SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University President Anthony Caprio will retire at the end of June 2020 after 24 years in that role — making him the longest-serving president in WNEU’s history. He took over in 1996 as the fifth president in the 100-year-old institution’s history.

During his tenure, WNEU went from a college to a university and added several new buildings and programs, including the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The board of trustees will conduct a nationwide search to find a successor.

“Western New England University has benefited greatly from Dr. Anthony Caprio’s leadership and stewardship over these many years. His upcoming retirement after 24 years of service is well-deserved, and he has worked tirelessly to advance our institution,” board of trustees chair Kenneth Rickson said last month.

“There have been many major achievements under Dr. Caprio’s term as president,” he added. “We made significant advancements in every area of campus life. We expanded our programs and curriculum, completed numerous changes and additions to the physical plant, enhanced our athletics programs, increased our student programs, and made significant advances in our technology. Dr. Caprio’s crowning achievement was completion of the plan to gain recognition as a university.”

BOSTON — As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, Eversource Energy announced an industry-leading goal to be carbon-neutral by 2030. The energy company plans to achieve this aggressive goal through a series of targeted steps across its operations to reduce carbon emissions while also continuing to support regional economic growth and maintaining safe and reliable service for its approximately 4 million customers.

While the goal to be carbon-neutral is limited to the energy company’s own corporate emissions across all departments and operations, Eversource will continue to work with state leaders to reduce emissions from energy supply for customers in accordance with state and regional regulatory requirements. 

“As New England’s largest utility, we are proud to partner with our states and communities to achieve regional clean-energy and carbon-reduction goals,” said Eversource Chairman, President, and CEO Jim Judge. “Today, we are going one step further by setting a goal for our own operations to help demonstrate that carbon neutrality is achievable.”

With its goal set for 2030, Eversource would become the first investor-owned utility in the nation to be carbon-neutral. In order to achieve this, the energy company will take a series of targeted steps across corporate operations, gas distribution, and electric transmission and distribution. These include reducing energy use by improving the efficiency of its 69 facilities and reducing fleet emissions of its 5,200 vehicles, continuing to enhance the electric transmission and distribution system to reduce line losses, reducing sulfur hexafluoride (a potent greenhouse gas) in gas-insulated electric switchgear, and replacing remaining bare steel and cast-iron natural-gas distribution main lines to improve safety and help prevent methane leaks.

“The business community has an important role to play as we pursue clean-energy and carbon-reduction goals, as environmental sustainability and economic development go hand in hand,” said Dan Moon, president and executive director of the Environmental Business Council of New England. “As one of the nation’s leading energy companies, it’s encouraging that Eversource is proactively setting its own goals and demonstrating its commitment to a cleaner-energy future.”

Eversource has already significantly reduced its own carbon emissions through a series of steps, including the divestiture of all its remaining fossil-generation facilities in 2018. The company is also helping the region in achieving carbon-reduction targets that have been set by state and regional requirements with its clean-energy initiatives, such as the offshore wind partnership with Ørsted, award-winning energy-efficiency programs, solar development, innovative battery-storage projects, and electric-vehicle-charging infrastructure.

“We are excited to set an ambitious goal with our own corporate operations to lead by example,” Judge added. “Today’s news reinforces our position at the forefront of environmental sustainability and builds on our efforts to help our customers and communities reduce their carbon footprint.”

EASTHAMPTON — Florence Bank has completed a renovation of the interior and drive-through at its existing Easthampton branch at 5 Main St. 

The renovation is part of Florence Bank’s ongoing effort to align its physical branch locations with modern banking offerings and customer needs. The Easthampton renovation included interior updates and modernizations, along with two new ATMs.

Florence Bank is a full-service, mutually owned bank based in Florence and has served the Easthampton community for 20 years. It first merged with Easthampton Cooperative Bank and expanded and remodeled its present location on Main Street in 1999. The Easthampton location serves more than 6,400 customers annually.

“We’re proud to upgrade our Easthampton branch,” said John Heaps, president and CEO of Florence Bank. “Our customers who rely on this location can look forward to an upgraded banking experience as well as modern technology both outside and in.”

The renovations were intended to maintain the branch’s charm while also embracing the innovative design of Florence Bank’s newly constructed locations. The bank partnered with the following local contractors on the project: HAI Architecture in Northampton, Pioneer Contractors in Easthampton, Broadway Office Interiors in Springfield, Fine Woodworks Millwork in South Hadley, Mercier Carpets in West Springfield, and Grimaldi Painting in East Longmeadow. 

