SPRINGFIELD — Nominations for the third annual class of Healthcare Heroes are due today, July 12 by 5 p.m. Individuals and organizations making an impact in Western Mass. may be nominated in seven different categories: Patient/Resident/Client Care Provider, Health/Wellness Administrator/Administration, Emerging Leader, Community Health, Innovation in Health/Wellness, Collaboration in Health/Wellness, and Lifetime Achievement.

In the spring of 2017, BusinessWest and its sister publication, HCN, created the Healthcare Heroes recognition program. It was launched with the theory that there are heroes working all across this region’s wide, deep, and all-important healthcare sector, and that there was no shortage of fascinating stories to tell and individuals and groups to honor.

Event sponsors include presenting sponsor American International College, partnering sponsors Development Associates and Comcast Business, and supporting sponsor Elms College. To nominate a Healthcare Hero for the class of 2019, click here.

WESTFIELD — Miller Dyer Spears (MDS) has been chosen as the architectural firm to design Westfield State University’s (WSU) $40 million, multi-year Parenzo Hall renovation project.

Following a request for proposals set forth by the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), the Massachusetts Designer Selection Board (an autonomous, 11-member board) reviewed and selected Boston-based MDS from three finalists among more than 20 applicants.

“As we observed through the site visit and fuller assessment process, MDS demonstrated innovative strategies to leverage space to meet the vision of the project. We were particularly impressed with the quality of sub-consultants proposed for the project and the firm’s background with state projects and construction-management projects,” said WSU Vice President for Administration and Finance Stephen Taksar.

Westfield State received $21.25 million in state funding last year for the renovation of Parenzo Hall, the university’s oldest building, which opened in 1956. Nearly matching the state’s $21.25 million investment, WSU will invest approximately $20 million of university funds into the project.

“The dated but highly utilized building will be transformed into a state-of-the-art hub for student success and workforce development,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Diane Prusank. “The renovations will create two new centers — the Center for Innovation in Education and Industry Partnerships and the Center for Student Success and Engagement. In addition to benefiting Westfield State students, the centers will have far-reaching impact beyond the university’s physical campus.”

Parenzo Hall’s Center for Innovation in Education and Industry Partnerships will leverage technology to serve as the nexus for innovative collaboration in Western Mass., partnering with K-12 school districts, community colleges, and industry partners. It will teach students and community partners how to engage productively in online-hybrid environments that increase flexibility for students, facilitate co-enrollment, expand course choices, and provide a bridge to employment.

The Center for Student Success and Engagement will address the student-outcomes goals of WSU’s Vision Project (increasing retention and graduation rates, and reducing the achievement gap). The project will also address the continuing decline in the number of working-age adults. The center will increase student preparation for advanced learning and support exploration of career pathways in elementary and high schools to prepare them for on-the-job training. New and in-demand certificate programs, as well as advanced study options, will be offered to its business partners, utilizing technology.

In addition to the centers, several academic departments will be located in the renovated facility, including Education and Political Science. The state-of-the-art technology and flexible learning spaces will provide enhanced opportunities to better prepare students for a complex, changing environment.

“Parenzo Hall has served as an important campus building since Westfield State’s founding,” said MDS Principal James Loftus. “This project will modernize the aging facility and create new environments that will help students thrive on campus and beyond. It is an honor to work with Westfield State and DCAMM to craft improvements that advance their vision for innovation and contribute to student success.”

The project’s space-utilization study portion is nearly complete, and an anticipated groundbreaking is expected in early 2021.

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) announced the appointment of Aimee Dalenta as chair of the Early Childhood Education Department and Nancy Ward as Early Education and Care Pathways grant and activity director.

Among Dalenta’s roles is to oversee STCC’s new child development associate (CDA) plus certificate of completion program, which is designed for early-childhood educators and school paraprofessionals who want to get their CDA credential and earn college credit at the same time.

“I believe that this CDA certificate has the potential to be a game changer for early-childhood professionals in the Greater Springfield area,” Dalenta said. “We will be offering seasoned professionals in the field, along with those entering the profession, the opportunity to elevate their credentials in a zero- or low-cost way. The program is a win-win for all involved.”

Dalenta, a professional in the field of education for 14 years, has held roles as a classroom teacher, owned and operated her own preschool, and served as an educational consultant. She has worked at the college level for six years, training future teachers to succeed in the classroom. She will earn a doctorate in education from American International College in August. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from Springfield College and master’s degree in education from Western New England University.

In her new role, Ward will help launch STCC’s new child development associate (CDA) plus certificate of completion program. She has worked in the field of early education and care since 1987, when she began working as a resource developer at New England Farm Workers’ Council’s voucher child-care program. She became the director of the program in 1989 and continued in that role for 14 years.

Ward also worked in the Early Childhood Department at the Collaborative for Educational Services for 15 years, in a variety of positions supporting the professional development of early educators. She holds a master’s of education degree in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in literacy from Lesley University in Cambridge. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at UMass Amherst.

SPRINGFIELD — On June 18, members of MP CPAs participated in the Children’s Study Home Charity Bowling Fundraiser, which was held at Shaker Bowl in East Longmeadow. The benefit was put on to raise funds for the educational needs of children and families associated with the Children’s Study Home.

The total funds raised this year eclipsed the $4,000 mark, which exceeded organizers’ expectations. MP CPAs and LLumin Inc. were the two sponsors of the event. All proceeds from the event will be used to further benefit the Children’s Study Home’s charitable purpose.

