WESTFIELD — Tighe & Bond, one of the leading full-service engineering and environmental consulting firms in the Northeast, climbed 19 spots this year to number 222 on Engineering News Record’s (ENR) 2019 Top 500 Design Firms ranking. In the past two years, Tighe & Bond climbed 38 spots as the firm continues to grow its regional market. ENR ranks its list of top 500 design firms nationally based on design-specific revenue from the previous year.

“We are very excited to climb 19 spots in this national ranking, which we believe is the result of continuing to execute on our strategies of expanding in our regional markets along with attracting and retaining outstanding staff across the organization,” said Bob Belitz, president and CEO of Tighe & Bond. “Of course, we could not achieve these accomplishments without the trust our clients have in us to work on their behalf and deliver superb project outcomes.”

GREAT BARRINGTON — The Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative (BFMC) will host two summer filmmaking workshops: one for 15- to 19-year-olds from Monday, June 24 to Friday, June 28, and one for 11- to 14-year-olds from Monday July 8 to Friday, July 12. These week-long workshops will meet daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Berkshire Community College’s South County Campus, 343 Main St., Great Barrington. Early dropoff (9 a.m.) and late pickup (5 p.m.) is available by request.

The purpose of the workshops are twofold: for kids to experience what it’s like to work on a real movie crew from creation of an idea to the final edit of the project, and for the group to produce a high-quality short film championed in every aspect by everyone in the group. The kids will work collaboratively — performing as actors on camera; running the lights, camera, and sound; editing; and marketing the film’s premiere to the community. On the final night, parents, friends, and the public will be invited to attend, and the young filmmakers will participate in a question-and-answer session with the audience. Each participant will walk away with a copy of the film and the experience of creating a professional-quality film together. 

Specific topics covered will include story structure, screenwriting, character development, cinematography, sound recording and mixing, lighting, editing, sound design, and marketing. 

“We are thrilled to be offering this filmmaking workshop for the young people in our community,” said Diane Pearlman, executive director of BFMC. “Video is becoming more and more important as a tool for communication. We need to teach our kids the importance of working cooperatively on a project, while giving them the tools necessary to tell a compelling story.”

The course is being taught by writer, director, actor, and educator Patrick Toole. For four years, Patrick taught filmmaking and animation at the Darrow School in New Lebanon, N.Y. He also co-created the After School Film Project with the Chatham Film Club and numerous other afterschool film and theater programs for middle- and high-school students. Toole has written, directed, and edited more than 30 short films and founded and curated several local film festivals, including the Berkshire Shorts Film Festival. He is the co-founder of the Whitdiots improv troupe and Emergent Ensemble Theater Co. He studied film at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. 

All equipment will be provided. The cost for the week-long workshop is $325. Students will need to bring lunch. Class size is limited. To register online, visit shop.berkshirecc.edu or call (413) 236-2127.

SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts Casino Career Training Institute (MCCTI) is offering the opportunity for students to take the necessary training to become a casino dealer in Massachusetts. Everyone who successfully passes two classes is guaranteed an audition with MGM Springfield. It will be possible to begin training in June and be working by September.

There are two options, one on weekdays and one on weekends. The weekday class meets Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from June 3 to July 23, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Immediately following blackjack is the carnival-games course, which runs during the same time frame and ends on Aug 26.

The weekend class meets Saturday and Sunday, June 1 to July 20, from noon to 6 p.m. Immediately following blackjack is the carnival-games course, which runs during the same time frame and ends on Aug 18.

“You bring the fun, guest-services personality. We’ll teach you everything else you need to know,” said Michele Cabral, director of MCCTI.

Classes are taught by MGM Springfield supervisors on the casino grounds. The tables, chips, and cards are close replicas of those on the casino floor.

The cost for the two classes is $598. To receive more information or help signing up, stop by MassHire Springfield on Wednesday, May 15 from 10 a.m. to noon; Friday, May 17 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; or Thursday, May 30, from 9 to 11 a.m. MassHire Springfield is located at the STCC Technology Park, 1 Federal St., Building 103-3. Drop-ins are welcome.

MCCTI is a partnership between Holyoke Community College, Springfield Technical Community College and MGM, and is authorized by the state of Massachusetts to provide the training required to become a licensed dealer. To get more information or to enroll, visit www.mccti.org. Class space is limited.

NORTHAMPTON — The Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce will host its centennial event, “Torch: Our Time to Shine,” on Thursday, June 13 at 6 p.m., at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton.

