BusinessWest Staff, Author at BusinessWest

HOLYOKE — Conklin Office Furniture recently installed an array of solar panels atop its Appleton Street manufacturing facility, reducing its carbon footprint. Owner Franco Arnold, has taken many steps to reduce his company’s emissions of carbon usage and bettering its environmental impact; his Appleton Street location now produces enough renewable energy to offset all the company’s energy needs.

“Conklin is continuing with our business plan by doing all that we can to help the environment. We started in 1981 recycling office furniture and, over the years, refined our manufacturing processes to limit waste and use environmentally-friendly materials. This solar project is a big step in meeting our long-term environmental goals,” Franco said.

Conklin’s newly installed solar panels offset the amount of CO2 sequestered by 81 acres of forest, or represent the ability to charge 67 million smartphones, continuously power 7,000 lightbulbs; annually power 76 homes, or displace the CO2 emissions of 120 cars.

Webinar on April 5 to Help Businesses Address Gender Pay-gap Issues

By BusinessWest Staff March 23, 2017

SPRINGFIELD — Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. invites business owners, managers, and human-resource professionals to an informative webinar outlining ways to review compensation practices to address gender pay-gap issues and minimize legal liabilities. The webinar will be held Wednesday, April 5 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and hosted by attorney Amelia Holstrom of Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C.

“The National Committee on Pay Equity has declared April 4, 2017 ‘National Equal Pay Day,’ and the time has never been better to look at how your organization determines employees’ pay rates and identify any gender or other disparities that could put you at legal risk,” Holstrom said.

The Department of Labor recently issued a final rule for government contractors directing them to eliminate secrecy about pay. The purpose of the rule is to help level the playing field when it comes to equal pay and eliminate discrimination, particularly with women who generally earn less on the dollar than their male counterparts.

The Department of Labor is not the only agency taking steps to eliminate pay disparities. Massachusetts passed pay-equity legislation in 2016 that, among other things, bars employers from screening applicants based on their past salary history. A similar regulation was passed by the City Council in Philadelphia. Although a pay-equity bill in New Jersey was vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie, the national trend appears to be toward pay-equity regulation.

Holstrom will discuss federal and various state laws relating to pay; the current status of pay-equity laws at the federal level, and how these laws and new developments are likely to affect organizations’ compliance obligations going forward; how organizations can examine and evaluate their own pay practices to determine if there are gender or other compensation gaps that need to be remedied; how sex discrimination and the gender gap in compensation can undermine the company, increase turnover, and erode trust; why transparency can be a good thing, and how to communicate effectively regarding wage determination; legal issues that can arise around pay disparities; and how to avoid a sex-discrimination lawsuit by getting the company’s compensation practices in order.

Those interested in registering for the course can do so online at HR Hero Store (click here) or by calling (800) 274-6774.

Holstrom has assisted employers in remaining union-free, represented clients at arbitrations, and defended employers against claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wrongful-termination claims, as well as actions arising under the Family Medical Leave Act and wage-and-hour law. In addition, she frequently provides counsel to management regarding litigation-avoidance strategies.

Wheeler & Taylor Acquires GoodWorks Insurance Office

GREAT BARRINGTON — Wheeler & Taylor Insurance of Great Barrington announced it has purchased the Great Barrington office of GoodWorks Insurance. Chad Yonker, chairman of GoodWorks Insurance, will become a shareholder and chairman at Wheeler & Taylor. George A. Ryan Jr. president of Wheeler & Taylor, will continue in his role as president indefinitely and remains the company’s majority shareholder.

“We’ve formed a strategic alliance,” Yonker said. “We’ll work together on all aspects of each other’s businesses, allowing us to better serve our clients and creating more opportunity for growth at both organizations.”

Added Ryan, “working with a progressive organization like GoodWorks will be great for our business, our employees, our community, and our clients. The resources at the disposal of this partnership will be tremendous. We’re already using our combined strength to pursue large commercial accounts that may not have been possible for either organization to attract independently. The feedback has been very positive.”

Both organizations have a long history of supporting their communities through charitable giving, and will continue to do so going forward. Wheeler & Taylor will license the GoodWorks Insurance charitable-giving program to continue to support local organizations and charities in Massachusetts.

GoodWorks and Wheeler & Taylor are neighbors in Great Barrington. When GoodWorks closes its local office at 343 Main St., its customers will go next door to 333 Main St. to be served by Wheeler & Taylor. All the GoodWorks staff in Great Barrington have been offered positions at Wheeler & Taylor.

LightHouse Holyoke to Host Art Show on April 7

HOLYOKE — The public is invited to the second annual Art Show at LightHouse Holyoke on Friday, April 7 from 4 to 7 p.m.

The lobby of the STEAM Building at 208 Race St. in Holyoke will be once again transformed into a professional gallery space, complete with delicious offerings from Whole Foods. Thanks to the support of the STEAM Building, this is a free event, and is not a fund-raiser — just a chance to connect and appreciate the work of LightHouse’s many talented students.

Western New England University to Host Business Policy Discussion

SPRINGFIELD — The Western New England University (WNEU) School of Law continues its series of national policy discussions, “Trump: First 100 Days,” on Thursday, March 23 with a focus on the Trump administration’s business policies and, in particular, how the administration’s policies may impact small businesses and entrepreneurs.

The Trump administration has a pro-business reputation, and some of its early policy choices reflect preferences of certain industries over others. ‘Business’ is a broad term, however, and the impact of policies that may benefit one type of business may not have the same effect on other businesses.

The event, scheduled to take place from noon to 1 p.m. in the Blake Law Center at WNEU, will be moderated by Professor Art Wolf, director of the Institute for Legislative and Governmental Affairs in the School of Law. The forum is free and open to the public.

Pope Francis High School Announces New Head of School

CHICOPEE — Pope Francis High School, a faith-based college-preparatory school serving grades 9-12, announced W. Paul Harrington Jr. as its new head of school following a lengthy nationwide search. Michele D’Amour, Pope Francis High School board chair, shared the news with faculty, staff, students, and parents this week.