SPRINGFIELD — Nine months after MGM Springfield’s opening, the UMass research team gathered at the UMass Center at Springfield to present preliminary information about the social and economic impacts of the casino.

In 2013, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission engaged a research team at UMass Amherst to conduct a comprehensive, multi-year study called Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts (SEIGMA) to understand the impacts of expanded gaming in Massachusetts. The study established baselines for all social and economic variables that may be affected by expanded gaming, and the team now collects, analyzes, and reports each year to identify the actual impacts in the casino host and surrounding communities, providing key information to policymakers.

On May 15, more than 35 people, largely from the Springfield area, were on hand as the SEIGMA team showcased their latest analysis of Springfield and surrounding communities, including their work on the Massachusetts Gambling Impact Cohort study. 

The SEIGMA study is believed to be the first of its kind in the world in terms of establishing a baseline prior to the development of casinos and its comprehensiveness.

Rachel Volberg, principal investigator on the two major studies, led the team’s sixth Public Research Day, with researchers presenting findings on the socioeconomic characteristics and gambling behaviors of the casino host and surrounding communities in the state, gambling behaviors across Massachusetts, and future plans for the team’s research.

“I’ve lived here [in Massachusetts] for many years, and I love it. If I can help this state and my community through the research we conduct, then that’s a great place to start,” Volberg said. “There are not many places in the world that have set out from the very beginning to establish essentially a monitoring system to understand the impacts of expanded gambling within a jurisdiction and then use that information to try to minimize and mitigate those impacts to the best of our collective abilities.”

Information showed that Springfield has the largest population, along with the highest poverty and unemployment rates, of the three host communities, and showed that the city has more at-risk and problem gamblers. The research team intends to further examine whether these indicators have changed since the opening of MGM Springfield in their next Targeted Population Survey of Springfield this fall.

The study’s two other executive team members, Robert Williams from the University of Lethbridge and Mark Melnik from UMass Donahue Institute, were also on hand, explaining the team’s work and numerous data-collection efforts being conducted as MGM Springfield nears the one-year anniversary of its opening.

“It’s the strongest team I’ve ever worked with,” Williams said. “I’ve been involved with many large-scale gambling projects over the last 25 years, and the quality of this team is impressive, as every single team member is an expert in their area.”

Added Melnik, “it’s rare to have an instance where an industry just appears where it hadn’t been before. That’s exactly what we have here when we’re studying casinos in Massachusetts. The state itself had the forethought to say, ‘hey, here’s an industry that’s controversial. People are excited about it because of what it may mean for job creation. On the other hand, they’re also concerned about some of the social problems that may come. How can we track this and better understand it?’”

May’s Public Research Day in Springfield provided the UMass Amherst researchers the opportunity to get real feedback and questions about their preliminary information, helping to guide them for future reports and surveys.

“This was a new format for us,” Volberg said. “This is the first time we had the opportunity to move off campus and come to the community where the casino is actually operating. The goal is to provide information to people who will hopefully be able to use that information to help their community here in Springfield.”

Added Williams, “this is meaningful work. We want to make sure the general public is aware of what we’re doing, what the findings are, and give us feedback in terms of what they would like studied. It’s more interactive, to get the message out and elicit feedback.”

HOLYOKE — Tom Senecal, president and CEO of PeoplesBank, announced four appointments: Amy Roberts to senior vice president and chief Human Resources officer, Steven Gardner to assistant vice president and East Longmeadow Banking Center manager, Jacquelyn Guzie to assistant vice president and regional manager for First Suffield Bank (a division of PeoplesBank), and Nicole Stevenson to West Springfield Banking Center manager.

Roberts oversees all human-resources and employee-engagement activities for 325 employees spread over 21 banking centers and three additional locations under development in Massachusetts and Connecticut. She leads a team that is responsible for talent recruitment and development, HR compliance, benefits, employee relations, compensation management, and HR-related associate communication. She has extensive experience in leadership development and coaching, change management, performance improvement, organizational learning and development, and employee engagement, as well as more than 20 years of experience serving in leadership positions in human resources.

“We were lucky to attract a person with Amy’s experience to our executive leadership team,” Senecal said. “With her previous experience at a large retail organization that has an employee base similar to ours, we know that Amy is the right person to build our team of associates to serve our current needs as well as future aspirations.”

Roberts holds a master’s degree in human resource development from American International College and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bridgewater State University. She has also earned certificates in leadership development and succession planning, talent development and retention, and human capital management principles from the Human Capital Institute.

Roberts’ volunteer service includes serving as a board member for the Center for Human Development, the United Way of Hampshire County, Leadership Pioneer Valley, and the STCC Foundation, as well as serving as an advisory board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters and a Read Aloud volunteer for Link to Libraries.

In his new position, Gardner oversees and manages all aspects of a full-service banking center, including staffing, sales, lending, operations, business development, and community relations. He has 18 years of financial-services and banking experience.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Westfield State University and an associate degree in retail management from Holyoke Community College. He serves as vice president of the East Longmeadow Rotary Club, is a member of the ERC5 and West of the River chambers of commerce, and is a volunteer for Revitalize CDC and Junior Achievement.

In her new position, Guzie is responsible for assisting in the growth of relationships for the Connecticut region. She has 20 years of banking experience.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an associate degree in business administration from the New England College of Business and Finance. She has served as treasurer of Suffield Chamber of Commerce and president of Suffield Rotary Club, is a member of the Asnuntuck Community College Foundation, and has volunteered for Suffield on the Green, the Suffield Business Showcase, and the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Assoc.