The evening’s program will honor Suzanne Beck, who has led the chamber for 27 years, and is retiring from the organization this spring. Beck will be recognized along with those she has worked closely with during her tenure at the chamber. “There have been so many people recently stepping up to carry on the leadership that these trailblazers began,” she said. “I started to look around and notice that Northampton is in a real moment of change. I’m really looking forward to celebrating this moment with the community.”

The 100th-anniversary festivities begin on the red carpet in front of the historic Academy theater, with an opening reception beginning at 6 p.m. Northampton Community Television will interview guests on the red carpet, capturing their hopes and dreams for Northampton. Dpict facilitated illustration will be creating a live drawing in the theater lobby, sourced from attendees’ comments. The finished drawing will be revealed later in the evening.

At 7 p.m., Linda Hannum and Rus Peotter will host an interactive program featuring music, surprises, and special guests, including musicians from Downtown Sounds Workers Co-op, who will play as the show’s house band. The program’s focus will be a recognition of change and celebration of the shared call to shine together as a community. Musical groups Green Street Brew and Pioneer Valley Performing Arts’ Spectrum a cappella will also perform.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the planning for Torch, an event that will bring together the best of your favorite chamber events, with some fun twists worthy of our 100th birthday,” said event committee chairperson Matthew Bannister, vice president of Marketing & Innovation at PeoplesBank.

The celebration will continue under the stars with a party at the rear of the theatre, including food, drink, and dancing.

Lead sponsors of the event include Cooley Dickinson Health Care, the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Florence Bank, and PeoplesBank, with major support from Aladco Linen Services, BusinessWest, Keiter Builders, and Leadership Pioneer Valley.

Visit northamptonchamber.com for tickets and more information.

GREENFIELD — The Franklin County Bar Assoc., in coordination with Greenfield Community College (GCC) and the Berkshire, Hampden, and Hampshire county bar associations, will welcome Judicial Court Associate Justice Kimberly Budd to GCC on Tuesday, May 14.

Budd will speak on the topic of “The Supreme Judicial Court: How It Works, How I Got There, and What I Learned Along the Way.” Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Michael Callen will give an introduction. The event will begin at 10 a.m., with a reception following the speaking program.

The Supreme Judicial Court is the state’s highest appellate court. The court consists of a chief justice and six associate justices who are each nominated and appointed by the governor following a majority vote in the Governor’s Council.

Budd was appointed to the Supreme Judicial Court by Gov. Charlie Baker. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Georgetown University and a law degree from Harvard Law School. She began her legal career as a law clerk to Chief Justice Joseph Warner of the Massachusetts Appeals Court.

Budd was a litigation associate at Mintz Levin before serving as an asistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts in the Major Crimes and Drug units. After that, she was a university attorney for Harvard University in the General Counsel’s Office. She later served as director of the Community Values program at Harvard Business School.

She was appointed as an associate justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court by Gov. Deval Patrick in 2009. In 2016, she served as the regional administrative justice for Middlesex Criminal Business.

“We are excited Justice Budd will be in Franklin County,” said Christine Baronas, executive director of the Franklin County Bar Assoc. “This is an opportunity to learn more about her and the court. Her position on the Supreme Judicial Court makes her visit extremely special to us.”

To RSVP or for more information, contact Franklin County Bar Assoc. at [email protected] or (413) 773-9839.

HOLYOKE — The Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley is gathering leaders of Western Mass. companies, agencies, and organizations to explore together the upcoming trends and forces all will need to respond to. On Tuesday, June 4 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke, 100 local leaders will participate in a World Café-style session, led by strategic leadership coach Ingrid Bredenberg, that will result in an improved perspective on paths forward into the inevitable future.

Tickets are $35 (there are also discount packages, sponsor opportunities, and roles as scribes and table hosts), and includes a networking-style dinner and a relevant, practical, stimulating exploration. The FBC is doing this to mark its 25th anniversary and first-ever leadership transition with an event that will creates wins and takeaways for all.

For more information and to register, e-mail fambizpv.com/leadershipsummit.

SPRINGFIELD — Lou Brunetti lived life to the fullest as an active member of his hometown of Chicopee, participating in community and church life. He lost his fight with cancer earlier this year, while spending his last days in the care of Harmony House, a home for the terminally ill. In memory of his life and his last days at Harmony House, a ballroom and Latin dancing event will be held on Saturday, May 25 at 7 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel in Springfield.

Organized by David Rosinski of Chicopee, the evening promises to be an exciting showcase of local and national dancers. Rosinski, who operates Dancing a la Carte and is a teacher, choreographer, and coach, is a former U.S. and world exhibition champion. He has won every major ballroom competition in the country with his partner, Michelle Evans. He appeared on Star Search in 1990 and performed with Juliet Prowse.