“Working in conjunction with our independent search counsel, Boston-based Partners in Mission School Leadership Search Solutions — a national retained search and recruiting firm devoted exclusively to developing excellence in Catholic school executive leadership — the search committee vetted, interviewed, and evaluated an extensive pool of credible candidates excited to lead our school community into its promising future,” said D’Amour. “The search committee included representatives of our clergy, faculty, parent, board, legacy alumni, and community constituencies.”

Harrington was one of two “exceptional” candidates that were considered for the next head of school, said D’Amour. A native of Holliston, Harrington holds a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in economics from Fairfield University, and a master’s degree in school administration from Loyola Marymount University. He received his doctorate in educational leadership at the University of Southern California. He received the unanimous recommendation of the search committee, approval by the Pope Francis High School Board of directors, and the affirmation of Springfield Bishop Mitchell Rozanski.

“I am very pleased and excited that Dr. Harrington has accepted the position as the new head of school for Pope Francis High School,” said Rozanski. “Having personally met with him, I believe he has the vision that will help us realize the full potential for this new school, both academically and spiritually.”

The creation of Pope Francis High School was announced in the spring of 2015 when Rozanski revealed that Cathedral High School and Holyoke Catholic High School would be merging into a new school, named in honor of the current pope. The two schools officially merged in July 2016 with students starting the school year in the former Holyoke Catholic building on Springfield Street in Chicopee. Construction on the new, 127,000-square-foot facility in Springfield is now underway, and the installation of structural steel is expected to be completed within the next month. As Harrington begins the transition into the head-of-school role, construction crews will begin to button up the building, installing exterior brick and stone veneer, roofing system, aluminum windows, and more.

In a statement to the Pope Francis High School Community, Harrington said he was inspired by the school’s passion for mission and commitment to excellence in Catholic education.

“I am humbled by this incredible opportunity to honor the rich traditions of Holyoke Catholic and Cathedral High Schools while inspiring a future filled with innovation, faith formation, and academic excellence as Pope Francis High School,” said Harrington. “I would like to thank the search committee, board of directors, and Bishop Rozanski for entrusting me with this opportunity to lead Pope Francis High School.”

Harrington will work with interim Head of School Thomas McDowell to ensure a smooth transition into the position. A welcome ceremony and reception with current students and their families, faculty, and staff will be planned to welcome Harrington and his family to Greater Springfield.

“The time has come for all of us to come together in Christian charity and humbly commit ourselves 100% to our exciting future,” said D’Amour. “Building trust and encouraging interdependence will prayerfully assure our survival and growth. I know that Dr. Harrington is personally committed to working with all of us in nurturing the souls of the young men and women who are entrusted to our care.”

Cartamundi’s East Longmeadow Plant Is Open for Business

Cover Story

Game On

Bob Adams says one of the unofficial goals at Cartamundi East Longmeadow is to diversify the list of products made there, and thus the showroom in the front lobby as well.

Since Cartamundi acquired the Hasbro plant in East Longmeadow in 2015, the two companies have been closely linked — in news accounts and everywhere else. And that’s understandable, because the toy and game developer is easily the biggest customer for the East Longmeadow plant. But those managing that facility are working hard to make it clear that this facility can do much more than make games for Hasbro.

Bob Adams acknowledged there are many benefits to the recent announcement that Play-Doh — that curious, multi-colored molding compound that has been part of American culture for more than 60 years — will again be made at the massive manufacturing facility in East Longmeadow now owned and operated by Cartamundi.

They begin with what will likely be, by most estimates, an additional 20 jobs at the plant, which previously had the household names Milton Bradley and Hasbro (producers of Play-Doh) on the sign out front. But there is more to this than employment opportunities, said Adams, manager of sales and new business development for Cartamundi East Longmeadow LLC, who has worked at that plant, off and mostly on, for nearly 40 years.

Indeed, there is the publicity that came with the announcement, obviously — the Wall Street Journal and a host of other media outlets covered the story — and also the fact that the plant, the largest games-manufacturing facility in North America, now has what amounts to another huge identifying product, with the board game Monopoly long being the other.

“That brings visibility to this plant,” he said of the Play-Doh contract, which extends over several years. “When I talk to people about having Cartamundi East Longmeadow do some business with them, they have a much better chance of knowing who Cartamundi East Longmeadow is.”

About the only thing this announcement doesn’t do — and this is not exactly an insignificant development, either — is let the world know that Cartamundi, and this plant, are about much more than Hasbro and, well, fun and games.

Indeed, while Hasbro is easily the most dominant client, and games of all kinds serve as the primary stock and trade for Belgium-based Cartamundi, the company can do much more — and it wants to get this message out.

“We’re not only still making many of Hasbro’s products, but we’re out soliciting business from other customers,” he said, explaining that Cartamundi is, for the most part, a contract manufacturer and generally doesn’t put its own name on what rolls off the assembly line. “And while the customer base is centered on games, because that’s our specialty, we’re also looking to use our core competencies to support other businesses.”

With that, Adams got up from his chair, reached to a high shelf on the credenza behind him, and grabbed a box, which, if it wasn’t occupying space in his office, would otherwise be holding an assortment of Lindt chocolates.

We want to be less reliant on Hasbro and leverage our competencies to build our contract business. And to do that, we’re developing our own sales organization and building our own identity in this region.”

“This is just one of the things we can do here — we started last June, and last year we made more than 1.7 million boxes for Lindt,” he said, holding the gold-toned item aloft, adding that the company has, for example, injection-molding machines with additional capacity, and can also take on thermoforming work, box making, die cutting, assembly, and much more.

“We want to get the word out that we’re open for business,” he went on, adding that, in his new capacity, he is essentially leading the efforts to bring new business to the plant — the immediate goal is to increase non-Hasbro contract manufacturing by 30% — and diversify the list of products manufactured there.

Jeffrey Lombard, CEO of both the East Longmeadow facility and a sister facility in Waterford, Ireland, also purchased by Cartamundi, told BusinessWest that Hasbro projects (not including Play-Doh, which will start rolling off the lines during the first half of 2018) amount to roughly 90% of the production in East Longmeadow.

He would like to see that volume of work rise still higher, but the percentage rate go down as the plant takes on other work, such as games for other developers, as well as Lindt boxes and similar projects.

