizations including TEDx, Google, Facebook, Wells Fargo, ESPN, P&G, and Microsoft. Breakout sessions throughout the day are led by top business experts and coaches. Tamilla Triantoro, associate professor at Quinnipiac University, will examine the impact of artificial intelligence on leadership, helping leaders to deploy AI responsibly. She has been featured in BBC, Forbes, and Fast Company. Melissa Majors, a business advisor and coach, will lead a session that draws on her leadership experience to address the challenges of modern work, such as burnout, disconnection, groupthink, and more. Additional breakout speakers include Erin Stafford, who will share lessons on maintaining balance through the lens of a self-described “recovering Type A overachiever,” and Sheree Cain-Jones, who will draw on her lived experiences as a teen mother, adult college student, and TEDx coach to offer strategies for rising above perceived limitations. Visit www.baypath.edu/events-calendar/womens-leadership-conference for more information on the conference, sponsorship opportunities, and ticket sales.

Difference Makers Gala

April 7: Tickets are now on sale for the 18th annual Difference Makers awards gala, hosted by BusinessWest. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The class of 2026 — profiled in the Feb. 16 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com — includes Ryan Alekman and Robert DiTusa, partners, Alekman DiTusa, LLC; Rachelle Hannoush, director of Youth, Violence Prevention, and Court Support Programs, YWCA of Western Massachusetts; Jess Miller, comedian and founder, the Kind Squad; Darby O’Brien, owner, Darby O’Brien Advertising; Julie Quink, managing principal, Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C.; Edward Sokolowski, managing partner and wealth advisor, Pioneer Valley Financial Group; Margaret Tantillo, executive director, O’Dell Women’s Center; and Zeno Temple, founder, Just Us Movement. Tickets cost $95 per person, and tables of 10 or 12 are available. They can be purchased at businesswest.com/eventcalendar/difference-makers-2026-tickets. The 18th annual Difference Makers program is sponsored by Burkhart Pizzanelli, TommyCar Auto Group, and Westfield Bank. The Difference Makers program was launched in 2009 to recognize and celebrate the work of individuals, groups, businesses, and institutions that are positively impacting the Pioneer Valley. For more information on tickets or sponsorships, call Natasha Mercado-Santana, Marketing and Events manager, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or email [email protected].

EANE Leadership Summit

April 9: The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) announced that its annual Leadership Summit supporting organizational learning in the New England region will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the MGM Conference Center in Springfield. Today, being a people leader is harder than ever. The theme for this year’s Leadership Summit is “Elevate Your Impact,” and the team from Radical Candor will present the opening keynote session. Kim Scott’s book has been a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller for years, and her guiding principles around caring authentically and challenging directly is widely embraced by leaders around the world as an effective leadership strategy. Radical Candor coach Stephanie Sage will share these insights with the audience. The conference also features lunchtime keynote Arel Moodie and a day full of high-impact workshop sessions. To learn more or register for this event, visit www.eane.org/event/leadership-summit-2026 or email Allison Ebner at [email protected].

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff February 27, 2026

People on the Move

Lydia Dodson

Reena Lichtenfeld

Humberto Ariza

Bay Path University announced the appointments of Lydia Dodson as chief of staff to the president, Reena Lichtenfeld as vice president for Enrollment Management and Marketing, and Humberto Ariza as director of Augmented Intelligence Operations. Dodson, a skilled higher education professional with more than a decade of senior leadership experience, reports directly to President Sandra Doran. She will lead the operations of the Office of the President and serve as liaison to the board of trustees, partnering closely with board leadership to support effective governance, trustee engagement, and board communications. She will also oversee presidential communications, guide the university’s grants strategy, and coordinate government relations efforts, helping to align external partnerships and resources with Bay Path’s mission and long-term strategic priorities. Most recently, Dodson served as executive director of the Future of Work Institute & Partnerships at Massasoit Community College, where she led workforce and economic development initiatives and cultivated partnerships across education, government, and industry. Previously, she served as chief of staff and associate vice president of Strategy, Planning, and Innovation, following earlier roles in the President’s Office, including serving as primary liaison to the board of trustees. She earned a bachelor’s degree in management from Johnson & Wales University. She holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a doctor of education degree in higher education leadership from Johnson & Wales University. Lichtenfeld will join the executive leadership team and provide strategic leadership for enrollment management, marketing, and communications. Most recently, she served as senior vice president at RNL + Encoura, where she led Enrollment and CRM Consulting Services, overseeing organizational assessments, marketing and communication audits, and student journey optimization for institutions nationwide. Her prior roles at RNL + Encoura include Vice president, assistant vice president, and executive consultant, during which she advised colleges and universities on strategic enrollment planning, recruitment strategy, governance, accreditation, and compliance. Earlier in her career, she held senior enrollment leadership roles at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development and Laureate Education. At Bay Path, Lichtenfeld will oversee undergraduate and graduate admissions, marketing, communications, and the enrollment center, leading a division of 56 professionals. She will guide the development of data-informed enrollment and marketing strategies that support the university’s mission, strengthen brand identity across all campuses and online programs, and drive sustainable enrollment growth across all modalities. She holds a doctor of education degree in higher education administration from Walden University, a master of education degree in higher education administration, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Carolina. Ariza brings more than a decade of experience in higher education as a scholar, academic leader, and strategist. Prior to joining Bay Path, he served at D’Youville University, where he led initiatives focused on innovation in digital learning and AI-enhanced education. He holds a doctorate in education and is a published author and researcher on AI and online learning. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in AI and hyperautomation through EUNEIZ Universidad and EBIS Business Techschool in Spain. In addition to his academic work, Ariza was a co-founder and now serves as senior advisor to a multinational AI-powered educational technology company that supports higher education institutions in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East, regions facing some of the highest barriers to access in higher education. An internationally invited speaker and podcast host, he regularly engages faculty, academic leaders, and policymakers in conversations about the responsible, mission-aligned use of AI in education. His leadership and scholarship have been recognized with the Future Leaders Scholarship Award from the Assoc. of American Colleges and Universities. At Bay Path, Ariza will provide leadership for the university’s AI initiatives at all levels.

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Jeff Carpenter

M&T Bank announced the appointment of Jeff Carpenter as its new regional president for Massachusetts. With more than two decades of corporate and specialty banking experience, Carpenter brings deep regional knowledge, financial expertise, and a strong record of leadership to this role, reinforcing M&T’s commitment to delivering exceptional service to its customers. Carpenter has served as executive vice president, head of Specialty and Corporate Banking since 2023. In his expanded role as regional president, he will guide M&T’s regional leaders, including members of its retail banking, business banking, commercial banking, wealth management, government banking, and charitable teams, as well as leading the collaborative, Boston-based team. An active member of the Boston community, he will continue to serve on several boards, including the YMCA of Greater Boston, Just Living Communities, and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining M&T Bank, Carpenter led several Capital Markets, Commercial Banking, and Credit teams at People’s United Bank, Banco Santander, and Sovereign Bank. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Bentley University.

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Janna McLaughlin

AnnieMac Home Mortgage announced the hiring of Janna McLaughlin as a new branch manager, strengthening the company’s growing presence across Western Mass. A longtime Western Mass. resident, she brings professional expertise and deep local roots to her new role. Advancing through increasingly responsible roles since 2018, McLaughlin works with buyers across the spectrum, but her specialties include helping first-time homebuyers and working with real estate investors and self-employed borrowers with DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) loans. Her knowledge of these specialized programs has made her a trusted resource for clients navigating non-traditional lending scenarios. McLaughlin concentrates her efforts in Hampshire and Hampden counties, serving clients throughout Western Mass., and is also licensed in Connecticut, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia.

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Peter Pan Bus Lines announced the appointment of Jacob DuBois as senior director of Safety and Security, effective Feb. 1. He brings extensive experience in transportation safety and operations to his new role. He most recently served as Connecticut Division manager, overseeing daily operations while maintaining a strong focus on safety, regulatory compliance, and service excellence. Prior to that role, DuBois served as director of Safety and Security at Peter Pan Bus Lines, leading key initiatives to strengthen the company’s safety culture and compliance programs. In his new position, DuBois will oversee all aspects of Peter Pan’s safety and security operations, working closely with senior leadership to ensure the highest standards of safety, security, and regulatory compliance across the organization.

•••••

Kyle Shepard

MountainOne Bank announced the promotion of Kyle Shepard to assistant vice president of Loan Operations and business analyst manager. In his role as AVP of Loan Operations, Shepard oversees the daily functions of the Loan Servicing department, including payment processing, escrow management, and collections. As business analyst manager, he supervises a team responsible for developing and implementing strategies and procedures that strengthen operational efficiency, enhance customer service, and mitigate risk. Shepard joined MountainOne in March 2014 as a personal banker. Over his nearly 12 years with the organization, he has advanced through a series of roles including electronic banking specialist, customer care liaison, and operations analyst. Most recently, he served as AVP, operations manager prior to his promotion. He is a graduate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a degree in business administration and management, as well as an accredited ACH professional.