Inside, the lobby, teller line, and customer-service area were renovated and updated, making the interior brighter and more contemporary. A new digital screen has also been installed to keep customers up to date on bank-wide enhancements and notifications.

Outside, two new ATMs are now available, and the drive-up teller equipment was enhanced to provide two-way audio/video communication. 

The Easthampton branch will celebrate the renovations with ‘branchwarming’ open houses on Thursday, Dec. 19 and Friday, Dec. 20 during normal branch hours. Refreshments and holiday treats will be available during the open houses, which are free and open to the public. While in the branch, customers can also vote for their favorite local nonprofit as part of the bank’s annual grant initiative, Customers’ Choice Community Grants.

Florence Bank opened a branch on Allen Street in Springfield in late 2018. In 2020, the bank will open its newest Hampden County location in Chicopee, expanding its network to 12 locations.

SPRINGFIELD — Behavioral Health Network Inc. (BHN) has been awarded a $10,000 grant from PeoplesBank to be used for BHN’s Money School program, a financial-independence initiative for survivors of domestic or sexual violence who are also recovering from addiction.

PeoplesBank’s grant to BHN will support the operation of the Elizabeth Freeman Center’s Money School program. Money School is an award-winning, trauma-informed, financial-independence initiative designed to create long-term safety and economic security for survivors.

According to Matthew Bannister, vice president of Marketing & Innovation at PeoplesBank, “financial literacy is a skill that is lacking today in so many areas of society, so it is gratifying to see BHN addressing this issue with a vulnerable population. We applaud BHN’s efforts in this area, and in so many other important areas, too. They provide great services to our communities.”

Participants are given individually tailored financial and career mentoring as well as intensive advocacy and support for their substance-use recovery and healing in the aftermath of domestic or sexual violence. The program helps survivors achieve and maintain safety, economic independence, and family well-being for themselves and their children.

Kathy Wilson, president and CEO of BHN, noted that “much of our work at BHN has to do with supporting and engaging with people as they overcome obstacles and plan a better future for themselves. The Money School program has been particularly effective in helping women to take control of their finances, one of the most difficult challenges for anyone when navigating the long-term impact of domestic violence. We deeply appreciate the resources being provided by PeoplesBank in this vital program that is changing the lives of the women served.”

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence states that one in four women report experiencing domestic violence. In addition to physical abuse, domestic-violence survivors often experience financial duress, and almost half of domestic-violence victims struggle with substance-use disorders.

SPRINGFIELD — Some 50,000 children are expected to unwrap gifts this holiday season thanks to the efforts of Wonderfund, a private, nonprofit organization that provides resources and opportunities to children engaged in the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.

The Student Prince and the Fort Restaurant invite the public to attend a wrap party to celebrate Wonderfund’s 2019 Holiday Gift Drive grand finale today, Dec. 10, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Massachusetts First Lady Lauren Baker, vice chair of Wonderfund, will be in attendance, along with the Pioneer Valley Wonderfund Committee, led by co-chairs Andy Yee of the Student Prince and the Fort and Christine Phillips of Peoples Bank.

“We hope you will join us for the wrap party on Dec. 10,” Yee said. “It will be a festive event, and it will include the presentation of a ceremonial check to Wonderfund as celebrity bartenders pour your favorite holiday cheer. We’re proud to sponsor this special evening, and we hope it brings magic to many children.”

Wonderfund’s Holiday Gift Drive connects hundreds of donors with thousands of children who deserve to feel special during the holidays. The goal is that every child in the Pioneer Valley has a gift to open this holiday season.

“All kids deserve to have carefree moments to play, to dream, and to grow,” Baker said. “When a child is neglected or abused, those moments are taken away. The Wonderfund gives us an opportunity to give them back.”

SPRINGFIELD — While the Zoo in Forest Park officially closed its gates for the season in early November, it will open for one night only during this year’s Bright Nights.

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, the Zoo will open from 5 to 8 p.m. Not all parts of the Zoo will be accessible due to snow and ice, but many animals will still be visible. The event features animal interactions, crafts, carolers from Longmeadow High School’s chorus, free hot cider, and a visit from Santa.

For those who have never experienced the Zoo in winter, this is a great opportunity to see how the animals — and the staff — handle winter weather conditions. All animals at the Zoo have access to shelter, with some structures offering full heat for those animals that require a warmer climate.