“We want to be less reliant on Hasbro and leverage our competencies to build our contract business,” said Lombard, who held a succession of operations positions for Hasbro and was serving as senior vice president of Domestic Manufacturing when it sold the East Longmeadow plant. “And to do that, we’re developing our own sales organization and building our own identity in this region.”

While the company is mostly ready to do that, it will be challenged to greatly increase capacity by the same issue facing virtually every other manufacturer in this region — finding skilled help.

“Short-term, like every other manufacturer in the Northeast, and probably in the U.S., we’re not limited by equipment capacity, per se,” he explained. “The problem in this region is the hiring of skilled employees; that’s the biggest inhibitor to short-term growth.”

Jeffrey Lombard says Cartamundi East Longmeadow has the potential to increase capacity by 30%, but is challenged in that assignment by the task of finding qualified help.

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Adams and Lombard about what’s happening at Cartamundi’s East Longmeadow plant today — and what could happen there in the years to come if all goes according to plan. You might sum it up neatly and effectively by simply saying ‘game on’ — although, as noted, that’s certainly not the whole story.

Pieces to the Puzzle

Adams and Lombard can easily trace the history of the East Longmeadow facility, because they’ve both witnessed most of it first-hand.

Adams was just out of high school in 1978 when he applied for a job at the plant, which Milton Bradley opened roughly a decade earlier, and landed a position in the warehouse.

He probably couldn’t have known then he would still be coming to work there — except for a stint in Rhode Island and a subsequent brief retirement and work as a consultant to game manufacturers, including Hasbro — nearly 40 years later. But, then again, maybe he did.

“It was a great place to work,” he explained. “It was a very well-run company, and family-oriented. My mother worked here, as did my aunt and my uncle. People came here, and they stayed here.”

Over those ensuing decades, he put a number of titles on his business card and wore a number of hats. Starting in 1985, for example, he moved into an office job as a production planner. He then moved on to work in industrial engineering, delving into everything from efforts to improve efficiency to early — and in many ways groundbreaking — initiatives in ergonomics.

Later, he became new-business coordinator, working in tandem with development teams that had been based in East Longmeadow, were later moved to Hasbro’s facilities in Beverly, and then moved back. Subsequently, he went into project management and then became leader of Hasbro’s boys’ toys project-management organization in Pawtucket, R.I., essentially to bring the best practices of the East Longmeadow operation to that unit.

After doing that for three years, and amid changes to those operations, he decided to take a retirement package at age 52 and do consulting work, primarily for Hasbro, and did that until Cartamundi bought the East Longmeadow plant.

Summing things up, Adams said he saw long ago what Cartamundi saw when it researched and ultimately decided to acquire the East Longmeadow plant in 2015 — highly skilled workers and an operation that could do so much more than manufacture some of the games that bore the Hasbro name.

“When Cartamundi bought the facility, I was very happy for the people who worked here,” he told BusinessWest, “because I knew there were tons of opportunities to grow the business and bring back manufacturing expertise to this area; there were a lot of positives.

“This was a really good fit for both sides — with Hasbro wanting to be out of the manufacturing business, and Cartamundi wanting to be in the manufacturing business,” Adams went on. “This was an opportunity for both companies to grow their business the way they wanted to grow their business, and so they made it happen.”

His current title, director of sales and new business development, is one that no one has ever had at the plant before (again, it was always an in-house manufacturer for Hasbro, and thus sales were not part of the equation). And, as noted earlier, these new assignments come down to attracting both more work in games — and there is plenty of it out there — and work that falls well outside that realm.

Marketing to potential clients through the website 360manufacturingservices.com, Adams said he’s receiving three or four inquiries a day, on average, many of them from small game-development companies looking to outsource manufacturing operations.

With the acquisition of Hasbro’s plants, Cartamundi is now the largest games manufacturer in the world, he went on, and it is well known for its production of playing cards, most of them made at the company’s plant in Texas (cards for specific games, like Monopoly, are also made at the East Longmeadow plant), so it is often a go-to source for companies seeking such services.

But, overall, Cartamundi is looking for new clients with high volumes of work, and has provided quotes on everything from boxes to plastic snow shovels.

“It has to make sense for both of us,” he said of the contract work. “It usually doesn’t make sense for low-volume manufacturing.”

Board Meetings

Without actually saying as much, Adams said Cartamundi’s primary mission at the moment — and his as well — is to broaden and diversify the shelves in the front lobby of the East Longmeadow plant.

There, on display, is a random sampling of what is produced on the factory floor. And at the moment, the shelves are crammed with all kinds of games, from stalwarts like Clue, Scrabble, and Yahtzee to speciality items, such as Star Wars versions of everything from Monopoly to Sorry, and even Operation.

There is expertise and capacity to add new items and greatly diversify what’s on those shelves, said Adams, adding that the two immediate goals are to generate new business from existing clients and add new customers to the portfolio.

“We want to work with existing customers to provide them with exceptional customer service and support so that we can grow our business with those existing customers,” he explained. “We’re also looking to grow our customer base in the main game aisle, meaning new lines of products from other game distributors, and we’re looking for local companies that can take advantage of our core competencies.

“There are a lot of opportunities out there, and that’s why I’m back,” he said, adding that there are many pieces to the puzzle, to use an industry term, when it comes to achieving the plans for growth the company has laid out.

These include everything from marketing — something else that was never really undertaken at the East Longmeadow plant — to raising the company’s profile, in part by making the 360 Manufacturing website much more integrated into the Cartamundi site, to building an infrastructure for new-business development, said Adams, whose hiring was one of the first major steps in this direction.

Other steps have been taken as well, said Lombard, referring to that sales organization he mentioned earlier. They include the hiring of a customer account representative and the planned hiring of a customer project manager to create an even sharper focus on price, customer service, and quality.

“That’s all new; everything we’re doing along these lines is new,” he said, again noting that, as an in-house manufacturer for Hasbro, such matters were not priorities, so there will definitely be a learning curve.

Injection molding, undertaken by machines like this one, is one of many core competencies that Cartamundi East Longmeadow is looking to sell to new customers.

Speaking of learning curves, though, perhaps the biggest challenge facing the company as it pursues those goals is finding enough qualified help.