There will be a VIP wine and cheese reception prior to the show for those who choose to donate $100 for available VIP seating. Only 50 of these VIP seats will be sold, so it is encouraged to get tickets early. Hosting the VIP event will be Fr. William Tourigny of Ste. Rose de Lima Parish in Chicopee, where Brunetti was a lifetime congregant and an active volunteer.

Tickets range from $30 to the $100 VIP donation and are available in advance from Rosinski by calling (413) 519-2435 or at Ste. Rose de Lima church before and after weekend masses.

Harmony House currently occupies a small house in Chicopee, which was offered by a local family for use while the organization is in the process of renovating a much larger home in the Aldenville section of the city. Staffed mainly by volunteers of all kinds — nurses, CNAs, caregivers, companions, and more — Harmony House is totally privately funded through the generosity of individuals, businesses, and foundations. Contributions are gratefully accepted at all times.

Volunteers are needed for the direct care of residents, as well as for housekeeping, food preparation, and groundskeeping. For more information, visit www.harmonyhousewma.org or call (413) 331-5252.

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Resorts International announced that MGM Springfield has received the world’s first U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) New Construction Platinum level certification for a gaming resort.

MGM Springfield, which opened in August 2018, is the company’s most recent development. Working closely with state and city officials, as well as the local community, MGM Resorts committed to designing and building a property that exemplifies the company’s values in support of environmental sustainability and positive social impact while honoring local history and architecture.

A significant enabler of the LEED Platinum rating is the property’s new solar array, which will supply renewable electricity to the facility. In partnership with GE Solar, a subsidiary of General Electric based in Massachusetts, MGM Springfield will install a 1.13-megawatt solar canopy on the eighth floor, on top of the MGM Springfield garage. This array is expected to generate more than 1,600 megawatt hours of electricity, helping reduce the property’s annual carbon footprint by approximately 410 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

“As a values-driven company, we are immensely proud that MGM Springfield is the first resort in the gaming industry to achieve the LEED Platinum certification,” said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. “We are grateful for the response we have received from the community since opening our doors in August 2018, and we will continue to strive to be a good neighbor and explore innovative ways to improve operations, guest experiences, and the surrounding areas.”

Among its sustainable design and development elements, MGM Springfield:

• Redeveloped and revitalized a tornado-impacted site in the South End;

• Integrated smart energy infrastructure and submeters through the facility to help monitor and control the property’s electrical and mechanical systems to support year-round energy efficiency;

• Designed for significant on-site electricity generation;

• Installed 50 electric vehicle-charging stations and 140 low-emitting fuel-efficient vehicle parking spaces in some of the most preferable locations of the guest and employee garages, to encourage the use of more environmentally preferable modes of transportation;

• Diverted more than 95% of construction and demolition waste by weight from landfills during construction;

• Selected products from manufacturers that disclose information about the ingredients in their products;

• Used interior finishes such as paints, sealants, coatings, adhesives, carpeting, and composite wood products with low or no volatile organic chemicals and free of urea-formaldehyde, helping to create healthier spaces for guests and employees; and

• Created a rainwater-harvesting system and underground cistern to capture, store, and treat rainwater onsite, allowing 100% of water for landscaping to come from this source.

Working with community partners, the MGM Springfield development project includes multiple buildings within the city of Springfield, including a daycare facility, entertainment venues, and more. All aspects of this project have already achieved or are seeking a minimum of LEED Gold certification.

BOSTON — John Regan, a Boston native who has directed government-affairs advocacy at Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) for the past 12 years, was selected as the next president and CEO of the commonwealth’s largest business association. Regan succeeds AIM President and CEO Richard Lord, who is retiring after two decades leading the organization. The appointment is effective May 20.

“The AIM board of directors conducted a comprehensive search to find just the right person to lead this dynamic organization into the future,” said Patricia Begrowicz, chair of the AIM CEO search committee and President of Onyx Specialty Papers in South Lee. “After engaging with an extraordinary and diverse group of more than 100 candidates and prospects, our committee recommended unanimously to the board that John Regan should be the next president of AIM.”

Regan, who joined the AIM Government Affairs department in 2000 and was appointed executive vice president in 2007, explained that “my goals are to ensure that AIM remains the preeminent voice for businesses on Beacon Hill, and to make Massachusetts an attractive state for employers of all kinds to succeed. I’m committed to ensuring that AIM represents, and advocates for, the full diversity of Massachusetts employers. I am deeply honored and grateful to the board of directors for their confidence in me and for all the time and effort they invested in this search process.” 