Tickets are available only at the Zoo gate on Dec 11. The cost is $5 per adult (adults with a 2019 season pass are $3). Children age 12 and under, as well as military families with an active ID, will receive free admission to the Zoo that night.

The Zoo is not affiliated with the Spirit of Springfield or Bright Nights, and Bright Nights is a separate cost, charged by Spirit of Springfield, per vehicle, at the main entrance to the park. This is not a fee imposed or collected by the Zoo.

BOSTON — The Thanksgiving holiday left Massachusetts employers in a good but cautious mood as business confidence remained steady during November.

The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index lost 0.3 points to 60.6 last month, leaving it one point lower than its level of a year ago but three points higher than in January.

The results came during a month when the Massachusetts unemployment rate remained at an historic low of 2.9% and employers nationally created a stronger-than-expected 266,000 new jobs. Employers also spent the month trying to make sense of the on-again, off-again trade war with China.

The U.S. economy grew at a deliberate 1.9% pace during the third quarter, while the Massachusetts economy contracted by 0.2% as employers began to bump up against labor-force constraints.

“The AIM Business Confidence Index has drifted up and down amid a swirl of economic and political uncertainties during 2019, but employers have remained consistently optimistic about their overall prospects,” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA).

The constituent indicators that make up the Business Confidence Index all moved in a narrow range during November. The Massachusetts Index assessing business conditions within the Commonwealth lost 0.8 points to 67.0, while the U.S. Index declined 0.4 points to 59.2. The Massachusetts Index is virtually even with its level of a year ago; the U.S. index has dropped 4.5 points during the past 12 months.

The Future Index, measuring expectations for six months out, gained 0.9 points to 59.5 after surging during October. The Current Index, which assesses overall business conditions at the time of the survey, fell 1.6 points to 61.7, almost a point lower than a year ago.

The Employment Index remained even for the month, leaving it 1.3 points higher for the year, underscoring the capacity issues faced by employers struggling to find qualified workers in a full-employment state economy.

Non-manufacturers (62.2) were slightly more confident than manufacturing companies (59.3), which have been most directly affected by uncertainty surrounding trade policy. Medium-sized companies (61.2) were more optimistic than large companies (60.8) or small companies (59.2). Companies in Eastern Mass. (61.2) remained more optimistic than those in Western Mass. (59.8).

Barry Bluestone, retired Professor of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University and a BEA member, said Massachusetts policymakers appear ready to address issues such as housing and transportation that will affect the ability of the Commonwealth to attract and retain skilled workers.

“The economic future of Massachusetts rests with highly educated and highly skilled people who will maintain the Commonwealth’s status as a global center of economic growth and innovation. But those people will not put down roots here if they can’t afford housing or navigate their way to work,” Bluestone said.

AIM President and CEO John Regan, also BEA member, said political leaders in Massachusetts continue to show a willingness to collaborate on critical economic problems. He noted that the Baker administration and the Legislature worked together in November to pass a landmark $1.5 billion public-school funding reform bill that contained accountability measures sought by business.

“The partisan polarization that characterizes much of our political debate misses the fact that there is a moderate middle in America seeking action on important issues. A study from New Center shows that 43% of Americans classify themselves in the political center, compared with 34% for the right and 23% for the left,” Regan said. “The results make us optimistic that bipartisan cooperation will continue in Massachusetts on issues such as transportation, health costs, and taxation.”

GREENFIELD — Michael Tucker, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank, announced that Gabrielle Young has joined the bank as a mortgage loan originator.

“Ms. Young has over 10 years of banking experience,” Tucker said. “Most recently, Gabrielle was a financial center operation manager at another area bank. In her new role, Gabrielle will be responsible for educating and guiding borrowers through the loan-application process. She is currently working out of our Florence location but will be permanently based at our Northampton location beginning in January 2020.”

Young studied business at the University of Hartford. She is current in all banking regulation training.

SPRINGFIELD — Westmass Area Development Corp. announced the opening of its new corporate offices in downtown Springfield. Located at One Monarch Place, Suite 1350, the new offices will host all corporate functions of Westmass with capacity to continue regional awareness and growth.

The new office location will enable Westmass to continue to brand itself as a regional development company focusing on opportunities in real estate and economic development in Western Mass.

“Our relocation to Monarch Place in Springfield will allow us continued development on our current properties, such as Ludlow Mills and Chicopee River Business Park, and allow us to grow our real-estate and economic-development consulting work,” said Carol Campbell, chair of the Westmass board of directors and president and CEO of Chicopee Industrial Contractors. “We participate in many projects throughout the region, and having our offices in downtown Springfield creates an opportunity to further our mission of supporting development in all of Western Mass. We are excited to continue to grow our business and assist communities and developers with their development needs.”