“We don’t need more equipment to increase our capacity; we need more skilled labor,” said Lombard, adding that, like other manufacturers in the region, Cartamundi will work to make itself and its various career opportunities highly visible.

Long-term, he believes the company has the ability to grow capacity by that 30% goal stated earlier.

“We’re in the process of growing what I call our efficiently flexible capacity, and that’s really a function of getting some skilled employees in the door and trained, and we’re aggressively pursuing that,” he explained, adding that one of the keys to success in such efforts is to build the brand and establish an identity.

“One of things that inhibits us is that people in this region don’t know who Cartamundi is,” he said, adding that, through a variety of steps, including a stronger web presence, he’ll look to stem this identity problem.

The Shape of Things to Come

As every Baby Boomer — and every member of all the subsequent generations, for that matter — can tell you, Play-Doh can be molded into just about anything the user can think of. The only real limit is the imagination.

In many respects, the same is true when it comes to contract manufacturing at Cartamundi’s East Longmeadow facility. It will always be known as the place where memory-inducing game pieces — like Sorry! pawns and Monopoly houses and hotels — are manufactured. And soon, it will again be known for Play-Doh.

But as Adams and Lombard made clear, it can become a resource to make a host of products that are perhaps less famous but no less important to the companies relying on them.

So it’s a whole new game at the landmark plant, one that officials there certainly believe it can win.

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

Developers Find New Uses for Holyoke Properties

Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Denis and Marco Luzuriaga say more than 200 people have already expressed interest in the 18 market-rate apartments they are building on the upper stories of the Cubit building downtown.

Marco Luzuriaga and his brother Denis are betting on the future.

To be precise, that’s the future of Holyoke, a city where years of disinvestment led to vacant buildings with major environmental challenges that squashed any interest developers had in investing in them.

But a slow evolution has occurred over the past few years, and the landscape is undergoing marked change. The combination of Mayor Alex Morse’s proactive stance, support from the City Council, and work by other officials led to the creation of an urban-renewal plan four years ago that is finally coming to fruition.

Notable progress includes a focus on the Innovation District; the establishment of the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center, a $165 million academic research facility between Cabot and Appleton streets that overlooks the first-level canal; major infrastructure investments; a growing number of artists and art venues; and other measures such as tax credits designed to spur revitalization and attract people of all ages.

When they realized the potential the downtown held and saw energy in the area increasing, the Luzuriaga brothers told BusinessWest, they made a decision to get in on the ground floor of the rebirth in both a literal and figurative manner.

Marco is an IT professional who lives in Maryland and was thinking about a career change, and his brother is a Holyoke artist. They decided to join forces, and after undertaking a feasibility study of the former Cubit Wire & Cable Co. Inc. building at 181 Appleton St., they purchased it for $325,000 and took on a challenge unlike anything they had ever imagined.

“But the amount of open space here in Holyoke is unparalleled, and we have seen a similar pattern of success in places like Soho and Jersey City, where artists moved into an area and they became vibrant, artistic communities,” Marco said, pointing to Gateway City Arts, the Canal Gallery, independent art studios, the Canal Walk, the computing center, Holyoke’s new $4.3 million rail platform, and other major projects within walking distance of the Cubit building, where their $5 million renovation will soon be complete.

The bottom floor will become home to the MGM Resorts HCC Center for Culinary Arts at Holyoke, while the two upper floors will be loft-style, one- and two-bedroom apartments with enormous windows and sweeping views of the area. In addition, the Luzuriaga brothers purchased three vacant lots that abut the Cubit building and will be used for parking.

“The Center for Culinary Arts will double the college’s prior teaching capacity and provide no-cost culinary training to 50 Holyoke residents every year, serving as a career pipeline into jobs from entry level to senior management in a top-employing industry of our region,” said Morse, adding that students are expected to start classes there next spring.

He added that the city has worked with developers and businesses to create solutions for some of its most challenging sites, and these efforts are yielding concrete results, with more than $100 million of investments in the pipeline.

Mayor Alex Morse says the renovation of the Cubit building will provide more downtown housing and become home to the MGM Resorts HCC Center for Culinary Arts at Holyoke.

“We’re creating an environment that people want to be part of and are trying to reach the tipping point by putting together solutions for the most challenging sites,” Morse told BusinessWest.

Marcos Marrero, the city’s director of Planning and Economic Development, noted that, although vacant storefronts and shuttered buildings had become part of the downtown landscape and space ready for businesses to move right in is scarce, the situation has undergone a significant change.

“Our downtown is a different place than it was four or five years ago due to the availability of commercial space and opportunities to live and work here,” Marrero said.

Indeed, four major projects are underway, and interest and enthusiasm are exploding. “We have 200 people on a waiting list for the 18 apartments we are creating in the Cubit building,” Marco Luzuriaga said, noting that the list was created thanks to a Facebook posting about the new units, which will rent for $1,000 to $1,400.

For this, the latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at Holyoke and the investments developers and businesses are making in the Paper City that will help shape and create a long-awaited and exciting new chapter in its history.

Repurposing Blighted Buildings

The Parsons Paper Co. facility, which was built in 1853 at 84 Sargeant St., was one of the most challenging properties in the city. The contaminated complex was abandoned in 2004, and in 2008 a fire caused extensive damage. Four years later, the city officially foreclosed on the property and took ownership for failure to pay taxes.

Aegis Energy Services Inc. is located next door to the old mill, and when the company expressed interest in the 4.7-acre site due to its desire to expand, the city did everything it could to make the cleanup and purchase possible.

“The Parsons site was one of 10 key areas that were designated as priorities for redevelopment in our 2013 Urban Renewal Plan,” said Morse. “Significant legal, environmental, and financial constraints had impeded progress for years, so we jumped when Aegis told us they were willing to entertain the idea that we would leverage resources to do the $3.6 million environmental cleanup that was needed.”

The work began last March thanks to funding from multiple levels of government, two private companies, and the involvement of every public corporation in the city. Although the majority of the 350,000 square feet of manufacturing space was demolished, Aegis was able to preserve about 40,000 square feet in one section of the structure.

In addition, the city provided Aegis with the most aggressive tax-incentive schedule in its history: a 100% property tax exemption for 10 years as a way to finance a $400,000 portion of the site cleanup costs.