•••••

Connor Phillips

Phillips Insurance has expanded its Construction Services Group with the addition of Connor Phillips as director of Surety. Phillips joins the agency from Arch Surety, the eighth-largest surety writer in the U.S., where he developed expertise in complex surety programs, including joint ventures, subcontractor default insurance, and design-build delivery. In his new role, he will lead and further develop the agency’s surety practice for contractor clients nationwide. He began his career at Arch Surety after graduating from the College of the Holy Cross with a degree in economics and statistics. While at Holy Cross, he served as captain of the Division I men’s golf team and was named a Srixon All-American. He has earned the associate in fidelity & surety bonding (AFSB) and construction risk and insurance specialist (CRIS) designations.

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Joanna Czarniecka

Greenfield/Northampton Cooperative Bank announced the hiring of Joanna Czarniecka as assistant vice president and branch manager of its South Hadley branch office, located at 487 Newton St. She joins the bank with more than nine years of local banking experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from UMass Amherst. In her new role, Czarniecka will oversee daily branch operations, develop and service relationships with existing customers, and assist new customers with loan and deposit products.

•••••

Country Bank announced the appointments of Ted Noonan, president of Noonan Energy, as chairman of the board, and Steve Musso, former chief operating officer of FinPro, as vice chair of the board. Both appointments reflect the Bank’s continued commitment to strong governance, strategic leadership, and long-term stability. Noonan succeeds James Phaneuf, who has served as chairman of the board for the past four years. Phaneuf will continue serving on the board, providing valuable institutional knowledge and ongoing leadership support. As vice chair, Musso will support the board’s leadership and governance, leveraging his experience and perspective to advance the bank’s strategic priorities. The board also recognized Phaneuf for his 29 years of leadership and service on the board, including four years as chairman, and noted his role in guiding the bank through a period of change, growth, stability, and strategic focus.

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Taylor Robbins

The Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) board of directors announced the election of Taylor Robbins as its new board president. Robbins brings extensive business experience and team leadership, as well as a rich history with the GNCC and a deep commitment to its mission. Robbins previously served on the chamber’s ambassador committee, nominating committee, and annual meeting committee. Both Jennifer Ewers, financial advisor at Edward Jones Investments, and Doug Gilbert, vice president, commercial team leader at Florence Bank, will continue their roles as the board’s vice president and treasurer, respectively. Robbins is vice president, business banking relationship manager at M&T Bank, where she supports business owners through business lending and deposit solutions. Previously, she was business relationship manager at UMassFive College Federal Credit Union, where she maintained a loan portfolio of more than 500 businesses in the community.

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Teresa Dupere

Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that Teresa Dupere has joined the firm as Title and Real Estate counsel, effective early November 2025. Dupere brings more than 15 years of experience in real estate law and title matters. Dupere earned her juris doctorate from Western New England University School of Law, completed the paralegal studies program at Elms College, and received her bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences with a minor in biology from UMass Amherst. She has extensive knowledge of residential and commercial real estate title examination and related matters, and will be enhancing the firm’s real estate practice with her expertise. Prior to joining Bacon Wilson, Dupere worked as a real estate attorney at a local general practice law firm, focusing on comprehensive title searches, reviewing legal documents to confirm the accuracy of title information, preparing title reports and maintaining chain-of-title records, and resolving title defects to ensure clear title prior to closing. She will work primarily out of Bacon Wilson’s Springfield office, supporting both the firm’s residential and commercial real estate departments.

•••••

Patrick LaBelle

The Center for Community News (CCN) at the University of Vermont named Holyoke Community College (HCC) radio station manager Patrick LaBelle a Community News Champion for 2026. LaBelle is one of 150 journalism leaders from colleges across the country who will be part of the organization’s 2026 class of Faculty Champions. These individuals, who include college faculty and staff members, are being recognized for their efforts to start or expand college-led reporting programs in their region and their contribution to a national movement of student-powered community reporting. LaBelle comes from a community news background. He received his bachelor’s degree in communications and mass media from UMass Amherst and has worked for three community access media stations: Canton Community TV, Hadley Media, and Frontier Community Access Television. He is also a former DJ on WMUA 91.1 FM at UMass. Since coming on board in 2024 as manager of the HCC radio station, WCCH 103.5 FM, LaBelle has launched a number of new initiatives, including “Live From Studio B,” a series of short, in-studio musical performances modeled after National Public Radio’s Tiny Desk Concerts. He also hosts a weekly radio show on WCCH (“The Power Hour with Professor Pat,” on Tuesdays from 1 to 2 p.m.), and is adviser to the HCC Radio Club and co-host of “The Green Thread” podcast, a new, monthy series of HCC alumni interviews.

•••••

Bulkley Richardson announced that Lisa Harty has been named vice chair of the YMCA of Greater Springfield’s corporate board of directors executive committee. Harty, an attorney at Bulkley Richardson, focuses her practice on representing healthcare professionals in medical malpractice matters. Her expertise as both a medical doctor and an attorney bolsters her ability to understand her clients’ cases to develop the strongest defense possible. The YMCA’s mission is to serve human needs in Greater Springfield by providing programs that promote lifelong personal growth and the balanced development of spirit, mind, and body for all. Throughout the 14 cities and towns in the region, YMCA members and participants are impacted by core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff February 27, 2026

Company Notebook

Monson Savings Bank Announces $25,000 in Community Donations

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank announced 11 receipients of its 2026 Community Giving Initiative. This was the 16th year Monson Savings Bank ran its Community Giving Initiative poll. This year, more than 5,200 votes were received — a record-breaking response. By inviting public votes, the bank ensures that its charitable contributions reflect the community’s values and priorities, fostering a shared commitment to enhancing the well-being of the neighborhoods it serves. Now that the votes have been counted, Monson Savings Bank is planning to donate $25,000 among this year’s top 11 vote recipients. Traditionally, 10 recipients are selected, but due to a tie, 11 organizations will be honored this year. The recipients include I Found Light Against All Odds, Springfield; Magic for Maddie, Southampton; Friends of Hampden Seniors, Hampden; South End Community Center, Springfield; Springfield Ballers, Springfield; YWCA of Western Massachusetts, Springfield; Monson Free Library, Monson; Springfield Jewish Community Center, Springfield; CLUBOH, Springfield; Aida’s Food Truck, Palmer; and Miracle League of Western Massachusetts, Holyoke.

Greenfield Cooperative Bank Reopens Northfield Branch

GREENFIELD — On Feb. 6, Greenfield Cooperative Bank hosted a grand reopening and ribbon cutting at its newly remodeled Northfield branch office, located at 144 Main St.. The branch officially opened its renovated lobby to customers and the community on Feb. 2 for full banking services. In addition to a fresh interior, the branch now offers two drive-up lanes and a new, 24-hour drive-up ATM. The branch also offers expanded hours, including earlier weekday openings and Saturday hours.

Ooh La La Lingerie Shop Changes Ownership

NORTHAMPTON — Ooh La La, a lingerie shop in Thornes Marketplace with items that range from the traditional to the risqué, has changed hands, and the new owner — a loyal customer — took the lead on Jan. 1. Monica Fogg purchased the three-year-old business from founder Ali Ingellis of Amherst in a sale that was finalized on Dec. 10. Ingellis works full-time at Mount Holyoke College and recently received a promotion that took her time away from the business. Fogg holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and art history from the University of Delaware and began her work in the hospitality industry at 13 as a self-described peppy coat-check girl at a high-end restaurant in Delaware. She has worked for Nickelodeon in its book publishing division, and most recently at IBM as a product marketing manager. After 17 years in sales and marketing, Fogg took time off in 2023 to focus on a long-term eating disorder and her struggles with body size. She came to the Valley soon after and, with her sister, became an Ooh La La customer. In September, she began work at the store part-time. Now, she plans to blend her marketing experience with her personal learnings to connect with customers, diversify the price range, and expand product lines and size options.

Elms College Partners with State University of Haiti

CHICOPEE — Elms College ratified a new partnership agreement with the State University of Haiti to create a continuing education program. A signing ceremony took place on Feb. 17 at Elms College. This agreement builds upon Elms College’s other university partnerships in Haiti. In 2019, a partnership was established between the Elms College School of Nursing and the Episcopal University of Haiti School of Nursing. That partnership, now the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Haiti Nursing Continuing Education Program, brings together nurse faculty from across Haiti and uses a train-the-trainer approach, with nursing faculty from the Elms College School of Nursing training nursing faculty from across Haiti in leading-edge nursing skills that they bring to their own students. The overall goal is to improve the health of the Haitian people. At the signing event, Elms College welcomed leaders from the State University of Haiti, including Rector Dieuseul Predelus, Professor Ricot Pierre-Louis, and Professor Marie Chantal Dumay.