Jeff Daley, president and CEO of Westmass, added that “an opportunity to move into downtown Springfield is great for Westmass. We look to expand our market throughout Western Mass. for real-estate development opportunities as well as working with municipalities and private developers providing consulting services to assist with the technical details of real estate and economic-development projects in Western Mass.

He noted that Westmass also maintains offices at Ludlow Mills. “As a nationally recognized brownfield-redevelopment site and the marquee project in our portfolio, with hundreds of residents and employees living and working at the Mills, it is important to not only have our facilities management office there, but to house our expanding leasing and marketing departments as well.”

Westmass is a full-service, private, not-for-profit real-estate and economic-development corporation with more than 60 years of successful development projects, including industrial- and business-park developments.

HOLYOKE — Today is the final day to nominate a Holyoke resident who needs some extra cheer this holiday season in the ‘Hope for the Holidays’ tree giveaway by Witman Properties. The winning families or individuals will be delivered a fully decorated tree this week.

“The holidays should be a time when we all reflect on what we are truly grateful for,” owner Anthony Witman said. “Sometimes, life throws us all a curveball, and we want to make sure that someone, or some family’s Christmas, is stress-free and enjoyable. We feel that this is an exciting opportunity for all of us here to spread prosperity to our neighbors.”

Nominations should include why that person or family should be chosen. Nominations can be made in person at 121 Main St. in downtown Holyoke, or by e-mailing [email protected]. The announcement will be made tomorrow.

SOUTH HADLEY — Steve Chase, president and CEO of Fuel Services Inc. Oil and Propane (FSi), was recently sworn in as chairman of the Propane Gas Assoc. of New England (PGANE).

FSi Oil and Propane has been a leader in the fuel industry for almost 30 years. Over these three decades, many things have changed, including the company’s management, which now includes Chase’s son, daughter, son-in-law, and grandson; expanding its service areas; as well as adding in new fuels such as Bioheat, kerosene, and propane.

PGANE is a regional alternative-energy trade association representing more than 800 members of the propane industry by promoting safety, education, and public awareness of the uses of propane.

Chase said he is honored by this appointment because he has a passion and commitment to the propane industry and educating consumers on the benefits of this type of energy. “Propane is a clean, green fuel,” he noted. “It is American-produced and puts less contaminants in the air. It is a clean, safe energy when handled properly.”

Propane can be used for heating a house, water heating, cooking, clothes drying, fireplaces, standby generators, and as an alternative fuel as auto gas. Throughout New England, there are nearly 300,000 residential customers using this climate-friendly energy and more than 11,500 jobs in the propane industry.

Throughout his life, Chase has shown a devotion to both the community and country. He serves as the state director of the National Propane Gas Assoc. board, is a board member of the BBB of Central and Western Mass., devoted 25 years on the Oxford, Conn. Fire Department, and is a U.S. Navy veteran, having served on the USS Little Rock.

NORTHAMPTON — Steve Lewis Subaru announced that Cooley Dickinson Hospital has been chosen as its Subaru Share the Love Hometown Charity. During the Share the Love Event, Subaru will donate $250 for every new or leased Subaru sold between now and Jan. 2. Steve Lewis Subaru will donate an additional $50 for every donation made to Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Over the last 11 years, Subaru has donated more than $145 million through the Share the Love Event. The donation from Subaru will support the programs and services that provide care for Cooley Dickinson’s youngest patients, ranging from childbirth to pediatric services to urgent and emergency care.

The Cooley Cares for Kids program helps to provide compassionate, personalized care to more than 9,000 children and teens who are served by Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

CHICOPEE — Elms College announced the hiring of Deirdre Griffin, SSJ as director of International Programs. She will be responsible for supporting the college’s international students, growing traditional and faculty-led study-abroad programs, and developing a vibrant community of global learning that celebrates diverse cultures and explores current issues.

“I am very pleased to have Sr. Deirdre Griffin take the lead in International Programs,” said Joyce Hampton, associate vice president of Academic Affairs for Strategic and Global Initiatives. “She brings a wealth of experience to this position and is deeply committed to the core values and mission of Elms College.” 

Griffin is a graduate of Boston College Law School and Bowdoin College. She has worked at Jewish Family Service and the Gray House in Springfield, providing a variety of transitional and support services to diverse, global populations. 