“The financing framework for this project is probably the most complex that Holyoke has seen in decades,” said Marrero. “But the implications a year from now will be significant — blight reduction, building reuse, job creation, expansion of manufacturing, more renewable energy, and improved property values in the neighborhood.”

Aegis plans to do a major renovation to suit its manufacturing needs, which will allow the company to expand its footprint by 200% and almost double its workforce with the addition of 30 new jobs.

However, the project is being undertaken in stages. After the cleanup was complete, Aegis created a 2.5-megawatt solar farm on a portion of the acreage to help pay for its expansion. Holyoke Gas & Electric entered into a power-purchase agreement with the company, and the electricity is being used by property tenants of the Holyoke Housing Authority.

Progress will also soon be visible at 37 Appleton St., which was the second-largest vacant, blighted building in Holyoke. In the past, the site was home to businesses that included Worthington Compressor and the American Dream Modular Home manufacturing company.

Recently, American Environmental agreed to buy it from the city for $1 from the city’s Redevelopment Authority with the agreement that the company would undertake the $600,000 cleanup of the brownfields site.

“We’re about to close on the sale of the property,” Morse said, explaining that it will allow American Environmental to expand and add 50 new jobs.

There are also plans underway to reuse the third-largest blighted and vacant building, the former Farr Alpaca building at 216 Appleton St., for housing.

Our downtown is a different place than it was four or five years ago due to the availability of commercial space and opportunities to live and work here.”

Winn Development has partnered with the city’s Redevelopment Authority and forged an agreement to renovate the building and turn it into approximately 100 apartments. The company is hoping to get approved for historic tax credits, and if all goes well, Morse said, the estimated $38 million renovation will help fulfill the goal of creating dense housing downtown that will make it a safe, livable place for people of all income levels.

A $34 million rehabilitation of the 18-building Lyman Terrace public-housing complex also began last year. The buildings contain 167 units, and the first phase of work included excavating and building new roads and sidewalks, and installing new water and sewer lines and street lighting.

Morse said improvements to the housing units began this year, and he noted that the project is an example of how the city works closely with residents to respect and meet their needs.

When he took office five years ago, there was talk of demolishing the complex. But people had strong feelings about keeping the historic structure in the heart of downtown. As a result, the Housing Authority decided to renovate it, and after they held a number of public meetings, they were able to integrate recommendations made by residents into the final design.

“The residents had input on every part of the process,” said Morse. “The project is a real partnership that led to a great outcome, and has become a model to think about the way we do projects in the future.”

Another development that sparked controversy was the use of an 18-acre parcel on Whiting Farms Road. It sits across the street from a residential neighborhood, and although Lowe’s and Walmart had looked at the site, neighbors had objected to having a big-box store built there.

“We shepherded the use of the property, reset the conversation in a similar manner to Lyman Terrace, and talked to the residents to get input about what they wanted as well as the city’s goals and how we wanted to accomplish them,” Morse said, adding that the public meetings played an important role in determining a new use for the land. “If you want growth to take place, it needs to be possible, but you also need to build a sense of public support and common ground.”

The model worked well, and the City Council voted for a zoning change to allow Gary Rome to build a new, $10 million Hyundai dealership on 10 of the 18 acres. It opened last October, is the largest of its kind in the country, and led to the creation of 50 new jobs.

Collaborative Efforts

Economic development is also taking place in other areas of the city, including a $21 million project underway at Ingleside Square near the Holyoke Mall.

The former Holiday Inn is being replaced with a Fairfield Inn by Marriott, which will be completed this year. Half of the old hotel was demolished, the remainder is undergoing a major rehabilitation, and the remaining section of the footprint has been turned into pad sites for restaurants or retail stores.

“It’s the first time the city pre-approved a permit to help secure tenants,” Marrero said. “We worked with the developer and visually approved their site plan.”

So far, an Applebee’s and Chipotle have been built there, along with a Vitamin Shoppe and a stand-alone McDonald’s.

One pad site remains, and the mayor said it is a great example of what can be done with an underutilized property.

“For many years, the property was regarded as a homeless hotel because the state used it to house homeless families,” Morse noted. “But it is a prime piece of property located off of I-91, and in addition to creating at least 200 jobs, this reuse will result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in new tax revenue.”

Other projects in the pipeline include a new Easthampton Savings Bank branch, and redevelopment at the corner of Hampden and Pleasant streets with a planned Dunkin’ Donuts and an additional 2,000 square feet of move-in-ready retail-commercial space.

Morse said job growth continues to take place, and the city’s unemployment rate is 4%, which is the lowest it has been in 17 years.

“We certainly have more to do, but the wheels are constantly in motion,” the mayor told BusinessWest. “There is still plenty of vacant space in Holyoke’s historic mills. We also have the cheapest and cleanest energy source in New England, plenty of water, and the assets to continue filling our core with economic opportunity. Holyoke is increasing opportunity for its residents and strengthening its presence as an economic hub in Western Massachusetts.”

Holyoke at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1850
Population: 40,684 (2016)
Area: 22.8 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $19.17
Commercial Tax Rate: $39.72
Median Household Income: $37,372 (2015)
median Family Income: $40,559 (2015)
Type of government: Mayor, City Council
Largest Employers: Holyoke Medical Center; Holyoke Public Schools; Holyoke Community College
Latest information available

Owning the Problem of Addiction

Opinion

Editorial

More than 600 people gathered at the MassMutual Center in Springfield earlier this month for a first-of-a-kind event in many ways.

This was the Caritas Ball, staged by the Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS), an event to raise money to treat — and raise awareness of — addiction, and especially the opioid-addiction crisis that is affecting our communities in many ways.

As noted, this was the first Caritas Ball, and it was the first time we know of that people came together in a very large space to openly acknowledge and address a problem that is reaching epic proportions.

It was encouraging to see, and a welcome development for this region, because to truly fight addiction, our communities have to own the problem. And until very recently, they really haven’t.

Indeed, addiction, through the ages, and until very recently, has been something we didn’t talk about much — let alone come together at a gala to fight — and certainly didn’t own. It was generally someone else’s problem, something you read about in the paper or hear about from your neighbor and shake your head in response.

Not anymore.