In her new position, Stevenson oversees and manages all aspects of the West Springfield banking center, including staffing, sales, operations, business development, and community relations. She will also ensure that the banking center exceeds service and sales goals, provides excellent customer service, operates according to all bank policies and procedures, and serves as a leader within the community. She has 10 years of banking experience.

She holds an associate degree in business administration and management from Holyoke Community College. Her volunteer service includes serving as a committee member for the West Springfield St Patrick’s Day, Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade, and the Agawam St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. She also served as booth chair for Credit for Life Springfield and is a Big Sister for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County, second vice president of the Safe Deposit Group of Western Mass., financial group volunteer for Rays of Hope, and a volunteer for Rebuilding Together. She is a member of the finance group for JDRF, the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England, and the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield.

HOLYOKE — The Valley Blue Sox game on Sunday, July 14 against the Vermont Mountaineers will be Military Appreciation Night, presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The gates will open at 4:05 p.m., with the first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

All veterans and active military personnel will be admitted free with one guest at Sunday’s game with valid identification. In addition, throughout the game, the team will honor servicemen and women who have fought for their country. Veterans Affairs will also be present behind the home-plate area to provide more information about the services they provide. Blue Sox players and staff also visited with veterans at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Leeds on July 10. 

Veterans Affairs has been a supporter of the Valley Blue Sox since the team’s inception in 2008.

Military nonprofit organizations seeking tickets for Sunday’s game should contact the Blue Sox at [email protected].

SPRINGFIELD — Nominations for the third annual class of Healthcare Heroes are due this Friday, July 12. Individuals and organizations making an impact in Western Mass. may be nominated in seven different categories: Patient/Resident/Client Care Provider, Health/Wellness Administrator/Administration, Emerging Leader, Community Health, Innovation in Health/Wellness, Collaboration in Health/Wellness, and Lifetime Achievement.

In the spring of 2017, BusinessWest and its sister publication, HCN, created the Healthcare Heroes recognition program. It was launched with the theory that there are heroes working all across this region’s wide, deep, and all-important healthcare sector, and that there was no shortage of fascinating stories to tell and individuals and groups to honor.

Event sponsors include presenting sponsor American International College, partnering sponsors Development Associates and Comcast Business, and supporting sponsor Elms College. To nominate a Healthcare Hero for the class of 2019, click here.

BOSTON — Employer confidence stabilized in Massachusetts during June despite a continued swirl of conflicting economic and political signals around the globe.

The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index rose 0.5 points to 57.6 last month, rebounding from a May drop that left it at its lowest level since October 2016.

The Index has declined 3.7 points since June 2018 but remains within optimistic territory. And though confidence levels are virtually unchanged since January, the AIM Index reflects constantly changing headlines about international trade, economic growth, and the direction of interest rates.

“We’re seeing confidence go up one month and down the next in the same way that financial markets have been whipsawed by almost daily changes in the economic outlook,” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors and lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Design. “Employers remain concerned about the prospect of an economic slowdown but were encouraged at the end of June by larger-than-expected job growth numbers, signs of a thaw in the U.S./China trade battle, and signals that the Federal Reserve might ease interest rates.”

Tariffs continue to influence employer confidence. One AIM member reported seeing “cost increases for construction materials due to the effect of tariffs. This is creating some uncertainty in the pricing of new construction projects.”

The AIM Index, based on a survey of Massachusetts employers, has appeared monthly since July 1991. It is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative.

Constituent indicators were mixed during June. The Massachusetts Index assessing business conditions within the Commonwealth rose 0.3 points to 61.2, while the U.S. Index rose 3 points to 58.0. The Massachusetts reading has declined 1.6 points during the past 12 months, and the U.S. reading has dropped 2.0 points during the same period.

The Future Index, measuring expectations for six months out, rose 0.2 points to 56.2. The Current Index, which assesses overall business conditions at the time of the survey, gained 0.8 points to 59.0, 4.5 points lower than a year ago. The Employment Index declined 0.4 points for the month and 2.2 percent for 12 months. Analysts say employers continue to struggle to find qualified workers in a state economy with a 2.9% jobless rate.

Non-manufacturers (60.1) were more confident than manufacturers (54.4), who have seen their confidence levels drop 8.1% since June 2018. Large companies (59.0) were more confident than small companies (58.4) or medium-sized companies (55.6). Companies in Eastern Mass. (58.5) continued to be more optimistic than those in Western Mass. (56.3).

AIM President and CEO John Regan, also a BEA member, said Gov. Charlie Baker and the Massachusetts Legislature have made several decisions recently that boosted employer confidence. Those decisions included postponing the start of contributions for paid family leave and allowing the MassHealth assessment to lapse as scheduled in December.

“Employers have been encouraged by the willingness of state policymakers to meet businesses halfway on some of these complex issues,” Regan said. “Our hope is that lawmakers will continue this mindful approach to the economy.”

AMHERST — State Sen. Jo Comerford and state Rep. Mindy Domb announced they will host Department of Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago for a regional conversation on the topic of preventing and addressing the impact of college closures. The event will take place on Friday, July 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the town meeting room at Amherst Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Ave., Amherst.

This event is an opportunity for community members to learn about the governor’s proposal for preventing closures and share questions, concerns, insights, and recommendations with the commissioner.