At AIM, Regan’s focus has been administrative and legislative advocacy, regulatory affairs, litigation, and ballot initiatives. He has negotiated favorable outcomes for employers on major issues such as healthcare reform, paid family and medical leave, use of non-compete agreements, pay equity, unemployment-insurance rate freezes, and the 2018 compromise that avoided costly and contentious ballot questions concerning the minimum wage, sales tax, and paid leave.

“John emerged as the clear top choice to build on Rick Lord’s long legacy of success advancing the interests of employers and fostering economic growth and opportunity in the Commonwealth,” said Dan Kenary, chair of the AIM board of directors and CEO and co-founder of Massachusetts Bay Brewing Company in Boston. “We’re excited to have John lead our organization.”

Regan has deep experience in both the private and public sectors. Prior to his tenure at AIM, he served as chief operations officer for MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, overseeing real-estate development and community-revitalization projects including the transformation of the former Fort Devens. Before MassDevelopment, he was executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, leading the commonwealth’s business-retention and recruitment efforts.

Regan, a graduate of Boston Latin School, earned his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s Seminary College in Boston and a certificate in organizational management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

PITTSFIELD — The state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) regulations go into effect on July 1 as part of the Commonwealth’s ‘grand bargain’ agreement that also raised the minimum wage. All employers large and small must take action with payroll deductions beginning July 1.

1Berkshire, in partnership with Steffans Legal, is hosting a series of free educational sessions to help employers understand exactly what is required with the July 1 regulations. They are slated for Monday, May 20 at 9 a.m. at Pittsfield City Hall; Tuesday (click here to register); Tuesday, May 21 at 8:30 a.m. at the Green in North Adams (click here to register); and Thursday, May 23 at 9 a.m. at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge (click here to register).

For those unable to attend, PCTV will livestream the May 20 event, and links to the recording will be available online and on public television.

SPRINGFIELD — Michael Ostrowski, president and CEO of Arrha Credit Union, congratulated Lucas Manzi, Accounting Department and Finance manager at Arrha, for receiving a 2019 Credit Union Difference Maker’s Award presented by the Cooperative Credit Union Assoc. at the 2019 Credit Union Marketplace Experience.

The show highlighted new technology and featured breakout sessions in many topics, including cybersecurity, the latest trends in digital banking, and ways to enhance the member experience, as well as a salute to employees that have great attitudes, positively impact others, and make a difference at their credit union, in the community, and beyond.

“Lucas was nominated for all that he is doing here at the credit union,” Ostrowski said. “He received one of the Difference Maker’s Awards for his great attitude, positive team efforts, and innovative practices that he does within our credit union and efforts in the community. We are pleased to congratulate Lucas on a very special recognition. The board sends their utmost congratulations to him for his efforts.”

BOSTON — The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index rose 2.4 points to 60.3 last month. Confidence remains well within optimistic territory, though still 3.9 points below its strong reading of April 2018.

The April 2019 increase reflected growing employer optimism about economic prospects for the next six months and about the future of their own companies.

All of the constituent indicators that make up the Index rose during April with one notable exception. The Employment Index fell 1.5 points to 54.4, suggesting that employer sentiment continues to be tempered by a persistent shortage of qualified workers.

“The Business Confidence Index continues to show a conflict between short-term economic optimism and long-term concern about the prospect of finding enough appropriately skilled workers to run Massachusetts businesses,” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) and lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Design. “The immediate news for employers is positive as economic growth in Massachusetts surged to an annual rate of 4.6% during the first quarter of 2019, and U.S. growth came in at 3.2%.”

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. The Index reached its historic high of 68.5 on two occasions in 1997-98, and its all-time low of 33.3 in February 2009. It has remained above 50 since October 2013.

The constituent indicators showed a broad-based strengthening of confidence during April. The Massachusetts Index assessing business conditions within the Commonwealth rose 1.5 points to 63.2, while the U.S. Index gained 2.8 points to 58.3. The Massachusetts reading has declined 0.9 points during the past 12 months, and the U.S. reading has dropped 5.6 points during the same period.

The Future Index, measuring expectations for six months out, surged 3.1 points to 60.5. The Current Index, which assesses overall business conditions at the time of the survey, rose 1.7 points to 60.0, still 5.1 points lower than a year ago.

The decline in the Employment Index left that measure 5.4 points lower than in April 2018. One good sign for job seekers is that the Sales Index, a key predictor of future business activity, rose 3.9 points during the month.

NORTHAMPTON — Fierst, Kane & Bloomberg, LLP announced that Jonathan Kane, who joined the firm in 2001 and became a partner in 2005, has been appointed associate justice of the Housing Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. His last formal day at the firm will be May 31.