The opioid crisis has certainly hit home. Almost everyone’s home. In fact, it would be very hard to find someone who has not been touched directly — or doesn’t know someone who has been touched directly — by this crisis. By that, we mean touched in the most profound and tragic way possible — someone losing their life to an addiction problem.

The current estimates are that roughly four people are dying each day in Massachusetts alone to this epidemic. Four people a day! Every day. And with each death, a family, or two, or three, is shattered.

The very worst part about the opioid crisis is that those who are fighting it on the front lines — people like Dr. Robert Roose, chief medical officer and vice president of Addiction and Recovery Services for the SPHS, who was honored at the gala with the first Caritas Award — can’t even tell us if it has plateaued yet. As much as we would like to believe it has, they just don’t know, and if they had to guess, they would likely say ‘probably not.’

This sad fact was the primary motivation for the Caritas Ball (‘caritas’ means love). All those involved know that this fight is still very much in the beginning stages, and we have a long, long way to go before maybe, just maybe, we don’t have to stage this kind of event anymore.

Defeating an epidemic of this magnitude takes many things, starting with money, which was one of the primary motivations for the event — money for treatment, money for prevention programs, money to build or expand facilities where those who are addicted, and their families, can get help.

But beyond money, the key to addressing this issue is, again, taking ownership of it, and a big part of that equation is removing the stigma that has long been attached to this issue.

Gov. Charlie Baker said it best in a video congratulations note to Roose played at the gala: “Addiction is a disease; it’s not a character flaw.”

Saying those words is one thing; believing them, and treating those addicted accordingly — as if they had a disease — are two different things. To battle the problem correctly, our communities need to provide understanding, compassion, and, yes, caritas.

The evening of the Caritas Ball was a big night in Springfield. The Thunderbirds were playing, and the ‘Pink in the Rink’ event, a fund-raiser for Dress for Success, preceded the action. There was a third event at the MassMutual Center — another of the many dance competitions staged there — and a performance at Symphony Hall. Downtown was alive, parking was at a premium, and everyone was marveling at how vibrant Springfield was.

They were also marveling at how 600 people, including a host of business, civic, academic, and healthcare leaders, had come together to help stare down the most imposing health crisis (for that’s what it is) that our society has probably ever seen.

Plans are already underway for the 2018 gala, and there will probably be several to follow; this battle will not be won quickly or easily.

It starts with owning the problem, and the gala represented a huge step forward. v

Bruce Landon: A Cause for Celebration

Opinion

Editorial

The Springfield Thunderbirds didn’t win that contest against Lehigh Valley on March 3. But only real diehard fans could have been disappointed with the way the evening turned out.

That’s because the night didn’t belong to the T-Birds and their long-shot efforts to make the AHL playoffs. No, it belonged to Bruce Landon, and therefore, there was cause for celebration. Lots of it.

Landon, or ‘Mr. Hockey,’ as he’s known in Springfield, says he will officially retire next month after nearly 50 years of close association to hockey in this town. Most are taking a ‘we’ll believe it when we see it’ approach to that word ‘retirement,’ but Landon, now 67, says this time, he means it.

The Thunderbirds threw a night in his honor Friday, complete with a bobble-head that Landon says bears a resemblance to Lex Luthor. Maybe, but Lex Luthor is a villain, and Landon has always been a hero when it comes to hockey, Springfield, and hockey in Springfield.

He lived it, he breathed it, he promoted it, he championed it. To say that there wouldn’t be hockey in Springfield without him is an understatement. The current ownership team and management personnel are on record as saying they were motivated to launch the T-Birds because of the legacy Landon created and a strong desire not to see it come to an end.

Landon’s career had come to an end, sort of, when the owners of the Springfield Falcons, citing poor attendance, decided nearly a year ago to move the team to Arizona.

Landon didn’t actually retire, though, essentially because the future of hockey in Springfield was anything but secure. Now, it is, and therefore he believes the time is right to step aside.

He leaves with high praise for the new owners and team chief executive Nate Costa, saying that they have the commitment and the passion to keep the game here.

Those are the very same words that defined his work for nearly a half century.

In 2013, BusinessWest presented Landon with its Difference Makers award, citing his work to keep hockey alive in Springfield as one of the many not so obvious ways that people can make a difference in this region.

As he was being honored that night, the audience was told that hockey, although certainly not appreciated by all, was certainly part of the fabric of the city and the region.

We can still say that in March 2017, and Bruce Landon is a big reason why. And that’s why that Friday night, and the last few weeks of Landon’s career (again, we’ll believe it when we see it), are cause for celebration.

BusinessWest, HCN to Launch Healthcare Heroes Program

Features

Honoring Excellence, Innovation

healthcareheroeslogo0217final Healthcare Heroes.

Over the past decade or so, those two words have become a national brand — a brand that symbolizes many things, including excellence, dedication, compassion, commitment, and much more.

Indeed, Healthcare Heroes has become the name attached to recognition programs created by business magazines, healthcare publications, health- and wellness-related organizations across the country, and other entities, to honor individuals and institutions that stand out for the work they do. The name has become part of the landscape in New York, California, Hawaii, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Utah, and many other states. And now, it is coming to Western Mass.

Indeed, BusinessWest and its sister publication, HCN, have launched Healthcare Heroes of Western Mass., a program to recognize excellence and innovation across the broad spectrum of the region’s healthcare sector.

The program will culminate in the Healthcare Heroes gala on Oct. 19 at the Starting Gate at GreatHorse in Hampden.

Details concerning the program and the gala will be revealed on the pages of the two magazines — and their on-line daily news blasts — over the next several weeks. The editors recently convened a meeting of an advisory committee to discuss the program. That session generated a robust dialogue and several suggestions regarding everything from the categories in which individuals and institutions will compete to the judges who will evaluate those who are nominated.

“Over the past several years, BusinessWest has created a number of recognition programs to honor individuals, groups, and institutions across this region,” said BusinessWest and HCN Associate Publisher Kate Campiti, citing, specifically, the 40 Under Forty program launched in 2007 and Difference Makers, initiated in 2009. “But after considerable discussion, it was decided that this region’s large, diverse, and critically important healthcare sector deserved a recognition program of its own.