“Rep. Domb and I represent districts whose communities have deep relationships with higher-education institutions,” Comerford said. “What’s true, therefore, is that any talk of preventing or addressing college closures must take the impact on our communities into consideration. I look forward to our constituents having the opportunity to join in this conversation with Commissioner Santiago, bringing their concerns, questions, and ideas.”

Added Domb, “Senator Comerford and I have partnered on the issue of college closures since taking office, and I’m excited that our constituents will have this opportunity to meet with the commissioner. I greatly appreciate Commissioner Santiago’s willingness to meet and discuss these issues in Amherst, his openness to clarify the governor’s proposal, and his commitment to understand the effect closures have not only on students, but also the significant impact they have on Massachusetts residents, communities, and local economies. I am looking forward to a meaningful discussion.”

The conversation will be interactive, and concerned individuals who are not able to attend in person can submit questions and comments for the commissioner by using the hashtag #askDHE on Twitter. Additionally, in an effort to make the event as accessible as possible, Comerford and Domb will also live-stream the event from their Facebook pages and take questions via those Facebook feeds as well.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to visit Amherst and share thoughts on the proposed regulations,” Santiago said. “Massachusetts will continue to see major shifts in the higher-education landscape, most notably due to demographic changes. Our goal is to adopt a more proactive regulatory stance in order to protect students from the devastating impact of sudden college closures.”

SPRINGFIELD — Lauryn Picknelly, a fourth-generation Picknelly, recently joined the family business, Peter Pan Bus Lines, as assistant controller.

She graduated magna cum laude from Providence College with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance. She then worked for a year in Hartford at Deloitte before joining the family business.

SPRINGFIELD — Bulkley Richardson announced the launch of CyberSafe, a series of cybersecurity events and written alerts to provide critical information to businesses and organizations on topics of cybersecurity.

How will the soon-to-be implemented California Consumer Privacy Act impact businesses in Massachusetts? What are the safeguards to put in place to minimize damage caused by a data breach? What are your obligations under new Massachusetts laws? How does the General Data Protection Regulation affect your business? These topics — and more — will be covered in the first event, when Jim Duda and Lauren Ostberg, attorneys in Bulkley Richardson’s cybersecurity practice, team up with Chris Wisneski, IT Security and Assurance Services manager at Whittlesey, on Monday, July 15 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Bulkley Richardson’s office in Springfield. Following the program will be a networking reception. Registration is required by e-mailing [email protected].

The CyberSafe series will meet quarterly to cover topics on preparation, assessment, implementation, and response to help attendees understand their legal obligations, safeguards to stay protected, and what to do in the event of a breach.

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank announced that Darlene Mark has joined the bank as vice president and commercial loan officer, and David Babine has come on board as the bank’s newest mortgage loan originator.

Formerly with Country Bank, Mark has been in banking for 20 years. Her entire banking career has been spent in commercial lending as a credit analyst, portfolio manager, and presently as a commercial loan officer. She has a bachelor’s degree and MBA in business administration from Western New England University and is also a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts School for Financial Studies at Babson College. Actively involved in the community, she is a finance committee member of Ludlow Boys and Girls Club and volunteers for Junior Achievement.

“We are thrilled to have Darlene join our team,” said Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. “Her experience, perspective, and ability to develop trusted relationships will be of tremendous value to our business customers.”

Babine brings close to 20 years of experience in banking, many of those in residential lending. He is a graduate of Westfield State College with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He also obtained a master’s degree in education psychology and an advanced graduate degree in guidance counseling from the American International College. He has spent some time as a school counselor at various local high schools and volunteered as a local athletic coach.

“We are extremely pleased to have David join us,” Lowell said. “He has a wealth of knowledge and is completely dedicated to customer service and our communities, which is certainly the right fit for our team.”

NORTHAMPTON — July marks the publication of the premiere issue of Different Leaf magazine, a journal of cannabis culture. Targeted to readers 45 and over, Different Leaf’s editorial content covers the rapidly evolving cannabis industry in Massachusetts and makes it accessible for consumers who are new to cannabis and those looking for new ways to integrate it into their lives.

Launching with a quarterly publication schedule, regular features in Different Leaf will include “Merch + More,” a roundup of cannabis products from Massachusetts and beyond including smoking accessories, THC and CBD products, and books. The back of the book contains practical, educational information on using cannabis for health and wellness, cooking, nutrition, fitness, sexuality, pets, and more.

Features will look in depth at innovators in the industry, medical news, and social and cultural issues surrounding the legalization of cannabis. The premiere issue’s features include a profile of legendary cannabis activist and Harvard professor Lester Grinspoon, an exploration of equity and social justice in the cannabis industry told through interviews with entrepreneurs looking to open stores, and a visit to 3Jane, a secretive crypto-anarchist computer bulletin board for cannabis growers in Vermont who are confronting their own transition to a legal market.

“For those of us who have the experience of purchasing cannabis flower from someone operating in the traditional market, generally we had to accept what was offered. Interacting with and understanding the hundreds of legal products on sale in the typical dispensary can be an overwhelming experience,” said Michael Kusek, founder and publisher. “When I had the idea to start a cannabis magazine, I gravitated toward a gap existing in cannabis media and set out to create a guide for those of us who have limited or no experience and are looking for quality, well-researched information on the full spectrum of adult and medical uses for cannabis.”