UMass Amherst Recognized by Fulbright Scholar Program

AMHERST — UMass Amherst has been named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for the fifth time, a designation awarded to an elite group of U.S. universities with the most faculty researchers and administrators selected for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program in 2025-26. UMass Amherst faculty members representing the Riccio College of Engineering (Emily Kumpel and Nick Tooker), the College of Humanities and Fine Arts (Margaret Vickery and Christine Ho), the College of Natural Sciences (Panayotis Kevrekidis), and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Ina Ganguli) were selected last fall to receive Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards. They have since been conducting and sharing research with partner institutions in Africa, Asia, India, and Europe. UMass Amherst is among 25 institutions — and one of only two in New England — named as Fulbright U.S. Scholar Top Producers for 2025-26, the fifth time the university has been recognized among doctorate-awarding, top-tier research universities under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. UMass Amherst Fulbright Scholars join the national Fulbright alumni network dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities and the world. The network includes 44 heads of state or government, 63 Nobel laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 83 MacArthur fellows.

Smith College Named a Top Fulbright Producer

NORTHAMPTON — Smith College has once again been named among the nation’s top producers of Fulbright U.S. Student Program award recipients, continuing a long-standing record of preparing graduates for global engagement and impact. Smith is one of only five baccalaureate institutions that can claim being a Top Producer of Fulbright Students every year since the designation began in the 2009-10 academic year. The 2025-26 recognition marks Smith’s 17th consecutive year on the list. This year, the college ranks 12th among top Fulbright-producing institutions nationwide. The Fulbright Program, established in 1946, is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange initiative, supporting study, research, and teaching abroad. For the third consecutive year, 10 Smith students and recent alums have been selected for Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards. Smith recipients will teach, conduct research, and pursue advanced study in Taiwan, Sweden, South Korea, Germany, Spain, Japan, and Italy. Smith’s sustained success as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution reflects the college’s interdisciplinary approach to learning, where faculty mentorship and student scholarship combine to address complex global challenges.

Whittlesey Wins ClearlyRated Best of Accounting Award

HARTFORD, Conn. — Whittlesey, the largest Connecticut-based CPA and consulting firm, announced it has received the 2026 ClearlyRated Best of Accounting Award for superior client service. ClearlyRated’s Best of Accounting Award recognizes industry leaders in service quality, based solely on client ratings. In the 2025 survey, clients of award winners were 70% more likely to be satisfied than those working with non-winning firms. Whittlesey received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 79.8% of its clients, well above the industry average of 48%. “Service excellence isn’t a one-time achievement — it’s a daily commitment,” said Drew Andrews, managing partner and CEO of Whittlesey. “This award reflects the trust our clients place in us and the dedication our team brings to every engagement. As we move into 2026, we remain focused on listening closely, innovating thoughtfully, and delivering meaningful results that help our clients thrive.”

Chic Salon Beauty Bar Celebrates New Location

HOLYOKE — Chic Salon Beauty Bar Inc., led by husband-and-husband team José Ocaña and Josh Esteva, announced the opening of their newest upscale salon concept at 250 Westfield Road, Suite 3, Holyoke. This latest chapter builds on the company’s legacy as an inclusive beauty leader, following its success in Chicopee. Before launching their first collaborative salon in 2018, Ocaña honed his craft at a former salon in Holyoke, making this return a meaningful homecoming for both owners. Designed as a refuge where every guest feels at home, Chic Salon Beauty Bar Inc. offers a quiet, comfortable environment welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community, trans clientele, and individuals on the autism spectrum. Ocaña, a 20-year expert hairstylist, renowned platform artist, and international educator, partners with Esteva, a six-year esthetician whose experience spans medical technology, HIV counseling, and administrative work at CEPA. Together, they deliver a full suite of treatments — expert hair styling, vibrant coloring, waxing, intense pulsed light therapy, and signature transformations for milestone occasions like quinceañeras and weddings.

Big Y Donates 1 Million Meals to Local Food Banks

SPRINGFIELD — Big Y’s annual Sack Hunger campaign once again delivered a powerful show of community support, providing 1 million meals to food banks serving families across Massachusetts and Connecticut. The milestone reflects the collective generosity of customers, employees, and partners who stepped up during the critical holiday season to help address food insecurity close to home. Through Sack Hunger, every $5 customer donation helps deliver 10 meals to neighbors in need. This impact is amplified by Big Y’s additional contributions, including designated proceeds from the Produce, Floral, and Meat departments, along with a portion of sales from Big Y’s family of private label brands. Since its launch in 2010, Sack Hunger has continued to grow in reach and impact. What began as a modest effort has evolved into a cornerstone of Big Y’s year-round commitment to fighting hunger, complemented by near-daily donations of fresh meat, produce, bakery items, and other essential groceries. The funds raised through Sack Hunger directly support four regional food banks: Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Worcester County Food Bank, Greater Boston Food Bank, and Connecticut Foodshare, which together serve nearly 1,500 local agencies working on the front lines of hunger relief.

ILI Receives 50 Chromebooks for Free English Program

NORTHAMPTON — The International Language Institute of Massachusetts (ILI) announced the receipt of 50 Chromebooks destined for students in its free English program. This donation is a key component of a statewide initiative spearheaded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants, and MassTech. The program is strategically designed to ensure equitable digital access for adult learners across the Commonwealth, providing the essential tools required for success in English for speakers of other languages and literacy courses. The timing of this contribution is critical as immigrants and refugees face heightened challenges navigating shifting federal policies and economic barriers. For many students, these devices represent more than just hardware — they are a gateway to essential services and educational continuity. As a recipient of this gift, ILI continues its 40-year mission of empowering newcomers through language and literacy. This partnership highlights a robust collective effort between state agencies and local nonprofits to build a more inclusive and digitally connected Massachusetts.

GCC Announces Early Retirement Incentive Program

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College (GCC) announced plans to offer an early retirement incentive program to eligible employees represented by AFSME and MCCC, as well as non-union employees, as an initial cost-saving measure in response to a projected budget shortfall. Like many community colleges across Massachusetts and the nation, GCC is navigating an increasingly challenging financial environment shaped by rising operational costs and broader economic pressures affecting public higher education. The early retirement incentive program is intended to reduce personnel costs while minimizing disruption to students and college operations. Participation in the program is voluntary, and the college will assess its financial impact in determining what additional cost-saving measures are necessary. The college will evaluate the results of the early retirement incentive program along with other actions. Any additional cost-saving approaches, if needed, will be informed by the outcomes of this effort and guided by GCC’s commitment to student success, access, and educational quality. GCC will continue to work collaboratively with employee unions and campus stakeholders as the process moves forward and will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Rocky’s Ace Hardware Customers Round Up for Kids

SPRINGFIELD — A few cents at the register turned into a powerful show of community support as Rocky’s Ace Hardware customers once again stepped up for children’s health. This year’s Round Up for Kids campaign raised $113,930 across Rocky’s locations, directing critical funding to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals serving the communities where customers live and shop. The fundraiser ran during two high-traffic periods, one in the spring and another during the late fall and holiday season, giving customers multiple opportunities to round their purchase totals up to the nearest dollar. Those small contributions added up quickly, with Baystate Children’s Hospital receiving more than $23,925 from participating Rocky’s stores in Western Mass. Eight Rocky’s locations in Western Mass. took part in the campaign. One hundred percent of the funds raised at those locations were directed to Baystate Children’s Hospital to support pediatric care, medical innovation. and family-centered services.

Incorporations

By BusinessWest Staff February 27, 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

KNN Motors Inc., 74 Columbia St., Adams, MA 01220. Alycia Rochelo, same. Used car dealer.

AMHERST

Jassidy Foundation Inc., 497 East Pleasant St., Apt. 19, Amherst, MA 01002. Gretchen Santiago, same. Nonprofit corporation organized to provide scholarships and family support services.

CHICOPEE

Nonna’s Village Inc., 29 Concord St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Angela Breault-Klusman, same. Dance studio, gaming room, art room, music room, daycare, boxing room, pet room, gymnastics room, destroy room.

EASTHAMPTON

Richard’s Fuel & Heating Inc., 79 Union St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Dennis Simmons, same. Fuel oil business.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Tribe Wellness and Education Inc., 280 North Main St., Suite 2, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Camillia Comeaux, 7209 Marion Ave., Kansas City, MO 64133. Accessible mental health programs, health education, and youth advocacy initiatives.