“Indeed, while we have had several honorees from the healthcare sector in 40 Under Forty, and a few from that realm in Difference Makers, excellence and innovation in healthcare are sometimes difficult to assess and measure,” Campiti added. “Healthcare Heroes will provide us with a needed vehicle for identifying and then recognizing those who stand out in very crowded fields.”

The program will be designed to recognize both those on the front lines of healthcare and those in administration; those who focus on treating individuals, and those involved with prevention and wellness.

“Healthcare involves many types of professionals working in different ways to create a healthier region and improve the overall quality of life for people living and working in Western Massachusetts,” said Campiti. “This Healthcare Heroes program will be crafted to recognize this great diversity of care and the many ways people and individuals are making a difference.”

Nominations for the various categories will be gathered in the coming months, and they will then be evaluated by a carefully chosen team of judges. The winners will be profiled in both publications prior to the gala.

“This will be a welcome recognition program for the four counties of Western Mass.,” said Campiti. “The healthcare sector has been a vital source of everything from high-quality care for our residents to jobs for area communities, to inspiration for those looking to bring innovation and higher levels of quality to their businesses. These individuals and institutions deserve to be recognized for the work they do.”

Peter Pan Perks Puts Premium on Passenger Loyalty

Features

Positive Promotion

Peter Pan Perks is an aggressive incentive program aimed at attracting new riders and inspiring existing customers to ride more often.

Danielle Veronesi says that, recently, a few motorists have taken to Twitter and other forms of social media to thank Peter Pan for keeping them connected while on the road.

Elaborating, she said the company’s drivers have actually witnessed cars keeping close to the brightly colored buses to take full advantage of the wi-fi services the company provides to those who paid for a seat.

“It’s happening with greater frequency,” she explained. “They hang close to stay connected, and then some of them actually thank us for the free wi-fi.”

This makes for good PR — well, sort of, said Veronesi, the company’s marketing director, adding quickly that the Springfield-based transportation company is far more interested in keeping those paying customers happy — and generating more of them.

That’s why it recently introduced a new, alliteratively named rewards program: Peter Pan Perks, which, as that name suggests, provides even more incentives for riding the bus — beyond the ease, comfort, and, yes, the wi-fi.

Here’s how it works: customers earn $5 in credit for every $50 they spend on tickets (not including taxes and fees), and $5 for every survey they answer to help the company improve its service — and it does a lot of surveying. Members also get $5 just for signing up and can also earn points on their birthday and other special occasions.

All it all up, and those are hefty incentives, said Peter Picknelly, chairman and CEO of the 84-year-old, Springfield-based company, noting that most incentive programs offer a percentage point or, at best, a few of them. This is 10%, and riders, just a few weeks into the program, are certainly taking note.

“The response has been great so far,” said Veronesi, adding that the program essentially enables customers to create an account they can tap into and that enables them to qualify for other perks, promotions, and contests, such as free bus travel for a year, or for a semester for students.

The program was launched in mid-January, and by the end of the first week, 5,000 members had signed on. That number has grown steadily, and there are now more than 45,000.

There were several motivations for the perks program, said Melissa Picknelly, the company’s vice president, starting with recognition of the trend across this industry and almost all others to offer incentive initiatives.

“People expect them now; it’s becoming part of doing business,” she explained, adding that the company has never had one before. “Consumers are more savvy now; they look for ways to save and get value.”

Here’s how it works: customers earn $5 in credit for every $50 they spend on tickets (not including taxes and fees), and $5 for every survey they answer to help the company improve its service — and it does a lot of surveying. Members also get $5 just for signing up and can also earn points on their birthday and other special occasions.

A bigger reason, perhaps, is growing competition. Indeed, there have always been a number of bus lines competing across the Northeast, and now there is improved rail service to many communities, including many served by Peter Pan, including Boston, New York, Worcester, and others.

Then, there’s Uber and other online transportation network companies that enable everyday commuters to become revenue generators, a phenomenon that has had a profound impact on many facets of this industry, especially taxis and buses.

“We’re simply trying to reward customers who are loyal to us,” said Picknelly. “This will give them an opportunity to get free travel and, hopefully, to ride more often.”

The average customer currently rides six times a year, Picknelly noted, adding that some commuter routes, such as those that take people to Boston, Worcester, Providence, and other cities, generate more repeat business. The goal is to incentivize that average rider to take the bus more often instead of looking toward other means to reach their destination.

One natural audience for the perks program is college students, he said, adding that they travel home on weekends far more often than previous generations did, and the bus has become one of the more popular means of getting them there. The company is exploring options for providing still more incentives for that constituency, possibly in time for the fall semester.

“Students are a huge part of our customer base,” Picknelly explained. “And they want something extra, so we’re working on things to beef up the incentives program for them.”

And by students, he actually meant anyone with an e-mail address ending in .edu, and that’s a large constituency, especially around Boston and, more locally, the Five College area.

“We serve dozens of colleges and thousands of students, professors, and others who work at those schools,” he said, adding, again, that this large constituency has many transportation options, and Peter Pan Perks was created to get these individuals and others to not only ride the bus, but ride it more often.

And maybe wave to the motorists hanging close to get that free wi-fi.

—George O’Brien

Moriarty & Primack Reflects on a Quarter-century of Growth

Taking Account

Principals Patrick Leary (left) and Doug Theobald

The field of accounting is broad, diverse, and constantly changing, so the leaders of Moriarty & Primack are rightfully proud that their firm has weathered those changes with near-constant growth and little turnover. They credit a culture of connection, where open communication is valued in the office and client relationships dig deeper than mere numbers on a ledger. As it approaches its second quarter-century, those are values the company intends to preserve.

After a quarter-century in business, it’s natural for an accounting firm to re-evaluate its place in the financial-services industry — particularly for a firm with the consistent growth record of Moriarty & Primack.

“We’re probably at the cusp where we’re not a small firm anymore, but not a large firm, either — maybe a medium-sized firm,” said Patrick Leary, CPA, Assurance Services partner with the firm, which now totals almost 40 employees. “So, what does that mean to our clients and how we market ourselves in the community?”

When he and other leaders of the Springfield-based firm sat down with BusinessWest recently, they talked about how the company’s evolution had sparked conversations, now ongoing, about its messaging and growth strategy going forward. What kept coming up was a wave of young talent.