Different Leaf will depart from the more traditional publishing model of posting text-based content online and will instead launch a companion podcast series with the October issue. The podcast will expand on the topics in the print magazine and delve into issues and stories that don’t mesh with a print publication timetable. A calendar of events that tie into the print publication is also planned.

Kusek founded the award-winning arts and culture magazine Take, published from 2014 to 2017. The bulk of his creative team of designers, writers, photographers, and illustrators who created Take will also be on the team creating this new publication.

Different Leaf will publish quarterly and will be available at Massachusetts dispensaries, independent book stores, natural food stores, and boutiques, as well as by subscription. More information is available at www.differentleaf.com.

LENOX — DeVries Fine Art International announced it will celebrate sculptor Andrew DeVries’ 40th career anniversary with a reception on Saturday, August 10 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the DeVries Fine Art International Gallery, 62 Church St., Lenox, with picnic fare and art both inside the gallery and outside on the grounds. Rosie Porter and Tommy LeBeau will provide music.

The gallery features original bronze sculptures, pastel paintings, and watercolors by the artist. New for this year is an educational room that gives a detailed description of the lost-wax process Devries uses, with a video and examples of different works in progress.

DeVries began his career in Colorado by drawing dancers at the Ballet Denver Academy in 1978. Encouraged to try his hand at sculpture by the artistic director of the ballet company, he began to model figures in clay and wax. He went on to learn the lost-wax process under Lee Schenkeir and mold making under Raelee Frazier. In 1979, he cast and finished his first works in bronze. In 1984, he left for Europe, traveling to different museums in a period of self-study. Andrew entered the Paris – American Academy of Fine Arts for an academic year, then to the U.S. in the summer of 1985, settling in the small Berkshire hilltown of Middlefield, where he maintains his atelier and casting studio. His sculptures are in public and private collections worldwide. He and his wife, gallery Director Patricia Purdy, established DeVries Fine Art International in 2002.

HOLYOKE — The Celebrate Holyoke planning committee announced the 2019 dates for the annual community event. Celebrate Holyoke will take place Friday through Sunday, Aug. 23-25, at Heritage State Park in downtown Holyoke.

Celebrate Holyoke is a three-day festival drawing an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people downtown over the course of the weekend each year. This year’s festival will include live musical performances, food and beverages from local restaurants, and goods from local artists and makers.

“I am thrilled to see Celebrate Holyoke return to Downtown Holyoke this year,” said Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse. “With three days of music, food, and entertainment, we have an opportunity to connect with one another as a community and celebrate all those things that make Holyoke exceptional.”

The event’s new fiscal sponsor is Holyoke Community Media Inc., a nonprofit that seeks to promote all voices in the community through media, the mayor added. “They share our governmental proceedings and all public-school activities. In addition, the center serves as a place for civic engagement. We are excited about our new partnership with Holyoke Media. A big thanks to the organizers of this event for working hard and going that extra mile to produce a quality event that brings thousands to our downtown area and making Celebrate Holyoke a Holyoke tradition. You make our city proud.”

This year, Arlo Guthrie returns to Holyoke on Aug. 24. Known to generations as a prolific songwriter, social commentator, master storyteller, actor, and activist, Guthrie’s career soared with his debut of “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” at the Newport Folk Festival in 1967. Later that year, he was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Folk Performance category. Since then, he has traveled and performed solo, with family and/or friends.

The Celebrate Holyoke planning committee welcomes alcohol distributors, food trucks, restaurateurs, artisans, nonprofits, and community organizations to apply to be a part of Celebrate Holyoke at celebrateholyokemass.com/vendors.

Although planning for Celebrate Holyoke has been underway for the last few months, the committee has opened up applications for volunteers during the three-day event. Volunteers are greatly needed for shifts throughout the weekend of the event.

WILLIAMSTOWN — Waterford Hotel Group announced three appointments at the Williams Inn. Kevin Hurley has been appointed general manager, Kevin DeMarco was named executive chef, and Darcy Lyle is director of sales.

The new Williams Inn, located at the corner of Latham and Spring streets in Williamstown, will open on Aug. 15. Owned by Williams College, the inn will replace the current Williams Inn, which will continue to operate through July 31.

With more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Hurley has dedicated his career to the hospitality industry by taking on various roles at several hotels and resorts in the U.S. in addition to his native Canada. Prior to joining the Williams Inn, he worked as assistant general manager at the Kimpton Taconic Hotel in Manchester, Vt. He has also held posts at Omni Hotels and Resorts, the storied Charles Hotel in Cambridge, and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. He completed his undergraduate studies at Bishops University in Sherbrook, Quebec and later went on to earn a master certificate in hospitality management from Cornell University.

A graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., DeMarco has honed his culinary skills up and down the East Coast over the past 13 years. He joins the Williams Inn team from the Newport Restaurant Group in Newport, R.I. His last post was as chef tournant at Castle Hill Inn, a historic Relais & Châteaux property in Newport. He also worked at Grande’s Bella Cucina in Palm Beach, Fla. and Public Kitchen & Bar in Providence. He is a SWE-certified specialist of wine and spirits.

Lyle brings a wealth of knowledge to the Williams Inn with 28 years of experience in the hospitality and sales industry. Prior to joining the Williams Inn, she worked in sales at the Clark Art Institute, and has also held positions in operations and sales at numerous hotels throughout the upstate New York region, as well as the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Assoc. She attended Herkimer Community College, where she received a degree in tourist facilities and management promotion. While in school, she interned with Disney, where she found her passion for the hospitality and tourism industry.