She entered the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield in 2017 and made her initial profession of vows in July. During her 20-year career as an immigration attorney, she has worked in private practice, managed interpreter services in Massachusetts courts, and coordinated refugee-resettlement services. In 2014, she spent three months on staff at the Centre Internationale of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Le Puy, France, and this summer lived with a family in Guatemala.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with our international students and our globally minded students,” Griffin said. “I look forward to sharing the charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph and the mission of the college through a global lens. ‘Connecting neighbor with neighbor and neighbor with God’ is a universal and a unifying stance toward life.”

Within the current student body, Elms College has enrolled students from 14 countries, representing five continents. The college also has a thriving International Club.

NORTH ADAMS — Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) Berkshire County is holding an All Ideas Pitch Contest on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The program will be held at the Green at 85 Main St., Suite 105, North Adams from 6 to 8 p.m. 

EforAll’s first Pitch Contest at the Berkshire Museum in October created a lot of community buzz, with more than 100 attendees and 11 companies competing. The big winner that night was Kaitlyn Pierce of Binka Bear.

Described as “Shark Tank without the teeth,” EforAll’s friendly, free event features a business showcase and then pitches from six pre-selected contestants and two more that are added the night of the event. 

Each participant is given two and a half minutes to pitch a business or nonprofit idea to a panel of judges and the audience. At the end of it, EforAll gives away seed money to help launch these ideas. The first-place finisher wins $1,000, second place gets $750, third place wins $500, and the audience favorite also wins $500. Applications and audience registration are both available online at www.eforall.org/berkshire-county.

LONGMEADOW — Are you ready to become a certified project-management professional (PMP)? Forbes.com lists a PMP certificate as the second-highest-paying IT certification for 2019, and the Project Management Institute (PMI) states that, through 2020, 1.57 million new project-management jobs will be created each year.

To help prepare community members to begin the certification process, Bay Path University’s Strategic Alliances division is hosting a three-day workshop on Jan. 6-8 that will prepare participants to take the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Exam.

The CAPM workshop, led by IT consultant and project manager Rick DeJohn from Camus Consulting Inc., combines lectures, discussions, case studies, and in-class practice testing with a review of test results. Project-management experience is not required, and anyone interested in demonstrating to employers that they have the skill set to become a project manager is encouraged to attend. 

Participants who complete the program will be awarded a certificate of completion and will earn the required 23 education hours to sit for the CAPM examination. Per the Project Management Institute, a high-school diploma, associate degree, or global equivalent is required as an exam prerequisite.

This workshop will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day on the Bay Path campus, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. To register, visit capm2020.eventbrite.com. For additional information, contact Briana Sitler at [email protected] or (413) 565-1066.

HARTFORD, Conn. — NBT Bank Connecticut Regional President Andreas Kapetanopoulos announced that M. Kate Van Valkenburg has joined NBT’s expanding team in Connecticut. Van Valkenburg will serve as senior vice president and senior commercial banking relationship manager.

“We’re rapidly building a respected local team and are excited to welcome Kate and her wealth of commercial-banking expertise,” Kapetanopoulos said.

Van Valkenburg has more than 18 years of commercial-banking experience, including underwriting, management, and lending. Most recently, she served as commercial loan officer for ION Bank in Farmington, Conn. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from UMass. She serves the community as a board member for Gifts of Love in Avon and Neighborhood Housing Services of New Britain.

Last month, NBT Bank announced the addition of Regional Commercial Banking Manager Steve Angeletti and Senior Credit Analyst Elizabeth Hayden. The bank expects to reveal the location for its regional headquarters in the first quarter of 2020.

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest will honor its second annual Women of Impact today, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Sheraton Springfield, One Monarch Place, Springfield. The event is sold out, and media coverage is welcome.

This year’s honorees are:

• Tricia Canavan, president of United Personnel, is a highly successful businesswoman, but she has an impact in many ways, especially in her various efforts to help ensure that individuals possess the skills they need to succeed in the workplace;

• Carol Moore Cutting, president, CEO, and general manager of Cutting Edge Broadcasting, is a successful businesswoman and a role model for women of color across the region. She also epitomizes the hard work, sacrifice, and ability to overcome adversity that is necessary to succeed in business — and in life;

• Jean Deliso, principal with Deliso Financial Services, is also a successful business owner and has spent her career helping individuals, and especially women, become empowered when it comes to financial planning and securing a solid future;

• Ellen Freyman is an accomplished business lawyer, but she would be the first to say the biggest impact she is making concerns helping others, especially women and minorities, get involved in their communities and make an impact themselves.