HOLYOKE

Awaken the Love Holyoke Inc., 41 Meadow St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Jazmin Acevedo Martinez, 41 Meadow St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Community outreach.

Sisleague Community Corp., 15 Washington Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040. Andrew Velez, same. Sports league.

LUDLOW

Refined Tax Horizons Inc., 33 Sunset Ridge, Ludlow MA 01056. Alexis Jerusik, same. Tax preparation, financial advice, and strategic business planning.

PITTSFIELD

Avondale Specialty Insurance Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Gregory Donovan, 2389 Main St., Suite 100, Glastonbury, CT 06033. Credit insurance brokerage.

HCXD Corp., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Phillip Wedo, same. Human-centered experience design.

KSEM Transport Inc., 23 Hillside St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Eliana Ortega, same. Transportation services and logistics.

Obrai-Run Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Xiaoqun Zhou, same. Research and development as well as sales of technological products.

Pura Life Legacy Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Scott Dulin, same. Provides assistance to educational, recreational, and athletic settings.

Sunsource Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Franklin Moore, same. Program management and/or installation to solar and battery storage systems.

Wahconah Mini Market Corp., 274 Wahconah St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Satishkumar Patel, 236 Main St., Apt. 1, Lee, MA 01238. Convenience and grocery store.

SPRINGFIELD

Best Transportation Services Inc., 927 Boston Road, Springfield, MA 01119. Usman Sheikh, 33 Rawson Hill Dr., Shrewsbury, MA 01545. Provides transportation services.

JYU Transportation Inc., 191 Chestnut St., Unit 3D2, Springfield, MA 01103. Changin Lee, same. Passenger transport services.

Republic of Vietnam Chien Hu Springfield and Surrounding Areas Inc., 39 Chapin Ter., Springfield, MA 01107. Long Nguyen, same. Serving the veterans of the Republic of Vietnam.

Springfield Pirates Old Timers Softball Inc., 141 Phoenix Ter., Springfield, MA 01104. Anibal Nieves-Roque, same. Adult recreational softball activities, clinics, and related events.

STOCKBRIDGE

Community Growth Thru Entrepreneurial Achievement Foundation, 18 Pine St., Stockbridge, MA 01262. Jeffrey Rea, same. Engages in charitable, scientific, and educational activities.

WESTFIELD

Specialized Cleaning Services Inc., 36 Sylvan Dr., Westfield, MA 01085. Carlos Bermejo, same. Residential and commercial cleaning service.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Cape Cod Tick & Mosquito Inc., 211 Union St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Patrick Mercer, same. Tick and mosquito pest control.

WILBRAHAM

OM TJ Food Mart Inc., 5 Patriot Ridge Lane, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Tejas Patel, 77 Grover St., Springfield, MA 01104. Convenience store.

Doing Business as Certificates

By BusinessWest Staff February 27, 2026

DBA Certificates

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

BELCHERTOWN

J&P Engineering Services
30 Mountain View Dr.
Neil Jackson, Harold Pettersen

Life of Riley Pet Care
410 Rockrimmon Road
Holly Burns

Porowski Remodeling
69 Enoch Sanford Road
Peter Porowski

GREAT BARRINGTON

Berkshire Restaurant Group III
10 Castle St.
Vern Kennedy

Café Patisserie Inc.
313 Main St.
Sandra Moreno Rodriguez

Emma Dweck Whole Health
33 Rosseter St.
Emily Dweck

Garden Phocas
3 Forest Row
Elaine Hines

Guido’s Fresh Marketplace
760 Main St.
Guido’s Quality Fruit & Produce Inc.

Harrison Hills Farm LLC
1681 Mill River Great Barrington Road
Charles Harrison

Meg Agnew, LMT
20 Stockbridge Road, #8
Meg Agnew

Mixed Company Theatre
37 Rosseter St.
Joan Ackermann

Norbert’s Locksmith Service
138 Bridge St.
Norbert Ruthel

Paul Kleinwald Art & Antiques
578 Main St., Suite 1
Paul Kleinwald

Plaza Package Store
155 State Road
Krishna Bhakti Corp.

Porch 204
204 Pleasant St.
Margaret Hassett

The Studio
198 Main St., Unit 2
Derek Scammahorn, Kaitlyn Scammahorn

Tableau LLC
80 Maple Ave., Suite 5
Matthew Chester

Tall Tree Productions
11 Lakeview Road
Bruce Humes

HADLEY

Burke Group
241 Russell St.
Lisa Sanderson

DESCO Service
200 Venture Way
Diagnostic Equipment Service Corp.

Doubleday Farm
201 River Dr.
Thomas Doubleday

Genji Sushi
327 Russell St.
Hana Group

JmBee Travel Health
234 Russell St.
Jeri Beals

Out of This World Cleaning Service
116 Rocky Hill Road
Lindsey St. Laurence

Peter’s Nails
458 Russell St.
Chuong Ding

Revival
7 Arrowhead Dr.
David Grace

Riversong Myofascial Release
108 Russell St., Suite A
Aya Mares

River Valley Bodyworks
8 Goffe St.
River Valley Bodyworks Inc.

HOLYOKE

Isaac Painting N Repair
8 St. James Ave.
Ivan Carasquillo

Lyuba’s Cleaning Services
19 Farnum Dr.
Lyubov Sour

Pixel Health
4 Open Square Way
GPMF Holdings Inc.

Posters
214 Maple St.
Wayne Worsham, Nancy Worsham

Rusty’s Place
930 Hampden St.
Ioanis Dimtrou

WWNet Services
7 Meadow St.
Scott Clark

NORTHAMPTON

Carrie Ferguson Music
68 Cherry St.
Carrie Ferguson

Feel Good Shop Local
341 Audubon Road
Michelle Wirth

From the Apple Tree
20 Hampton Ave.
Heidi Bradley

HB Real Estate
70 Old South St.
Jeffrey Hoess-Brooks

Homestead
7 Strong Ave.
Jeremy Werther

Kathleen Doe Creative Design
39 Garfield Ave.
Kathleen Doe

Measured Marketing Lab
152 Crescent St.
Christopher Chaput

Northeast Painting Associates Inc.
881 North King St.
Christopher Hellyar

Pinocchio Pizzeria
122 Main St.
Oscar Saravia

Richard Huntley & Sons
254 Easthampton Road
Richard Huntley

Sutter Meats
65 King St.
Terence Ragasa

WESTFIELD

Broadbrook Landscaping & Irrigation
546 Southampton Road
John Muller

Divine by Design
77 Mill St., #320
Brie Wheeler

Florek Family Farm
840 Granville Road
Christopher Florek

IV Home Improvement
1029 North Roa, #24
Ion Velicinschi

Simon Sez Pets
35 Schumann Dr.
Richard Simons

Tekoa Country Club
459 Russell Road
Guarang Panwala

Untangled Sue
43 Union St.
Susanne Kingsley

Wash Works Laundromat
3 White St.
Alexsandr Bloom

Westfield Animal Clinic
422 North Elm St.
D&J Animal Clinic LLC

Bankruptcies

By BusinessWest Staff February 27, 2026

Bankruptcies

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

Cartagena, Nicole M.
a/k/a Torres, Nicole M.
79 Dana St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/20/2026

Castro, Carlos J.
a/k/a Castro Medina, Carlos Javier
Laboy, Victoria
a/k/a Laboy Robles, Victoria
68 Newton St., Apt. 4L
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/22/2026

Champagne, Kurt R.
273 Old Farm Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/29/2026

DeLaCruz, Jorge Miguel
20 Pembroke Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/29/2026

Dubuque, Michael William
10 Bates St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/21/2026

Earl, Jennifer
a/k/a Bryant, Jennifer
3 James Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/24/2026

Eric Vick LLC
12 Carroll St
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/27/2026

Erickson, Ashley P.
152 Rollins St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/22/2026

Gould, David K.
31 East Road
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/22/2026

Hayes, Alex L.
140 Chestnut St., Unit 508
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/29/2026

Johnson, Jeffrey Allan
303 Scantic Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/19/2026

Kerrissey, Ryan William
44 Hamilton Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/21/2026

Kowarsky, Nathan J.
21 Ellendale Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/23/2026

LaRochelle, David J.
27 Hancock St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/23/2026

Libiszewski, Kim Marie
474 Poole St.
Ludlow, MA 01056-1630
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/29/2026

Lucey-Maynard, Debra Ann
476 Michael Sears Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/29/2026

Mann, Brian M.
77 Corey Colonial
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/30/2026

Otero, Gilberto
19 Worcester Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/28/2026

Pecord, Gerald Leroy
560 Riverglade Dr., Apt B.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/29/2026