Inspired by the architecture of local area farms, the new, 58,000-square-foot inn is built of stone and wood, with interior design that is reminiscent of a contemporary New England farmhouse. The inn will feature 64 guest rooms, a fitness center, a full-service restaurant and bar, and a combined 3,200-square-foot meeting and event space that includes a 2,800-square-foot ballroom and an additional 400-square-foot space directly adjacent to the ballroom. Event-space reservations are being accepted for dates starting Sept. 1. The property’s exterior features a 3,500-square-foot green space that can be tented for outdoor functions.

The inn will house a 62-seat restaurant, the Barn offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as two private dining spaces. During prime weather months, outdoor seating will be available on the rear of the property.

BOSTON — Eversource Energy has been selected as a winner of the 2019 Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the government’s highest honor for a company for its support of employees who participate in the U.S. National Guard and Reserves. Eversource is one of only 15 companies nationwide that were selected among more than 2,400 nominations.

The award is the result of the perseverance of Bill Gelinas, a control-room supervisor for Eversource in Berlin, Conn. Gelinas wanted to show his appreciation for the support he received from the company and its employees throughout his 15-year military service, which included four overseas deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

“This is an accomplishment that is truly inspiring and is a testament to the support provided to the Guard and Reserve members who work at Eversource,” said Gelinas, a 12-year employee of the company.

Gelinas said he was deeply touched by the warmth and support he has received from his Eversource colleagues, especially during his numerous deployments. Each time he went overseas, he was overwhelmed by thoughtful care packages and almost daily encouraging e-mails from employees and company leaders.

It also made him empathetic of other soldiers who didn’t have a support system like he did. “It made me realize how special it was and made me want to engage even more to help support other service members,” added Gelinas, who also serves as president of Eversource’s Veterans Assoc.

“We are deeply proud of Bill and honored to be selected for this award,” said Eversource Chairman, President, and CEO Jim Judge. “The Freedom Award speaks to our commitment as a longtime supporter of military and veteran employees. In addition to having a job to come back to and the personal outreach of our employees, our veterans are given formal training to provide them with the opportunity to advance to supervisory-level positions.”

The Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is administered by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program that since 1966 has promoted relations and understanding between military reservists and their civilian employers. The winning companies will be invited to Washington, D.C. to receive the award from the Secretary of Defense at a ceremony held at the Pentagon in August.

SOUTHAMPTON — Glendale Ridge Vineyard at 155 Glendale Road, Southampton, is again hosting Sunset & Vines, an annual fundraising event for the Northampton Survival Center, on Saturday, July 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

This family-friendly benefit features music by Kate Lorenz and the Constellations, and local comedian Kelsey Flynn will serve as master of ceremonies. Food trucks will include the Bistro Bus, Local Burgy, Little Truc, and Chill Out.

Proceeds from ticket sales — $15 in advance at 2019sunsetandvines.brownpapertickets.com or $20 at the door — go directly toward purchasing food for clients who visit the Survival Center. Children 12 and under are free.

Attendees are invited to enjoy a mini-Tanglewood experience by bringing a blanket or chairs and a picnic if they choose. The rain date is Sunday, July 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Established in 1979 and celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the Northampton Survival Center is dedicated to improving quality of life for low-income individuals and families throughout Hampshire County by providing a stable and reliable source of free, nutritious food all year long. With pantries in Northampton and Goshen, the center is open every weekday, each day distributing more than 3,000 pounds of food to between 90 and 100 of its neighbors in need. The center serves 4,100 clients over the course of the year, a third of whom are children.

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Mall marks its 40th anniversary today, July 5. Since opening in 1979, Holyoke Mall has established itself as the largest shopping destination in Western Mass., currently offering more than 150 dining, entertainment, and retail destinations. 

Throughout the last 40 years, Pyramid Management Group has continued to adapt, evolve, and thrive in an ever-changing market. In 1995, the shopping center expanded, adding an additional 500,000 square feet, and welcomed big-box tenants such as Best Buy and Target. Traditionally located in free-standing or strip-mall locations, the addition of these anchor tenants began an industry-wide trend.

Over the years, Holyoke Mall has welcomed Massachusetts’ first Hobby Lobby, and the Xfinity Store, Toys R Us, and Christmas Tree Shops’ first in-mall locations. The center also continues to attract and expand its dining and entertainment options, most recently adding 110 Grill, Flight Fit N Fun, Round1 Bowling & Amusement, and Sumo Japanese Steakhouse.

“We are happy to grow and change with our shoppers. Forty years is a testament of our success and dedication to providing the highest quality and in-demand dining, entertainment, and retail venues,” said General Manager, Bill Rogalski. “We have more to come and are excited for our next 40 years.” 

Other stores celebrating 40 years at Holyoke Mall include American Eagle, Foot Locker, Gap, GNC, JCPenney, Kay Jewelers, Motherhood Maternity, and the Greek Place.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a partnership with the Veteran Entrepreneurial Training and Resource Network (VETRN) to establish a pilot training program for military veterans who are small-business owners and their immediate family members.

The program will equip these entrepreneurs with the resources and networks necessary to grow their small businesses.  An award of $100,000 from President Trump’s salary from the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 will fund the program.