Meanwhile, Susan Cooper has become a partner in the firm. She has more than 25 years of experience representing businesses of all types and sizes, from sole proprietors to international corporations. Her primary areas of practice include transactional matters such as business acquisitions and sales, corporate reorganizations, advising startups, and commercial lending. She is a graduate of Cornell University and the George Washington University National Law Center.

In addition, Mae Stiles has recently become of counsel to the firm. She has 11 years of experience in complex commercial litigation, including antitrust and intellectual-property matters as well as a wide variety of corporate, business, and licensing transactions. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Massachusetts, New York, and California.

GREENFIELD — On Saturday, June 1, Greenfield Community College’s (GCC) commencement ceremony will feature speaker Andrew Dreyfus, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA), one of the largest independent Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in the country with over $8 billion in revenue and nearly 3 million members.

During his commencement address, Dreyfus will offer his insights as an innovative leader in healthcare committed to increasing access to quality healthcare and the role of healthcare in combating the ongoing opioid crisis in Massachusetts.

“We are incredibly honored Andrew Dreyfus will be joining us at our 56th commencement and delivering the keynote address,” said GCC President Yves Salomon-Fernández. “He is leading BCBSMA through seismic change at a time when the industry itself is undergoing a transformation. He has done so while building organizational capacity in tandem with cultural dexterity, resulting in improved services and high customer ratings.”

Dreyfus joined BCBSMA in 2005 as executive vice president, Health Care Services. During his tenure, BCBSMA created the Alternative Quality Contract, one of the largest commercial payment-reform initiatives in the nation. He assumed the role of CEO in September 2010.

During his tenure, BCBSMA has consistently been recognized as one of the nation’s best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. The company has also received many awards for community involvement and leadership in promoting diverse, healthy and environmentally friendly workplaces.

Prior to his appointment at Blue Cross, Dreyfus was executive vice president of the Massachusetts Hospital Assoc. and held a number of senior health and regulatory positions in Massachusetts state government.

The ceremony is set to take place at noon at GCC’s main campus in Greenfield. A commencement reception will take place immediately following the ceremony in the GCC Cohn Family Dining Commons. The associate degree in nursing pinning ceremony will also take place on Saturday, June 1 at 4 pm. Two days prior, on May 30, at 2 p.m., the college will celebrate the inauguration of Salomon-Fernández as its 10th president.

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.

To nominate a Healthcare Hero, click here.

LUDLOW — Community-based financial advising firm PV Financial Group recently welcomed the newest member of its senior leadership team, Cheryl Hoey, CPA. Hoey will serve as PV’s chief financial officer, providing high-level support for the firm, overseeing company finances, creating and managing budgets, as well as forecasting trends.

With more than 28 years of experience working within various accounting positions for businesses across Massachusetts, Hoey will help PV’s financial advisors better serve clients with her expertise in tax preparation and auditing.

“Cheryl brings extensive accounting, financial, and operational experience to our firm. This, combined with her careful attention to detail and commitment to community, will make for a significant contribution to the clients we serve,” said Ed Sokolowski, managing partner. 

Having worked at several private companies, as well as large firms including Merrill Lynch and the Unum Group, Hoey has honed her skills in the areas of investments, tax preparation, international accounting, and financial risk.

GREENFIELD — Michael Tucker, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank, announced that the board of directors has approved the promotions of Colleen Bugbee, Mary Rawls, and Jane Trombi.

Bugbee was elected senior vice president and treasurer. She is responsible for the bank’s treasury functions, including managing the bank’s investments, asset/liability process, and annual budgeting. She has 40 years of experience in the financial-services industry, having started with the former Monarch Capital. She has been with the bank since 2006. Bugbee received her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and her master’s degree in accounting from Western New England University. She is a volunteer at Horizon for Homeless Children and is chairman of the finance committee at Trinity United Methodist Church.

Rawls was elected senior vice president – Compliance, and co-CRA officer for the bank. She has more than 25 years of experience in banking, joining GCB in 1994. She is responsible for ensuring bank compliance with the numerous banking and consumer laws and regulations. She also coordinates various regulatory and compliance examinations for the bank. Rawls is a graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies at Babson College and has held a variety of roles in the branch and operations areas as well throughout her career. She is a long-time volunteer and active with American Cancer Society and 4-H Club. She is also on the board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Franklin County.

Trombi was elected senior vice president – Residential Lending and co-CRA Officer. She joined GCB in 1999 and has more than 21 years of experience in banking and residential lending. She is based in Greenfield and is responsible for the management of the residential and consumer lending department of the bank. Trombi is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and tthe New England School for Financial Studies at Babson College. She is active in several community causes, including the United Way board, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the Women’s Way.