Pinkney, Rebecca Lynn
146 Lamplighter Lane
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/22/2026

Rice-Nichols, Shannon M.
13 Crestview Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/22/2026

Rogers, John West
164 Wenonah Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/23/2026

Tasakovic, Eric Francis
Tasakovic, Kimberly Ann
50 East Gooseberry Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/23/2026

Wade, Aaron D.
P.O. Box 1024
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/23/2026

Watson, Shantell K.
180 Cabinet St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/28/2026

Real Estate Transactions

By BusinessWest Staff February 27, 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

COLRAIN

3 Church St.
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Sarah Couture
Seller: Lowe INT
Date: 01/29/26

5 Church St.
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Sarah Couture
Seller: Lowe INT
Date: 01/29/26

DEERFIELD

24 Graves St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $519,000
Buyer: Roger M. Manzo
Seller: Anthony R. Lechner
Date: 01/23/26

282 Lower Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $262,700
Buyer: Data Mortgage Inc.
Seller: Gary M. Straw
Date: 01/30/26

710 River Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Plumtree Real Estate LLC
Seller: Adkins, Elizabeth, (Estate)
Date: 01/30/26

GREENFIELD

23-25 Alden St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Chad W. Fraker
Seller: Pronovost, Leea, (Estate)
Date: 01/29/26

227 Deerfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Salim N. Abdoo
Seller: RCF 2 Acquisition TR
Date: 01/23/26

27 Lunt Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $303,050
Buyer: Eric Hoag LT
Seller: Gail M. Roberge
Date: 01/21/26

24 Pine St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $301,000
Buyer: Madden Aleia
Seller: Jennings, Caroline P., (Estate)
Date: 01/28/26

HAWLEY

41 Buckland Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $419,000
Buyer: Tim Curry
Seller: Kit J. Ullian
Date: 01/22/26

LEYDEN

218 Greenfield Road
Leyden, MA 01301
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Michelle Goodrich
Seller: William D. Streeter
Date: 01/30/26

MONTAGUE

64 Main St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Spencer Telega
Seller: H. C. Hillard
Date: 01/23/26

132 Meadow Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Miles Louis
Seller: Eds Enterprises LLC
Date: 01/20/26

NORTHFIELD

294 Captain Beers Plain Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Jason Bassett
Seller: Clough, Diane, (Estate)
Date: 01/28/26

ORANGE

245 Brookside Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Quezia R. Cordeiro
Seller: Sean Coffin
Date: 01/29/26

27 Chase St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Robert Powers
Seller: Jacobo Delacruz
Date: 01/26/26

248 Holtshire Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $429,900
Buyer: Pendjy P. Valentin
Seller: Winridge Holdings LLC
Date: 01/23/26

115 Town Farm Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Kristen M. Bisceglia
Seller: Cormier, Eric J., (Estate)
Date: 01/27/26

43 West Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Vedette Ylioma
Seller: Nikolas Vallejo
Date: 01/22/26

35 West River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Olivia E. Ross
Seller: Robert J. Powers
Date: 01/23/26

450 West River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: Jgcamc LLC
Seller: Freeborn LLC
Date: 01/29/26

ROWE

20 Brown Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: William J. Bernhardt
Seller: Nancy N. Williams
Date: 01/30/26

SHELBURNE

105 Bridge St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Julian E. Post
Seller: Ambrose I. Mwea
Date: 01/28/26

1127 Mohawk Trail
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Brady J. Beckwith
Seller: Chadwick, Lesley L., (Estate)
Date: 01/23/26

SUNDERLAND

676 Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Eduardo Quinteros
Seller: Deac E. Tiley
Date: 01/28/26

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

98 Alhambra Circle, North
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $615,000
Buyer: Bulldog Realty Group LLC
Seller: Naples Home Buyers TR
Date: 01/21/26

60 Alhambra Circle, South
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Jonathan J. Fontaine
Seller: Virginia A. Donnelly-Sill
Date: 01/23/26

554-556 Franklin St., Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Amjad Real Estate LLC
Seller: Anthony Fazio
Date: 01/23/26

83 Harvey Johnson Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $328,000
Buyer: Joshua Sutton
Seller: James K. Bodurtha
Date: 01/30/26

28 Meadow Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Kara Guimond
Seller: Richard Witek
Date: 01/29/26

667-669 South West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Silver Walnut LLC
Seller: Mark E. O’Malley
Date: 01/21/26

675-677 South West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Silver Walnut LLC
Seller: Mark E. O’Malley
Date: 01/21/26

800 Silver St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: OM Real Estate Holdings LLC
Seller: Waystar 800 Silver LLC
Date: 01/21/26

94 Witheridge St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Evgheni Emciuc
Seller: Phyllis Birch
Date: 01/21/26

CHESTER

73 Ingell Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Jerald Reinford
Seller: Joan E. Deloy-Stalcup
Date: 01/23/26

241 Route 20
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: 241 US-20 LLC
Seller: Carms Restaurant LLC
Date: 01/21/26

CHICOPEE

107 Beauregard Ter.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Chenevert Properties LLC
Seller: Gelinas FT
Date: 01/26/26

27 Bostwick Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Plata O. Plomo Inc.
Seller: Dolores R. Rainey
Date: 01/27/26

566 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Joseph Skutnik
Seller: Naples Home Buyers Inc.
Date: 01/28/26

80 Ann St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Christine M. Torres
Seller: William D. Masse
Date: 01/23/26

1130 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Alexandria M. Richard
Seller: NZ Property LLC
Date: 01/21/26

1133 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Bruce Camire
Seller: David E. Billeter
Date: 01/26/26

14 Chestnut St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: Chicopee Chestnut St. Properties
Seller: PFC Investments LLC
Date: 01/21/26

18 Chestnut St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $287,500
Buyer: Chicopee Chestnut St. Properties
Seller: PFC Investments LLC
Date: 01/22/26

85 Clairmont Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Thomas R. Harris
Seller: Michael J. Harris
Date: 01/28/26

54 Dayton St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Frances Bernier
Seller: Lori J. Wallace
Date: 01/30/26

129 Edgewood Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
Seller: Henri D. Lafond
Date: 01/27/26

22 Franklin St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $755,000
Buyer: Haskell Holdings LLC
Seller: Round Two LLC
Date: 01/22/26

645 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Chicopee Electric Light Dept.
Seller: Ellen J. Kapinos
Date: 01/22/26

655 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Chicopee Electric Light Dept.
Seller: Ellen J. Kapinos
Date: 01/22/26

James St., Lot 1
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: DCL General Construction LLC
Seller: WMass Land Acquisition LLC
Date: 01/23/26

James St., Lot 2
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: DCL General Construction LLC
Seller: WMass Land Acquisition LLC
Date: 01/23/26

James St., Lot 3
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Dcl General Construction LLC
Seller: WMass Land Acquisition LLC
Date: 01/23/26

39 Jean Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Yesenia R. Martinez
Seller: Gerald Gramer
Date: 01/28/26

17 Jeanette Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Dean T. Sydyka
Seller: Lori A. Jerusik
Date: 01/23/26

120 Labelle Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Cameron Randall
Seller: Marek Skora
Date: 01/27/26

83 Madison St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Norquelis Veras
Seller: Patrick R. McNamara
Date: 01/23/26

538 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Inna Lytvynenko
Seller: RGA Properties LLC
Date: 01/30/26

26 Old James St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: DJO Realty LLC
Seller: Roger G. Castonguay
Date: 01/30/26

26 Olivine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $299,999
Buyer: Adam M. Brophy
Seller: New Wave Realty LLC
Date: 01/30/26

162 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $328,000
Buyer: Letrial K. Tillman
Seller: David Hueber
Date: 01/28/26

212 Poplar St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Linda Charbonneau
Seller: Clotilde Ortiz
Date: 01/30/26

15 Riverview Place
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Hector O. Fontanez
Seller: Couture Property Group LLC
Date: 01/23/26

176 Silvin Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Joshua Tracy
Seller: Lauren R. Comtois
Date: 01/23/26

80 Stewart St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Jessica Bailey
Seller: Joel T. Kappenman
Date: 01/23/26

231 Wheatland Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $284,000
Buyer: Berkant Bayram
Seller: Ann E. Kos
Date: 01/29/26

28 Wildermere St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Tyler Cote
Seller: David Cote
Date: 01/23/26

EAST LONGMEADOW

5 Albano Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Ronald Doe
Seller: William R. Arment
Date: 01/30/26

226 Allen St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Zachary Jenkins
Seller: Stephen F. Percy
Date: 01/21/26

49 Chestnut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Bret Sorel
Seller: William B. Sorel
Date: 01/30/26

45 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jads LLC
Seller: Honeyrock Home Buyers LLC
Date: 01/22/26

66 Smith Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $421,000
Buyer: Zhaoshun Yang
Seller: Michelle Gonzalez
Date: 01/21/26