Starting in September, this 26-week program based in Portsmouth, N.H. will feature 13 weeks of Saturday-morning classroom sessions with 12 to 20 participants, as well as 13 weeks of peer-to-peer mentoring sessions. The course curriculum will include strategic planning, financial management, cash-flow forecasting, marketing the small business, sales methods, human resources, developing a growth plan, access to capital, legal issues, and government contracting.

“While programs exist that help veterans start their small business, there is a critical need for programs that assist existing business owners with growing their business,” said SBA acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton. “Adding VETRN to the SBA resource network will enable us to fill this gap and empower veterans with the training, mentorship, tools, and network they need to achieve their long-term goals.”

Applicants must be a current business owner with at least one year of operation and one employee (not including the owner), and annual revenues of $75,000 or more.  Also required is the passion, dedication, and commitment to grow the small business.

Veteran business owners interested in finding out more information or applying for the September 2019 program can visit vetrn.org to complete an application, or e-mail [email protected].

MARLBOROUGH — Ronald McLean, president and CEO of the Cooperative Credit Union Assoc. Inc. (CCUA), on behalf of Massachusetts credit unions, along with members of the Massachusetts Credit Unions Social Responsibility Committee, presented a check for $202,725 to the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless at the third Annual Stephen D. Jones Credit Union Charity Golf Tournament in support of the “A Bed for Every Child” campaign. 

“The idea of so many children throughout Massachusetts not having their own bed is undreamed-of,” said McLean. “Massachusetts credit unions have banded together to ensure every child has a place to dream. We believe in the good work that the coalition accomplishes and are happy to do our part in helping children get a good night’s sleep to prepare them for a better future.”

Massachusetts credit unions have supported the coalition for more than two decades, surpassing more than $2 million in donations and providing blankets, toys, and books to help families in need. In 2018, Massachusetts credit unions raised $202,725 through efforts including the Stephen D. Jones Charity Golf Tournament and a variety of credit-union-driven initiatives. The need for “A Bed for Every Child” reaches all cities and towns in Massachusetts.

“A Bed for Every Child” began when a concerned inner-city public-school teacher reached out to the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. At the time, the teacher was seeing an increase in the number of students who did not have a bed of their own. As a result, these students were coming to school tired and not ready to learn.

According to Robyn Frost, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, “there is no one face to a child receiving a bed, but they do have one thing in common, and that is, they are growing up in poverty in Massachusetts. The ability for ‘A Bed for Every Child’ to keep up with the demand continues to outpace the coalition’s capacity. We are extremely fortunate to have the Massachusetts credit unions as our partner.”

SPRINGFIELD — In the spring of 2017, BusinessWest and its sister publication, HCN, created a new and exciting recognition program called Healthcare Heroes.

It was launched with the theory that there are heroes working all across this region’s wide, deep, and all-important healthcare sector, and that there was no shortage of fascinating stories to tell and individuals and groups to honor. Two years later, that theory has been validated, and stories that needed to be told have been told.

But there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of heroes who stories we still need to tell. And that’s where you come in.

Nominations for the class of 2019 are due July 12, and we encourage you to get involved and help recognize someone you consider to be a hero in the community we call Western Mass. in one (or more) of these seven categories: Patient/Resident/Client Care Provider, Health/Wellness Administrator/Administration, Emerging Leader, Community Health, Innovation in Health/Wellness, Collaboration in Health/Wellness, and Lifetime Achievement.

Event sponsors include presenting sponsor American International College, partnering sponsors Development Associates and Comcast Business, and supporting sponsor Elms College. To nominate a Healthcare Hero, click here.

SPRINGFIELD — Last Thursday, commissioners representing their respective Hampden and Hampshire county communities had the opportunity to decide who will take the helm of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission as current Executive Director Tim Brennan prepares to bring his more than four decades of service in that role to a close this summer.

Those present selected Kimberly Robinson, who since 2011 has been executive director of the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency, which serves three counties anchored by Metro Reno, Nevada. Previous posts held by Robinson also include head planner for the city of Detroit and planning manager for the Washoe County Department of Community Development.

“I am thrilled and humbled to have been selected by the commission to lead the next chapter in its long history of improving Pioneer Valley residents’ quality of life,” said Robinson. “While Tim Brennan leaves big shoes to fill, I’m grateful that he also leaves the agency with a great reputation and on solid financial and operational footing. I cannot wait to roll up my sleeves and build on the partnerships the agency has cultivated with its 43 member communities to help them succeed, from basic government service delivery to big-picture regional visioning.”

Pending a successful contract negotiation, Robinson and Brennan will work together to identify a time over the next few months for the transition to occur.

“After an extraordinarily rewarding career working with the PVPC’s 43 member communities plus countless numbers of colleagues, partners, and friends, I am now looking forward to welcoming Kim Robinson as our agency’s new leader later this fall,” Brennan said. “Kim undeniably brings an impressive résumé of skills and experiences to this job but, more importantly, a level of personal commitment and energy that I’m confident will serve the Pioneer Valley region and its people extremely well as the Planning Commission continues to tackle the problems and opportunities that will define our region’s future.”

David Starr, the long-time publisher and then president of the Republican, died this week at age 96.

He will long be remembered for his many accomplishments and innovations in journalism — and in the revitalization of Springfield, the city he came to in the late ’70s, at a time when it was already in deep decline.

His passing helps serve as a poignant reminder of the power and importance of the press at a time when the industry is struggling and some worry about its very survival.