• Mary Hurley has been a life-long public servant and has made an impact at every stop in her career — as a lawyer, a Springfield city councilor, mayor of the city, District Court judge, and, most recently, as governor’s councilor. At each stop, she has impacted lives in countless ways;

• Lydia Martinez-Alvarez, assistant superintendent of schools in Springfield and the first Hispanic woman to hold that post, is being impactful in many ways, from helping to ensure students can succeed in the workplace after they accept their diplomas to serving as a role model for young women, and especially Hispanic women;

• Suzanne Parker, executive director of Girls Inc., has transformed that agency into a powerful force when it comes to empowering young women and enabling them to seize career opportunities. As a mother and master of the art of balancing life and work, she is also a role model to those girls across the region; and

• Kate Putnam, managing director of Golden Seeds and a successful businesswomen in her own right, is making an impact in several ways, but especially in her efforts to mentor entrepreneurs, and especially women entrepreneurs, helping them attain much-needed capital and grow this region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The Women of Impact Awards Luncheon welcomes Lisa Tanzer, president of Life is Good, as keynote speaker. The Women of Impact program is sponsored by TommyCar Auto Group and Country Bank (presenting sponsors), Comcast Business and Granite State Development (supporting sponsors), New Valley Bank & Trust (speaker sponsor), and WWLP 22 News/CW Springfield (exclusive media sponsor).

FLORENCE — Florence Bank has promoted Cynthia Malinowski to the position of vice president and branch manager of the downtown Northampton office.

Malinowski brings extensive knowledge and skills to her new role. Prior to her recent promotion, she was the assistant vice president and branch manager at the downtown Northampton office. During her tenure at the bank, she has been the recipient of the President’s Club Award, which is awarded to employees who demonstrate superior levels of performance, customer service, and overall contribution to the bank. She has also completed various professional banking series course studies, including America’s Community Bankers Training Series.

Malinowski serves her community as an active member of Easthampton’s Helping Hand Society and is a member of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce.

“We are thrilled to see Cindy’s career progress with the bank as she begins her new role as vice president,” said John Heaps, Jr., bank president and CEO. “Her consistent performance, dependability, and expert knowledge have made her an integral asset. We look forward to watching her demonstrate her impeccable skills in the years to come.”

SPRINGFIELD — Michael Ostrowski, president and CEO of Arrha Credit Union, has received the honor of a third reappointment to the World Affairs Committee of the Credit Union National Assoc. (CUNA). This committee reports to the CUNA board of directors with respect to matters related to the World Council of Credit Unions and international policy matters. The World Affairs Committee serves as a focal point for developing policies, strategies, leadership, education, and resources for credit unions throughout the world.

Ostrowski has been assisting in overcoming challenges and capitalizing on opportunities between and among the U.S. and international credit-union activities to expand credit-union access throughout the world. He traveled to Cuba to engage its government on establishing credit unions and to Poland to assist its credit unions in regulatory advocacy with the Polish government. He also serves as a connection between CUNA and the World Council of Credit Unions, where he provided financial education, assistance, and guidance to Puerto Rico’s credit unions in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

“It continues to be an honor to serve, identify issues, serve as a connection, develop plans, and make recommendations to help organize individuals towards development and functioning of credit unions worldwide,” Ostrowski said.

HOLYOKE — Members of the Holyoke Community College (HCC) community will help spread some holiday cheer on Thursday, Dec. 12, as they deliver piles of wrapped, donated gifts to representatives from four local charities at the closing reception for the college’s 20th annual Giving Tree campaign.

This year, the HCC community will fulfill the holiday wishes of a nearly 400 clients from Homework House, WestMass ElderCare, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.

The Giving Tree closing reception will run from 10 a.m. until noon in the PeoplesBank Conference Center on the third floor of the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development on the main HCC campus, 303 Homestead Ave. Refreshments will be served. 

Each year during the annual campaign, trees are set up in designated areas around campus. Participants choose colored-coded tags from one of the nonprofit agencies based on the age of the recipient and their wish for a gift. The wrapped gifts are then piled on tables for the closing celebration, when HCC faculty, staff, and students join with representatives from the agencies to distribute the gifts and share food, stories, and joy. 

“This is an amazing tradition and always brings out the best of HCC,” college President Christina Royal said. “The need is so great, as evidenced by the number of gift tags on these trees. Every year, I am really blown away by the generosity of our community here at the college.”