208 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $362,100
Buyer: Wesley W. Brown
Seller: William McMahon
Date: 01/29/26

GRANVILLE

640 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Erin Cohen
Seller: John S. Demyon
Date: 01/22/26

HAMPDEN

70 Rock A. Dundee Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $820,000
Buyer: Paul Picknelly
Seller: Olivia C. Clement
Date: 01/22/26

157 Stony Hill Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Scott M. Driscoll
Seller: William D. Bartels
Date: 01/23/26

HOLLAND

8 Julia Ann Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Haley Remodeling LLC
Seller: Johnny East LLC
Date: 01/20/26

4 Lakeview Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Debra Sibley
Seller: Ellen E. Dymon
Date: 01/22/26

13 Morse Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $325,500
Buyer: Allegra Mira
Seller: Tess Mazzone
Date: 01/29/26

HOLYOKE

Beaulieu St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $1,200,000
Buyer: Stack-Holyoke & Main LLC
Seller: JLL Real Estate LLC
Date: 01/30/26

443-445 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: JRP Properties LLC
Seller: S. & P. Property Group LLC
Date: 01/30/26

179 Central Park Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Samuel Ellison
Seller: William C. Pitt
Date: 01/29/26

41 Dartmouth St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Constitution Property LLC
Seller: Peter W. Symasko
Date: 01/30/26

1421 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Deborah Gavito
Seller: Christel A. Hendricks
Date: 01/30/26

91 Knollwood Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Matthew Pape
Seller: Brian M. Foy
Date: 01/23/26

41 Lynwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Alfred Shattelroe
Seller: Alfred Shattelroe
Date: 01/22/26

41 Lynwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Diamond Matos
Seller: Alfred Shattelroe
Date: 01/22/26

679 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $1,200,000
Buyer: Stack-Holyoke & Main LLC
Seller: JLL Real Estate LLC
Date: 01/30/26

689 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Stack-Holyoke & Main LLC
Seller: JLL Real Estate LLC
Date: 01/30/26

1701-1703 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Brendan Walker
Seller: Daniel E. Walker
Date: 01/28/26

1793 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Jackeline A. Torres
Seller: M. & D. M. Dostal-Pijar Jret
Date: 01/30/26

75 Reservation Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Jason Latshaw
Seller: Edward McHugh
Date: 01/30/26

68 Sycamore St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Jack Berger
Seller: Louise L. Dechert
Date: 01/30/26

50 West Glen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $206,460
Buyer: Lakeview Loan Services LLC
Seller: Juan E. Hernandez-Navarro
Date: 01/29/26

70-72 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $293,500
Buyer: Alex M. Antuna
Seller: Lena E. Dulude RET
Date: 01/28/26

LONGMEADOW

118 Field Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Liam P. Smyth
Seller: Kimberly N. Hickson-Torres
Date: 01/23/26

361 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Leahy
Seller: Mark D. Soycher
Date: 01/28/26

34 Homestead Blvd.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Hedge Hog Industries Corp.
Seller: Brandy Magdalino
Date: 01/29/26

217 Inverness Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Katherine E. Hone
Seller: Samuel B. Bath
Date: 01/30/26

LUDLOW

20 Bondsville Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Ramon B. Valentin
Seller: Suzanne P. Hangasky
Date: 01/30/26

23 Daisy Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $575,000
Buyer: Akin Turkmen
Seller: David Martin
Date: 01/27/26

436 Holyoke St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Jonovan A. Sierra
Seller: TM Properties Inc.
Date: 01/30/26

45 Hunter Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $531,000
Buyer: Frances T. Duda
Seller: Joshua M. Block
Date: 01/20/26

61 Massachusetts Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Hong Zhang
Seller: Keem LLC
Date: 01/30/26

6 Quincy St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $319,000
Buyer: Agostinho Varandas
Seller: Jose A. Coelho
Date: 01/23/26

138 Ridgeview Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Craig Riel
Seller: Hatch, William, (Estate)
Date: 01/20/26

MONSON

101 Cote Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Benjamin Chalue
Seller: Justin S. Pascale
Date: 01/30/26

10 Homer Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Wayne D. Farquhar
Seller: Jesse L. Farquhar
Date: 01/30/26

Moulton Hill Road, Lot 3
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $680,000
Buyer: Stephen J. Sikes
Seller: JHP Builders LLC
Date: 01/27/26

PALMER

4048 High St.
Palmer, MA 01079
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Brickhouse Homes LLC
Seller: Second Chance RT
Date: 01/30/26

1519 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $575,000
Buyer: BL Partners Inc.
Seller: Panther Development Palmer LLC
Date: 01/28/26

1519 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Panther Development Palmer LLC
Seller: Orion Pro Friend ML LLC
Date: 01/28/26

3090-3092 Palmer St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Andrew G. Samuelson
Seller: Palmer Road RT
Date: 01/29/26

SPRINGFIELD

343-349 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Om V & R Holdings LLC
Seller: Island Farm Realty LLC
Date: 01/30/26

3 Ashley St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Alin M. Ferrer
Seller: Lekeisha Lee
Date: 01/30/26

68 Ashley St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: New Beginning Home Solutions LLC
Seller: Raines, Kevin D., (Estate)
Date: 01/30/26

21 Brentwood St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Carly J. Atkinson
Seller: Ronald Doe
Date: 01/30/26

15 Bronson Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $329,900
Buyer: James Patterson
Seller: Paul H. Schmelz
Date: 01/30/26

47 Brookline Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Post Investment LLC
Seller: Alizaya D. Clark
Date: 01/22/26

108 Brunswick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: John Mendenhall
Seller: Ana L. Morrissey
Date: 01/23/26

11 Calvin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Wilfredo N. Quiles
Seller: Evelyn Sanders
Date: 01/30/26

21-23 Carver St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Mirialys E. Hernandez
Seller: Orlando R. Hernandez
Date: 01/30/26

89 Cherokee Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Carolina Reyes
Seller: McKenzie Brothers Realty LLC
Date: 01/29/26

99 Crystal Brook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $670,000
Buyer: Carlos A. Otero
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 01/20/26

26 Cuff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Jenner O. Diaz
Seller: Wilfredo N. Quiles
Date: 01/30/26

53 Fremont St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Berel Rene
Seller: Zuleika Febres
Date: 01/28/26

36 Garland St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Allison Hanna
Seller: Raymond L. Berry
Date: 01/30/26

211 Glenoak Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Janelle James
Seller: R. & R. Home Improvement
Date: 01/29/26

211 Glenoak Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: R. & R. Home Improvement
Seller: NZ Property LLC
Date: 01/29/26

12 Hancock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $900,000
Buyer: Hibiscus Property Mgmt. LLC
Seller: Luong, Binh Ta, (Estate)
Date: 01/23/26

18 Hancock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $900,000
Buyer: Hibiscus Property Mgmt. LLC
Seller: Luong Binh Ta, (Estate)
Date: 01/23/26

18 Kingsley St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Maria Ramos
Seller: Christian I. Perez
Date: 01/30/26

32 Lindsay Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $336,700
Buyer: Stephen E. Marinetto
Seller: Heidi A. Kitchen
Date: 01/23/26

135 Lyman St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $544,000
Buyer: Bar Belmont LLC
Seller: City Of Springfield
Date: 01/26/26

2180-2184 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Razzak Building LLC
Seller: 2180 Main Street LLC
Date: 01/21/26

106 Malden St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Jsbm Homes LLC
Seller: London Realty LLC
Date: 01/29/26

23 Mary St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Brent Thomas
Seller: Virginia O. Pearson
Date: 01/21/26

99 Massreco St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Randall Huston
Seller: Veteran Stan LLC
Date: 01/28/26

50 Newland St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Joseph Barna
Seller: Phantom Holdings LLC
Date: 01/30/26

156-158 Norfolk St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Carmen Rodriguez
Seller: Determination Mortgage TR
Date: 01/22/26

298 Oakland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Leonel Lopez
Seller: Oakland Street Properties LLC
Date: 01/30/26

665 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Barbara K. Padilla-Colon
Seller: NJ Real Estate Property Group LLC
Date: 01/22/26

52 Price St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $303,800
Buyer: Amjad Real Estate LLC
Seller: Yegor Stefantsev
Date: 01/22/26

54 Price St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $303,800
Buyer: Amjad Real Estate LLC
Seller: Yegor Stefantsev
Date: 01/22/26

175 Progress Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $1,058,750
Buyer: Waystar 175 Progress LLC
Seller: 175 Progress LLC
Date: 01/30/26

37 Revere St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: 37 Revere Partners LLC
Seller: Katerina Valentine
Date: 01/30/26

41 Queensbury Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $318,000
Buyer: Xuan T. Bui
Seller: Luz Guerrero
Date: 01/23/26