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College (GCC) has been awarded $17,000 from the Commonwealth Corp. as part of an Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development initiative to improve workforce outcomes among individuals returning to their communities after incarceration. The Program Design Capacity Building Grant is part of the Commonwealth Corp. Re-Entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program.

The goal of the grant is to design a manufacturing workforce pipeline in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties that helps meet unmet manufacturing labor needs. The project aims to prepare returning citizens for careers in manufacturing by addressing systemic barriers to gainful employment for individuals post-incarceration. In order to achieve this goal, GCC will partner with manufacturing businesses, state and community agencies, and Holyoke Community College.

“GCC is proud to lead these efforts to build on and expand our strong tri-county partnerships to reduce recidivism through educational programs and pathways that lead to employment with sustainable wages,” said Alyce Stiles, dean of Workforce Development and Community Education.

Grant partners include four manufacturing businesses; Peerless Precision Inc., Sisson Engineering Corp., Deerfield Packaging Service Inc., and Sanderson McLeod Inc. Partner agencies include the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office and House of Corrections, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center, MassHire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board, MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board, Community Action Pioneer Valley, and Holyoke Community College.

“Advanced manufacturing is booming and showing no signs of slowing down,” said Kristin Carlson, president of Peerless Precision. “We are growing and consistently seeking skilled individuals to bring in to our team. Peerless Precision Inc. is proud to support GCC’s efforts in growing the pipeline for skilled workers in manufacturing in the Pioneer Valley.”

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) Chief Financial Officer Michael Koziol has been named a 2019 recipient of the Healthcare Financial Management Assoc. (HFMA) Founders Medal of Honor for his contribution and support to the HFMA and the healthcare-finance profession. Koziol will receive the recognition from the HFMA Massachusetts-Rhode Island Chapter on Thursday, May 9 at the Downtown Harvard Club in Boston.

“We congratulate Mike on this honor and for his dedication to sharing best-practice strategies of successful healthcare-finance operations at a local and national level,” said Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems.

The Founders Medal of Honor is a prestigious award recognizing individuals who have reached the highest level of involvement and volunteer service to the HFMA. Koziol was nominated for the Medal of Honor for his involvement in the organization, which included more than six years on the annual conference planning committee and many years on the physician practice subcommittee. He has been a member of the HFMA since 1982.

“I am honored and humbled to be recognized with the Founders Medal of Honor. It was a real surprise for me,” said Koziol. “The HFMA is a great association that has benefited me throughout my career. I am always learning something, and it has been an organization that has grown with me through different hospital and healthcare finance roles.”

Koziol joined Holyoke Medical Center in April 2017. His previous experience included executive-level finance positions with Southcoast Physicians Group in Fairhaven; MaineGeneral Health in Augusta, Maine; South County Hospital Healthcare Systems in Wakefield, R.I.; Massachusetts Eye & Ear Associates in Boston; Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, R.I.; and Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Ind. He received his bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and completed his MBA at the University of Illinois.

HOLYOKE — More than 100 local leaders from across the region will assemble on Thursday, May 9 for a Pioneer Valley Smart Growth Summit to discuss strategies for thriving in an era of climate crisis and inequality.

The conference, to take place at Gateway City Arts, 92 Race St., Holyoke, will be hosted by the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance (MSGA) and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) with the goal of helping cities and towns build cross-cutting teams to manage growth and development in an era of complexity.

“Emerging issues around extreme storms, flood hazards, heat, and a changing environment require communities like ours to be more thoughtful about planning and development,” said Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse. “If we’re going to achieve a prosperous community for everyone, we need to look at creative solutions.”

Other speakers will include Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle; Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts; Liz O’Gilvie, chair of the Springfield Food Policy Council; Elisabeth Hamin Infield, professor of Regional Planning at the School of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, UMass Amherst; Agawam Town Engineer Michelle Chase; Laura Marx, forest ecologist with the Nature Conservancy; Sarita Hudson, director of Programs and Development at the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts; Sandra Sheehan, administrator at the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority; Wayne Feiden, Northampton’s director of Planning and Sustainability; Gerry McCafferty, Springfield’s director of Housing; Marcos Marrero, Holyoke’s director of Planning and Economic Development; PVPC Executive Director Tim Brennan; and MSGA Executive Director André Leroux.

“In 2017 alone, there was an estimated $307 billion in damage to real estate in the United States from storms and natural disasters, and poor communities were the hardest hit,” Leroux said. “Strengthening those neighborhoods now will save money down the road.”

Catherine Ratte’, PVPC’s principal planner and Land Use & Environment section manager, added that “the Pioneer Valley was the first region with a regional climate-action and clean-energy plan, which speaks to our commitment to building sustainable and resilient communities, and this summit promises to further catalyze us into action. We’ve got to work together to make sure our cities and towns will be built smart and strong for the next generation.”