WESTFIELD — The Westfield Starfires of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) have named Hunter Golden director of Player Personnel.

“Hunter has a proven track record of building championship teams in summer collegiate baseball. He has tremendous relationships with college programs across the country, and I have given him carte blanche to construct the Starfires roster moving forward,” said Starfires owner and co-founder Chris Thompson.

Golden will be responsible for recruiting talent from colleges across the U.S. and Puerto Rico and transition them into summer baseball in New England. Players will live with host families in Western Mass. and become involved with many community initiatives each summer.

“I’m excited to be working with Chris and Donnie and helping to put together a winning ballclub that fans can be proud of and excited to see every summer,” Golden said. “Westfield is a great baseball community that deserves a winning team. We’re already focused on assembling a group of players who won’t just be successful this season, but that is the kind of team that sets the tone for a culture of sustained success that we hope to build on year after year.

“We’re in a fortunate position to have a lot of trust placed in us by ownership, and have been granted a lot of freedom and latitude in terms of using whatever resources we need in order to build a great roster and provide as good a player experience as we possibly can,” he went on. “The framework already exists here for a winning program, and we’re extremely optimistic that, with a little work, we’ll have a chance to be competitive right off the bat.” 

The Starfires signed a 15-year lease with the city of Westfield for Bullens Field in 2019. The FCBL is a wood-bat, collegiate summer league. Each team plays a 56-game schedule from May through the beginning of August. The Futures League has added a new team to its league in 2020, with the New Britain Bees coming over from the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Starfires 2020 season memberships are now on sale at westfieldstarfires.com.

AMHERST — Hampshire College kicked off a major capital campaign, announcing it has already raised $11.2 million in gifts toward its campaign goal of $60 million by 2024. The campaign will help launch Hampshire’s second half-century as an independent college, as Hampshire prepares to ring in its 50th anniversary year in 2020.

“Change in the Making: A Campaign for Hampshire” will harness the outpouring of alumni and community support for the college this year and couple it with a bold new framework for the Hampshire curriculum and student experience. Its accreditation maintained last month, Hampshire is now actively reinventing its academic program with innovations aimed at recruiting students, making its program more sustainable financially, and transforming higher education following the college’s mission.

The campaign is currently led by four alumni co-chairs: Ken Burns (’71), award-winning documentary filmmaker; Gail Caulkins (’73), president of the Greenacre Foundation and former Hampshire College trustee; Lucy Ann McFadden (’70), retired astrophysicist, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA, and a member of the Hampshire board of trustees and chair of its advancement committee; and Julie Schecter (’71), director and trustee of numerous organizations, including the SHIFT Foundation, co-founder of Hampshire’s Ethics and the Common Good program, vice chair of Hampshire’s board of trustees, and chair of its trusteeship and governance committee.

The co-chairs are working actively to secure additional major gifts, supported by a campaign council, a diverse group of volunteers that represents the board of trustees, major donors, college leaders, faculty, staff, students, and parents. The campaign is administered by Chief Advancement Officer Jennifer Chrisler and the college’s Advancement Division staff.

Hampshire seeks to secure an additional $3 million in commitments before the end of 2019, toward the campaign goal of $60 million in unrestricted operating support by June 30, 2024.

“We are creating a big tent for multiple constituencies to participate, engage, and connect more deeply with Hampshire,” Chrisler said. “Our goal is to foster a genuine culture of philanthropy to secure a long future for Hampshire.”

SPRINGFIELD — The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield (YPS) will hold its third annual Santacon in downtown Springfield on Friday, Dec. 6 from 4 to 11 p.m.

This year’s event will begin with a bar crawl down Worthington Street where guests can show off their holiday costume best before jingling and jangling down Main Street to catch a Springfield Thunderbirds game. Santacon will wrap up at Nadim’s Mediterranean Restaurant after the game.

“We are excited to kick off the holiday season with our Springfield Santacon,” YPS president Amie Miarecki said. “This event is unique in that it brings people together to celebrate local businesses, our hometown hockey team, and gives back to the community. There’s nothing like it.”

Tickets include entrance into the Springfield Thunderbirds game, a donation to charity, a swag bag, a Dunkin’ Donuts gift card, and more. The ticket costs $20 for members and $25 for non-members.

The event will also feature a holiday costume contest. YPS Cares Foundation will make a donation to the charity of choice of the winner(s) to make an impact on nonprofits doing good work in the community.