19 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $289,000
Buyer: Michelle T. Dorsey
Seller: Ashok K. Mizar
Date: 01/22/26

78-80 Shamrock St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Yahaira P. De Los Santos
Seller: Phoenix Development Inc.
Date: 01/23/26

200 Slater Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Timothy N. Lieu
Seller: Tay H. Nguyen
Date: 01/29/26

17 Spencer St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Thao T. Pham
Seller: Quynhanh T. Tran
Date: 01/30/26

35-37 Spruce St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Luis A. Figueroa
Seller: Kmak LLC
Date: 01/20/26

72 Sunapee St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Lee A. Beauchamp
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 01/22/26

115 Thompson St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Nelvis N. Garcia
Seller: Mark R. Pashko
Date: 01/21/26

43 Thorndyke St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Joseph Pasay
Seller: Desmond W. Henry
Date: 01/23/26

138 Warrenton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Morgan Sibley
Seller: Kenneth J. Dube
Date: 01/23/26

72 Wayne St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Dat & Hkuit Realty LLC
Seller: Dat Dang
Date: 01/30/26

54 Winter St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Zahoor Riaz
Seller: Rene J. Young
Date: 01/30/26

1045-1047 Worcester St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Grove Funding II TR
Seller: Alycar Investmetn LLC
Date: 01/20/26

49 Worthy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Amoneki Anglin
Seller: Miguel Maria
Date: 01/30/26

SOUTHWICK

16 Evergreen St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Paula Pascoe
Seller: Dwayne H. Cushing
Date: 01/27/26

21 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Owen Foley
Seller: Ventry Holdings LLC
Date: 01/30/26

Klaus Anderson Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $770,000
Buyer: Thomas J. McLaughlin
Seller: Bernard J. McLaughlin RET
Date: 01/20/26

109 North Lake Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Diana Gentile
Seller: 109 North Lake Avenue LLC
Date: 01/22/26

67 Tannery Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Mike Krasnov
Seller: Siarhei Ryhal
Date: 01/21/26

WALES

60 Lake George Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Shannon Roddy
Seller: Maurer, Cynthia L., (Estate)
Date: 01/30/26

115 Union Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $699,900
Buyer: Tess Mazzone
Seller: Boris Labkovsky
Date: 01/30/26

WEST SPRINGFIELD

22-24 Allen St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Leyla Mamedova
Seller: Vaycheslav Foksha
Date: 01/20/26

52 Baldwin St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Koala Properties LLC
Seller: Dimas LLC
Date: 01/30/26

86 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Derrick Kuloba
Seller: MAA Property LLC
Date: 01/30/26

148 Craiwell Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Kristen V. Muszynski
Seller: Brendan R. Cawley
Date: 01/21/26

141 Havenhurst Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $288,800
Buyer: Anthony Maloni
Seller: Thomas J. Kennedy
Date: 01/23/26

15 High St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Larkspur LLC
Seller: Enhui Zhao
Date: 01/30/26

416 Hillcrest Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Michael A. Grillo
Seller: Steven J. Duga
Date: 01/23/26

74 Maple Ter.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Tiffany Melendez-Campos
Seller: Michael P. Sullivan
Date: 01/21/26
1386 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: Hassle Free LLC
Seller: Abrahamson Properties LLC
Date: 01/26/26

WESTFIELD

846 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Zachary Wacksman
Seller: Birkner, Joseph Louis, (Estate)
Date: 01/21/26

158 Franklin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $377,500
Buyer: Shawn A. Newsome
Seller: John M. Weatherwax
Date: 01/30/26

505 Loomis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Mckenzie Patterson
Seller: Danielle M. Batchelder
Date: 01/23/26

545 Loomis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $397,000
Buyer: Danielle Batchelder
Seller: Gabrielle M. Scheufler
Date: 01/28/26

10 McKinley Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Manar Jalil
Seller: Velis, Fontaine A., (Estate)
Date: 01/30/26

Old Feeding Hills Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Alexsandr Bloom
Seller: Paul J. Bailey
Date: 01/23/26

48 Pleasant St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Alexander N. Deming
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 01/23/26

7 Shepard St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Ivan Balan
Seller: Viktoria A. Brennan
Date: 01/23/26

50 Russellville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Seth Philipp
Seller: Kurt Taylor
Date: 01/29/26

6 South Maple St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Joseph J. Frantiska
Seller: Carol A. Howard
Date: 01/27/26

182 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $920,000
Buyer: Acre Hill LLC
Seller: O’Day Westfield LLC
Date: 01/21/26

184 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $920,000
Buyer: Acre Hill LLC
Seller: O’Day Westfield LLC
Date: 01/21/26

480 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $1,125,988
Buyer: Viktorian Estate LLC
Seller: Marky Marc LLC
Date: 01/30/26

883 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Enwc LLC
Seller: Robert K. Walker
Date: 01/30/26

229-233 Union St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: J. Sperry Realty LLC
Seller: Mary D. Herzog
Date: 01/29/26

229-233 Union St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Melissa A. McCollaum
Seller: J. Sperry Realty LLC
Date: 01/29/26

88 Woodmont St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Viktorian Estate LLC
Seller: Round Two LLC
Date: 01/21/26

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

110 Grantwood Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Timothy Woolf
Seller: Deborah Fisher
Date: 01/30/26

96 Logtown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $575,000
Buyer: Eugene Mattie
Seller: Joseph Tran
Date: 01/23/26

481 Old Farm Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $752,000
Buyer: Catherine A. Riihimaki
Seller: Lea Abiodun TR
Date: 01/20/26

14 Pebble Ridge Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Minsoo Kim
Seller: Chih-Wen W. Su
Date: 01/22/26

BELCHERTOWN

10 Chestnut Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $570,000
Buyer: Kaileigh M. Keizer
Seller: Christopher W. Irving
Date: 01/21/26

633 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Joseph Muse
Seller: Wendie Levitan
Date: 01/30/26

8 Metacomet Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $328,000
Buyer: Haiying F. Conover
Seller: John M. Wegiel
Date: 01/20/26

190 Michael Sears Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Jillian Wilkins
Seller: Joanne H. Kudlay
Date: 01/20/26

16 Rita Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Raj K. Adhikari
Seller: Theresa M. Fleurent
Date: 01/29/26

CHESTERFIELD

204 Ireland St.
Chesterfield, MA 01084
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Laura A. Segatti
Seller: Delano, Eileen B., (Estate)
Date: 01/21/26

EASTHAMPTON

52-54 Everett St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Joyce C. Kieft
Seller: Hans W. Dalhaus
Date: 01/21/26

GRANBY

159 School St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Robert L. Peltier
Seller: Brian Kennedy
Date: 01/20/26

HADLEY

79 Aqua Vitae Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Michael S. Wade
Seller: Deborah Clark
Date: 01/21/26

25 Huntington Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $342,328
Buyer: Theresa Fleurent
Seller: James R. Jackson
Date: 01/30/26

HATFIELD

21 Dwight St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Thomas E. Dadmun
Seller: Deborah L. O’Neill
Date: 01/30/26

MIDDLEFIELD

155 River Road
Middlefield, MA 01098
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Osborne FT
Seller: Anya Messina
Date: 01/29/26

NORTHAMPTON

693 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Barbara M. Diewald
Seller: Kathy C. Couch
Date: 01/29/26

31 Kingsley Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Brian Wert
Seller: Johnson, Eric, (Estate)
Date: 01/23/26

180 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: 14-16 Briggs LLC
Seller: Bermor Taunton LP
Date: 01/29/26

182 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: 14-16 Briggs LLC
Seller: Bermor Taunton LP
Date: 01/29/26

39 Matthew Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Josue X. Colon
Seller: Brock Dykeman
Date: 01/21/26

96 Rick Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Rachel Koh
Seller: Donna W. Hoener
Date: 01/21/26

61 Woodmont Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $170,500
Buyer: H. A. Rasool Construction LLC
Seller: Hubley, Warren R., (Estate)
Date: 01/27/26

PLAINFIELD

29 Union St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $517,000
Buyer: Rachel I. Ban
Seller: Kusek, Thomas B., (Estate)
Date: 01/30/26

SOUTH HADLEY

88 Alvord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $499,900
Buyer: Robert C. Pace
Seller: Bradley RET
Date: 01/20/26

17 Carew St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Ortega LLC
Seller: Naples Home Buyers Inc.
Date: 01/26/26

12 Doane Ter.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $448,000
Buyer: Nicholas Kelleher
Seller: Elizabeth A. Sheridan
Date: 01/21/26

85 Fairview St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Melanie Rachko
Seller: Ann T. Miles
Date: 01/30/26

133 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Timmy Barnes
Seller: McGregor, Scott A., (Estate)
Date: 01/27/26