To accomplish this, residents, engineers, planners, businesses, and politicians will have to create new ways of collaborating and decision making. Where and how they build matters, she said, and there are opportunities to use the natural and built environment to solve complex problems. 

The innovative format of the summit is designed to encourage issue experts to build relationships and talk to each other across communities.

Elements of the program will include opportunities to network, lessons learned from the natural-gas disaster in the Merrimack Valley and the tornado recovery, along with a series of rapid-fire presentations to present thought-provoking ideas. The centerpiece of the day will be a discussion with local experts challenging each other and offering creative solutions.

Members of the public are welcome. The cost is $25 for the half-day program. To register and see a program, visit www.great-neighborhoods.org/pvsummit. Planners (AICP members) can earn 2.0 Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for this activity in full. More information about AICP’s CM program can be found at www.planning.org/cm.

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) named professors of Physics and Nursing as its 2019 endowed chair award recipients.

The college selected Barbara Washburn, department chair and professor of Physics, as the 2019 Anthony M. Scibelli Endowed Chair, and Deborah Jacques, professor of Nursing, as the 2019 Joseph J. Deliso Sr. Endowed Chair.

Each year, STCC faculty are nominated by their colleagues and then invited to apply. An award-selection committee, made up of faculty and staff, reviews applications, and the STCC Foundation executive committee selects winners.

STCC President John Cook announced this year’s recipients and congratulated Washburn and Jacques during a meeting with faculty and staff on April 18.

The pair received monetary awards — $3,000 each — and wooden chairs with plaques inscribed with their names. They can apply $1,500 to professional development and $1,500 to their academic department.

Lisa Fugiel, STCC’s Director of Nursing, cited Jacques’ commitment to student success. “Dr. Jacques is an exceptional educator whose willingness to engage every learner in a manner that empowers diverse learning styles has led to tremendous student pass rates in the nursing program. This speaks volumes to her commitment to students.”

Richard Greco, dean of the School of Liberal and Professional Studies, said Washburn is a popular instructor who has brought engaging initiatives into the classroom. For example, Washburn invited STCC students to work with high-school students on a renewable-energy project. The students built ‘solar suitcases’ that can be used by health workers and schools in developing nations to provide light and electricity. “She is a productive and imaginative colleague,” Greco said.

Jacques earned a doctor of nursing practice degree from UMass, and a master’s degree in nursing education and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Russell Sage College. She worked as a staff nurse at Baystate Medical Center before joining STCC as a professor in 2007.

“I love teaching at a community college because I am able to have a significant impact on students who may be the first one in the family to ever go to college,” she said. “I could not be prouder when that student walks across the stage and earns their nursing pin, and I know that this is a future colleague and peer.”

Washburn holds a master of education degree from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in electrical engineering, laser optic engineering, from Tufts University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Western New England University. She joined STCC as a professor in 1996.

“I left the engineering world to teach at the community-college level over 25 years ago, and I am blessed to have a job I am so passionate about,” Washburn said. “My passion is teaching. My passion is being an ambassador of knowledge for students. I lead the way for learners to learn. I never give up on the student. I give them different ways to regain their footing when they fail or make mistakes.”

Funded through the STCC Foundation, the awards are named for two of the college’s founders. The college established the Anthony M. Scibelli Endowed Chair in 1992 to recognize and foster faculty excellence. As a member of the state House of Representatives, Scibelli sponsored and pushed through legislation approving funding and authorizing the transfer of 35 acres of Springfield Armory to the state as a location for STCC.

In 1993, the Deliso family established the Joseph J. Deliso Sr. Endowed Chair at STCC in recognition of excellence in teaching. Appointed the first chairman of the STCC advisory board, Deliso, an industrialist, served from 1967 to 1981. He then became first chairman of the STCC board of trustees, serving through 1985.

HADLEY — During the month of May, the Hadley and Northampton branches of UMassFive College Federal Credit Union are holding a personal-care-items drive to benefit the pantries of the Amherst and Northampton survival centers. Items collected will be provided, for free, to neighbors in need.

“Supplying our local survival center pantries is a cause we believe in because, during tough times, support from the pantry may help people avoid making difficult tradeoffs,” said Cait Murray, Community Outreach manager at UMassFive. “Nobody should have to choose between food and toilet paper.” 

Donations of unopened shampoo and conditioner, shaving supplies, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, as well as baby and adult diapers will be accepted through Friday, May 31. Items can be full, travel, or complimentary/hospitality sized, and may be dropped off at 200 Westgate Center Dr., Hadley, or 225 King St., Northampton.