Indeed, Starr, while leading efforts to revitalize Springfield through the arts and culture, made the media, and specifically the Republican, a partner in those efforts.

Some criticized him for crossing over some imaginary line between reporting news and participating in the news, but Springfield, and this region as a whole, should be very glad he did cross it.

“Urban revitalization hinges on a true working partnership among elected officials (mayor, city councilors), private business people … and the media,” Starr wrote in a letter to S.I. Newhouse Sr., owner of the chain of newspapers to which the Republican belonged. “Newspapers have the power to nurture or destroy this kind of effort. If a paper can be persuaded to help, then the prospect of success is enormously brighter.

“Many editors are uncomfortable with the thought of participation,” he continued in the same letter. “They do not want to be — and they certainly should not be — mere promoters. But it’s my thesis that once an editor has examined the problem and decided that the proposed solution is a good one, then he does not lose his editorial prerogative by joining the effort.”

Starr wasn’t a promoter, but he certainly joined the effort. And not only did he join it — in many cases he led it; he was one of the founders of Springfield Business Friends of the Arts, and also the Community Foundation of Western Mass. and the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., and active with a number of organizations related to the arts.

He was a do-gooder, but he did a lot more than that. He inspired others to also join the effort, and by the time of his death, he could rightly be proud of the many ways in which Springfield has changed for the better.

FLORENCE — Florence Bank accepted three of the four potential awards for banking excellence in Western Mass. and took part in a panel discussion at the Bank Best Expo! at MGM Springfield on June 28.

As part of the 2019 Banking Choice Awards review by 278,359 independent consumers in a double-blind scientific study, Florence Bank came out on top in Western Mass. in almost every category.

At the expo, Monica Curhan, the bank’s senior vice president and Marketing director, accepted two first-place awards, for customer service and overall quality, and a second-place honor for excellence in technology and tools.

Curhan also sat on a panel of bankers whose institutions consistently rank at the top in independent consumer surveys to discuss best industry practices. She was joined by Stephen Lewis, president of Thomaston Savings Bank and chairman of the Connecticut Bankers Assoc.; Todd Tallman, president and treasurer of Cornerstone Bank in Massachusetts; and Mark Bodin, president of Savings Bank of Walpole in New Hampshire.

“Every decision we make is with the customer in mind, so it’s nice to know our efforts are resonating with our customers,” Curhan said.

The Banking Choice Awards recognize banks that receive the highest ratings from their own customers in four categories: customer service, technology, community contribution, and overall quality. 

The rankings are based upon the Banking Benchmarks, the industry’s gold standard of customer-experience measurement, conducted twice per year among hundreds of thousands of households and businesses to get unbiased opinions of the institutions with whom they bank. The Banking Choice Awards honored the top three institutions in each category from each region in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

In addition to presenting the awardees, the expo also gives attendees the opportunity to network with peers, discover solutions from leaders in the banking community, and learn about the latest products and services in the industry.

AMHERST — The development and fundraising consulting firm Financial Development Agency Inc. (FDA) announced that Sarah Tanner is re-joining FDA as a full partner and one of three principals. Ms. Tanner had worked for FDA for several years prior to becoming director of Development at Friends of the Homeless and Clinical and Support Options.

With more than 20 years of resource-development experience, Tanner has helped a broad range of nonprofits within and beyond Western Mass. to succeed in meeting their fundraising and communications goals and objectives.

“We are very excited to have Sarah back on board as a principal and partner,” said FDA’s Matt Blumenfeld. “Her wealth of experience, familiarity with FDA’s mission and practice, and passion for excellence will serve our nonprofit client base effectively and well, and we look forward to many fruitful years of working together.”

Tanner started her career at the Mile High United Way in Colorado, serving as a marketing manager for information and referral services. She continued in the United Way system, serving in leadership positions with United Ways of New York City, Hampshire County, and the Pioneer Valley. After her tenure as senior vice president of Strategic Communications and Resource Development at the United Way of Pioneer Valley, she worked as a senior program manager at FDA, where she ran several successful capital campaigns as well as providing a variety of consulting services to more than a dozen FDA clients.

In addition to her work in resource development, Tanner serves on the faculty of the graduate programs in nonprofit management and philanthropy at Bay Path University and serves as president of the Western Mass. chapter of Assoc. of Fundraising Professionals. At FDA, she will manage training and coaching programs, as well as executive-search and interim-development services.

Tanner received her master of public administration degree in the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the School of Public Health at UMass Amherst. She is a graduate of the Human Service Forum’s Emerging Leaders Institute, as well as an inaugural graduate of the Leadership Pioneer Valley class of 2012. She was also named to BusinessWest’s inaugural 40 Under Forty class of 2007.

SPRINGFIELD — On June 20, the Horace Smith Fund held its 120th corporators’ meeting at the Carriage House of Storrowton Tavern in West Springfield. Present at the annual meeting were the corporators who unanimously voted to elect Thomas Senecal, president of PeoplesBank, as a new Corporator.

Senecal has more than 25 years of experience in the financial-services industry. In 2016, he was elected president and CEO of PeoplesBank, previously serving as the bank’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. He is a graduate of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and is a certified public accountant. He also attended the Tuck Executive Program at Dartmouth College. In addition to his new appointment with the Horace Smith Fund, Senecal also serves as a corporator for Loomis Communities.

Following the annual meeting, the Horace Smith Fund awarded $411,000 in scholarships and fellowships to students who will be pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees this fall.