70 Lathrop St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $644,900
Buyer: Diane Uwacu
Seller: Vantage Home Buyers LLC
Date: 01/28/26

22 Maple St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Paul Dove
Seller: John E. Hauschild
Date: 01/23/26

248-254 Old Lyman Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $1,750,000
Buyer: Round Two LLC
Seller: Ciolek Family LLC
Date: 01/30/26

55 Westbrook Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: JT Realty Associates Inc.
Seller: Paul A. Cataldo
Date: 01/22/26

SOUTHAMPTON

369 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $639,000
Buyer: Kimberley L. Judd
Seller: Michael C. Cooper
Date: 01/27/26

31 Lead Mine Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Shaun Connor
Seller: Brittany J. Taylor
Date: 01/21/26

117 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $356,000
Buyer: Ryan W. Hall
Seller: Andrea L. Looney
Date: 01/21/26

WARE

13 Juniper Hill Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Reardon
Seller: Dustin R. Pennington
Date: 01/23/26

4 Old Stagecoach Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $534,460
Buyer: Erica Krenis
Seller: Jay Mooney
Date: 01/30/26

355 Palmer Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $1,550,000
Buyer: Nob Hill Equities LLC
Seller: Alpine Income Property Group LLC
Date: 01/26/26

10 Pearl St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Dominic Fioravanti
Seller: Wendy Borey
Date: 01/29/26

WILLIAMSBURG

45 North Farms Road
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $642,500
Buyer: Timothy Kane
Seller: Kirk S. Enko
Date: 01/29/26

WORTHINGTON

19 Buffington Hill Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Liam C. Lydon
Seller: Holly T. Chamberlin
Date: 01/23/26

98 Ridge Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: David Roemer
Seller: Maria P. Bebee
Date: 01/21/26

Building Permits

By BusinessWest Staff February 27, 2026

Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the months of January and February 2026.

CHICOPEE

City of Chicopee
1290 Burnett Road
$20,000 — Repair floor in back building, replace wood floor joists and plywood

River Mills Assisted Living
7 River Mills Dr.
$10,000 — Interior demolition; remove ceiling, carpet, and affected insulation in dining area; remove baseboards in hallways; flood cuts in theater room

Sherroy LLC
1410 Memorial Dr.
$38,000 — Add some electrical outlets, three-bay sink and grease trap, mop sink, and hand sink for new Creamy Cones ice cream shop

Tabby Town Properties LLC
904 Meadow St.
$35,950 — Roofing

EASTHAMPTON

Easthampton Eagle Realty LLC
186 Northampton St.
$65,000 — Repairs due to pipe break, insulation, remove damaged material

HADLEY

Paul Benjamin
4 Bay Road
N/A — Build two walls to section off two offices in existing office suite

LEE

Town of Lee
32 Main St.
$5,000 — Replace existing door

LENOX

Berkshire Retirement Community
40 Sunset Ave.
$22,765 — Replace gas-fired rooftop unit

Hope Advent Church
259 Kemble St.
$32,252 — Attic insulation

MRG CRW Holdings LLC
55 Lee Road
$368,717 — Demolition and reconstruction of masonry handicap ramp

PITTSFIELD

Berkshire Mental Health Community
74 Second St.
$16,550 — Roofing

City of Pittsfield
874 North St.
$273,780 — Structural repairs to beams and columns to stabilize building, primarily at basement level

Sonal Patel LLC
524 North St.
$4,680 — Demolish non-load-bearing partitions, walls, and doors

The Appeal of Careers in the Trades

By Editorial February 27, 2026

Opinion

Editorial

It’s a refrain we hear all the time: the construction trades are facing a shortage of workers as retirements continue to outpace young talent entering the pipeline. Sure, jobs in carpentry, roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and more are hard work, but they also pay well and are (probably) resistant to the AI trend that many folks in the white-collar world worry could threaten their jobs.

As Sam Pomeroy, an HVAC professional and president of Climates by Pomeroy, told us in this issue, “robots won’t be doing our job anytime soon.”

But at the same time, what do surveys tell us Generation Z values in the workplace? Purpose-driven work. Communication. Opportunities for advancement. The idea that employers have their goals at heart.

And that’s where a few of the business leaders we spoke with for this month’s home improvement focus are doing things the right way.

Pomeroy has been working in his field for almost 40 years, and said he still feels like a “hero” when he can return heat to a family’s home or restore power to a business storing perishable food. That’s purpose.

Tim Drost, CEO of Window World of Western Massachusetts, talks about the robust array of apprenticeship programs his company has developed, ensuring that young people can get a foot in the door. That’s opportunity.

Both Drost and Scott Cernak, president of Western Mass Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, talk about their investments in continuing education and training, helping employees, even long-time ones, advance their careers. That’s understanding — and advancing — career goals.

The fact is, during a time of economic uncertainty, with the long-term impact of AI and automation on many jobs still very much up in the air, there is a real appeal to be made to young people that careers in the trades can be satisfying, well-paying, purposeful, and — importantly — stable. And demand for their talent is only rising.

“It’s a rewarding career,” Pomeroy told us. And companies in the trades that aren’t making an effort to apprentice, train, and mentor potential workers are missing out on an opportunity to create another form of stability: in their own workforce.

Gen Z at Work: the AI Paradox

By Contributor February 27, 2026

Opinion

By Samantha Borsari

Generation Z is often coined the generation of ‘digital natives’ — quick to adapt, drawn to smart devices, and thriving in a world of new technology. In many ways, this reputation holds true. Today, Gen Z is leading the way in AI workplace adoption, with 47% reporting they use it weekly to assist with their workload.

However, a strange paradox is beginning to emerge.

Beneath the surface of this technological fluency lies a quieter truth — a growing sense of unease and uncertainty. While Gen Z is known to be one of the most adaptable generations, many are sharing feelings of discomfort and even anxiety at the speed and scale at which technology (specifically AI) is evolving, especially in the workplace. In a recent Forbes report, a survey of nearly 3,500 Gen Z workers showed that 41% reported feeling anxious about emerging technologies like AI. This reveals that, while Gen Z is highly engaged with AI, they are equally concerned about its impact.

Why is this happening? There are several factors that could be driving this apprehension.

• Assumed Expertise. It’s often assumed that Gen Z employees will instinctively know how to use new technology. However, quick adaptability does not equal instant mastery. This assumption often builds unspoken pressure and overlooks the reality that Gen Z-ers, much like any other generation, also require training and time to build confidence with a new tool like AI.

• Critical Thinking Concerns. As early career professionals, many in Gen Z are concerned that an overreliance on AI could interfere with their core developmental skills like critical thinking, problem solving, and professional judgment. They’re asking themselves, ‘will AI support or harm my professional growth in the long run?’

• Job Security Anxiety. Gen Z currently makes up a large percentage of entry-level roles, which has instilled a new fear that AI is coming for their position next. If AI replaces all ‘starter’ jobs, how will Gen Z be expected to find opportunities to establish themselves and their career?

• Technology Fatigue. Seventy percent of Gen Z workers have reported feeling overwhelmed by the amount of new technology that is rotating through their organization. The pace of change is taking a toll, especially when there is no clear strategy or training from upper management.

This goes to show that high adoption does not mean high confidence. More importantly, it shows that comfort with technology does not mean immediate mastery or even high sentiment with the product itself.

There is no clear-cut solution to resolve all of these concerns. Let’s face it: every generation is dealing with their own conflicting thoughts on AI and the future of technology. It seems to be a love-hate relationship. That said, there are several ways employers can help mitigate the apprehension and negative sentiment Gen Z is experiencing toward AI.

Organizations should avoid assuming that being a ‘Gen Z digital native’ means they can figure it out on their own when it comes to new technology. Instead, organizations should be prepared to offer support and structured training to all employees, regardless of their age and presumed tech fluency.

To address concerns around AI’s impact on core developmental skills, organizations can work to strategically design workflows where AI supports work functions without replacing key decision-making processes. Managers and supervisors can also reinforce learning by engaging in more frequent coaching sessions, asking Gen Z employees to walk through certain problems or explain how they arrived at a conclusion.

At the same time, employers can ease Gen Z anxiety around job security by building greater transparency around the role AI will play within their organization’s long-term plans and talent strategy. Lastly, to limit technology fatigue, organizations should conduct regular evaluations of their technology stack to ensure all employees receive proper training on existing platforms and to reduce overlapping tools.

Taken together, these approaches can help turn AI from a source of anxiety and discomfort into a tool designed for positive growth. Gen Z has the skills needed to adapt quickly to new and emerging technologies; they simply need the support to feel more confident in using it.

Samantha Borsari is a member experience specialist at the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast. This article first appeared on the EANE blog; eane.org

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