HOLYOKE — Providence Ministries is partnering with Gary Rome Hyundai on Friday, May 10 to host its second annual fashion show fundraiser, “Fashion with Compassion.” Local ‘celebrities’ will be walking the runway to show compassion for their community and their appreciation for the good work Providence Ministries does. 

The models were carefully chosen, as they are model partners in Providence’s work to end hunger and homelessness. They include Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, state Rep. Aaron Vega, Holyoke Community College President Christina Royal, Springfield City Council President Justin Hurst, Springfield School Committee member Denise Hurst, Gary and Jane Rome, and many more.

Guests will also enjoy a raffle, wine pull, live auction, tasting stations, and dancing. This event will be held at Gary Rome Hyundai from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased at www.provministries.org/fashion-with-compassion.

All proceeds will benefit the work of Providence Ministries, a nonprofit organization founded in 1980 with a mission to assist those most in need in the community with life’s basic needs of food, clothing, and housing. In 2012, the organization expanded to include job and life-skills training.

SPRINGFIELD — Meri Clark was named the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award at Western New England University (WNEU). Winners of the prestigious award are nominated by students, faculty, and administrators for outstanding contributions as educators and advisors.

During the review process, current and former students praised Clark as somebody who possessed a “brilliant teaching manner” and a “champion of learning and understanding.” Students added that “her passion for history radiated throughout the classroom” and “she saw each student as a unique person with their own story, and she wanted to get to know that story.”

Clark is a professor of History and coordinator of the Global Scholars program for the College of Arts and Sciences. She has taught Latin American and world history at the university since 2005. Her research specializes in the history of 19th-century Latin America, with particular attention to the themes of education, nationalism, gender, race, and ethnicity in Colombia. 

After earning her bachelor’s degree in history from Reed College (Phi Beta Kappa), Clark researched in Colombia under a Fulbright scholarship. She then earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in history from Princeton University.

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Health’s Every Woman program will hold a special evening titled “Turn Up the You and Quiet the Critic” on Wednesday, May 15 at 5:30 p.m. at 121 Club at Eastworks, 116 Pleasant St., Easthampton.

Keynote speaker Pam Victor, president of Happier Valley Comedy, will discuss “Five Techniques for Quieting Your Inner Critic,” and there will be live music, food, women’s health information, and shopping with local vendors.

Is there a voice inside your head that sometimes tells you you’re not good enough? It might also give you negative messages like, “that idea is no good” and “don’t say that because people will think you’re foolish.” Professional improv comedian and author Victor calls that voice the “Evil Mind Meanie” — it’s the internal voice of unhelpful judgment that keeps folks from tapping into their most creative, productive, authentic selves. Through wise and wise-cracking stories and easy-to-do, fun, interactive exercises, Victor will provide practical techniques for “swiping left” (quieting) the inner critic.

Victor is a professional improviser, facilitator, teacher, and the founder and president of Happier Valley Comedy, the first improv theater and training center in Western Mass. She directs the three branches of the company: the comedy-training center, regular shows, and the Through Laughter program for professional and personal development. Victor is also the author of several books.

The cost for the event is $15. To register, visit turnuptheyou.eventbrite.com. For more information, call (413) 794-5200.

CHICOPEE — Elms College President Harry Dumay has been appointed treasurer of the executive committee for the Assoc. of Colleges of Sisters of St. Joseph. 

Dumay became the 11th president of Elms College in 2017. He has served in higher-education finance and administration at senior and executive levels for 19 years. He holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Boston College, an MBA from Boston University with a graduate certificate in corporate finance, and a master’s degree in public administration from Framingham State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Lincoln University. 

Prior to assuming the presidency of Elms College, Dumay was senior vice president for finance and chief financial officer for Saint Anselm College from 2012 to 2017. He formerly served as chief financial officer and associate dean at Harvard University’s Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (2006-12), associate dean at Boston College’s Graduate School of Social Work (2002-06), and director of Finance for Boston University’s School of Engineering (1998-2002). In addition, he served as an adjunct faculty member at Boston College for nine years.

Dumay currently serves as a commissioner, treasurer, member of the executive committee, and member of the Annual Report on Finance and Enrollment for the New England Commission for Higher Education, a member of the board of directors for the Assoc. of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts, a member of the student aid policy committee for the National Assoc. of Independent Colleges and Universities, a board member for Pope Francis Preparatory School and the Boston Foundation’s Haiti Development Institute, and a former member of the board of directors and a current member of the investment committee of the Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, N.H.

J. Michael Pressimone, president of Fontbonne University, was tapped to be the committee’s chair, and Ann McElaney-Johnson, president of Mount Saint Mary’s University, was named secretary.