HOLYOKE — The Dowd Agencies, LLC announced the recent hire of Evan Dowd as account executive, joining his brother, Jack Dowd, as a fifth-generation employee of the company. 

“Evan brings the necessary experience to his new role,” said John Dowd Jr., president and CEO of the Dowd Agencies. “He gained extensive industry knowledge through positions at both local and national insurance companies while living in Boston. He’s excited to return to Western Mass. and to be a part of his hometown community. Furthermore, he is excited to join the family business and help continue and build on a legacy spanning over 120 years. We’re excited to have him join the team.”

Prior to his current position at Dowd, Evan worked in Boston in various industry roles, including sales, claims adjustment, and underwriting. A 2013 graduate of Bates College, he is a licensed property and casualty insurance producer and is currently working toward his chartered property casualty underwriter designation.

HOLYOKE — Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems, announced Dr. Simon Ahtaridis as the new chief medical officer at Holyoke Medical Center.

“I want to partner with staff members and find ways to support them to provide better patient care,” Ahtaridis said. “Medicine has become more team-oriented. The best doctors and nurses require coordination of care.”

Before joining Holyoke Medical Center, Ahtaridis was the national clinical advisor and chief medical officer for Sound Advisory Services. In this role, he oversaw the overall clinical performance of Sound’s onsite and remote advisory services.

His prior experience also includes serving as the chief medical officer for Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, where he also served as the chief of Hospitalist Service and chief of Medicine. Additionally, he has been an instructor in medicine, first at Harvard Medical School and most recently at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. His main focus has been improving utilization management in the inpatient setting and population-health programs, including improved documentation, reduced length of stay, readmissions, and appropriate utilization of resources.

Ahtaridis received his medical degree from the Temple University School of Medicine. Prior to graduation, he took two years off to serve as the Legislative Affairs director for the American Medical Student Assoc. in Washington, D.C., and also received his master’s degree in public health from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health with a focus on health systems. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance, where he received several teaching awards. He was also a chief resident and chief of the hospitalist service at Cambridge Health Alliance.

“We are very excited to have Dr. Ahtaridis join Valley Health Systems,” Hatiras said. “His extensive background and commitment to strengthen hospital performance will support the continued alignment between our medical staff and the important performance and quality-improvement initiatives we are working on to fulfill our vision of becoming the best place for care and the best place to work.”

FLORENCE — Florence Bank was recently recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as the Western Massachusetts Third Party Lender of the Year for loans the bank administers to small businesses in the area.

Michael Davey and Erin Couture, both vice presidents and commercial loan officers with the bank, accepted the award on Nov. 8 at an event held during SBA’s annual meeting at Clark University in Worcester.

Davey explained that third-party loans, called SBA 504 loans, are offered by the bank in collaboration with certified development corporations such as Granite State Development Corp., Bay Colony Development Corp., and BDC Capital/CDC New England.

“The SBA recognizes that small-business owners sometimes have more difficulty getting traditional real-estate financing, yet owning their own real estate is essential to growth,” said Michael Lynch, senior vice president and senior commercial loan officer. “Having real-estate assets gives small-business owners more of a stake in the community and allows them to build equity. The community gets the benefit of additional jobs, business growth, and tax revenues from a growing small business.”

Davey said the program allows small-business owners who might be lacking the traditional 20% down payment to purchase business property with only 10% down, while also reducing the bank’s exposure to risk.

“The 504 loan program supports the growth of small businesses,” he added. “It allows Florence Bank to help promote entrepreneurs and overall economic growth in the region. Small businesses are critical to our local economy.”

EAST LONGMEADOW — TRE Olive is providing a unique opportunity for olive-tree adoption.

TRE Olive produces 100% Italian extra virgin olive oil from olives grown in Italy, picked in Italy, pressed in Italy, and poured in Italy. Its tree-adoption program allows customers to adopt an olive tree for one year and, in return, receive olive oil produced in Italy.

When an olive tree is adopted, the recipient will receive an adoption certificate, a gift box, a photo of their tree, a welcome brochure, and three tins of olive oil to get started. The tree is also tagged with the adoptee’s name for one year.

“Our olive-tree adoption program is something we are very proud of,” said Joe Maruca, owner of TRE Olive. “It is a one-of-a-kind opportunity that has become very popular internationally because of its uniqueness. It’s also a great gift idea for corporate gifting, holidays, birthdays or ‘just because.’ There is nothing we love more than being part of families being together making memories, and TRE Olive being part of it.”