“You can certainly say we’re younger than we were 10 years ago,” Leary said. “That certainly changes the firm’s culture — younger people with lots of energy, people who are building their careers, striving to move forward.”

They also bring their own, varied perspectives, said Douglas Theobald, Tax Services partner and the firm’s president, noting that they were recruited from both Western Mass. colleges and well outside the region, and hail from both accounting programs and other professions, bringing a richness of life experience to their jobs.

This group — which definitely doesn’t represent the old vanguard of “green-eyeshade accountants,” Leary noted — also bring key experience in modern modes of communication and connection.

“The world is changing so quickly, with social media and technology and such,” said Margie Smith, human resources director, “and they are really savvy in all those areas in a way that some of us older folks may not be.”

We’re probably at the cusp where we’re not a small firm anymore, but not a large firm, either — maybe a medium-sized firm.”

Conversely, noted Lisa Behan, CPA and director, the company’s leaders can model the close client relationships that have been a hallmark of Moriarty & Primack’s 24 years in business. “The only way to teach them that is to show them.”

To that end, Leary said, the firm’s leaders make an effort to draw younger employees into many of their client discussions, if only to help them gain experience in myriad areas. “That builds our bench; someday our clients will be going to them with these questions, and the more situations we throw our staff into, the better they’re going to be in their career.”

Smith said the younger employees appreciate that culture. “It helps them develop more quickly than they might otherwise. We also have an open-door policy here. Everyone is approachable, and they know they can come to anyone, anytime, with any questions. There’s a lot of collaboration here, and everyone is on a first-name basis. It’s not ‘Mr. Theobald’ or ‘Mr. Leary’; it’s Doug and Patrick. That open-door policy helps everyone work together and makes them feel like they can ask questions, that questions aren’t stupid.”

For this issue’s focus on financial services, Moriarty & Primack’s leaders spoke with BusinessWest about how asking the right questions, and answering them with a culture that prioritizes relationship building, has fostered continual growth since 1993, and likely more moving forward.

Making a Name

Richard Moriarty and Jay Primack were long-time employees of Coopers & Lybrand when they decided to put their own names over the door, using their experience and effective recruiting of talented CPAs to make their firm one of the standouts in the local accounting community. They started in a 1,000-square-foot office in One Financial Plaza, then expanded that footprint before moving one block down Main Street to Monarch Place in 2001.

Now in its second generation of leadership, said Theobald, the firm has come to focus on four key areas: Auditing services to business clients, nonprofits, and other business entities; tax-consultation and compliance services to business clients, individuals, and other segments; business-valuation work; and employee benefit plans.

From left, Doug Theobald, Margie Smith, Lisa Behan, and Patrick Leary say the company benefits from a culture of open communication.

“Those are our core service lines,” Leary added. “It’s a fairly traditional core set of services for a CPA firm of our size.”

Theobald said the firm is well-versed in virtually every industry, but its accountants aren’t afraid to consult with someone else in the company who might have broader experience in a certain field.

“We do collaborate internally amongst ourselves. Patrick may have more experience in the construction field than I have, and if I have a construction client, I can come to him with a question. And vice versa — he might come to me with a tax issue. That’s been very successful for us; we work with individual clients with a team approach, and try to use the best knowledge we can internally.”

That’s an important part of the culture, Leary added. “We tell our people that nobody here knows everything. To me, being a good CPA means asking a lot of questions. We’re not going to go to a client and just pretend we know all the answers.”

That emphasis on candor and communication appeals to Behan, who joined the firm last year from Owens & Co. in Connecticut. “I’ve seen the whole profession change over the past 10 to 20 years around relationships as opposed to technical expertise,” she said. “What’s really important to clients now is the trust, the connections, the relationships, the experience … a lot of intangibles around our relationships with clients. Twenty years ago, what we did was more of a commodity, and less personal.”

Theobald agreed. “The only way you can be successful in this business is by driving deep in relationships with your clients. They look to you as a confidant. We clearly bring technical expertise, or you wouldn’t be working with us, but it’s also a relationship built on trust. We wouldn’t have approached Lisa to join this business if she didn’t have both those skill sets.”

Smart Growth

Behan’s arrival was one example of organic growth, Theobald said, as she brought her own client base into the firm. Other growth over the years has been driven by acquisition, referrals, and a broadening of services.

“We realize we’ve got to continue to grow, and we give our staff as much opportunity as possible to grow,” he told BusinessWest, and that means drawing in new clients from near and far. “We are committed to Springfield, and we value the Pioneer Valley; we work here and reinvest in this community. But we’re also very active outside Western Mass. — in the Boston marketplace, in the Hartford marketplace. We realize that, if we want to grow the firm, we have to expand our footprint, and we’ve done this very successfully.”

To move forward, though — beyond that ‘medium-sized firm’ status — Moriarty & Primack is now examining its growth goals and formulating new marketing strategies, which is in some ways untilled ground.

A wave of new employees over the past decade, many of them young professionals, has given Moriarty & Primack an injection of energy and ideas.

“I think our success has been built off hard work and past successes with clients,” Theobald said. “We do very little in marketing, but get a lot of referrals — but we only get those referrals if clients have seen us do a good job, and are confident in our ability to work together, to bring high-end service with good ideas and good execution.”

Smith noted that the firm has also committed to boosting employee training and updating its technology and infrastructure to better serve clients, which is critical in an age when so much business is handled by electronic means.

“A lot of times growth is a byproduct of where the industry as a whole is going, and so much these days is done electronically,” Theobald said. “We can serve clients totally through electronic means. We might meet with a client twice a year but still do a lot of work with them throughout the year.”

Behan agreed. “Relationships can really be built and maintained electronically. We have clients on the West Coast … so much of it is phone and e-mail. If you stay on it and maintain these relationships, you don’t always have to be face to face with people anymore.”

Busy clients tend to appreciate doing business through those channels, because carving out an afternoon meeting can be a real commitment on their end, Leary added. “We get it. We know how clients work — they may wake up at 5:30, check their e-mail, and get a lot of work done during that quiet time.”

The challenge, Theobald said, is to be accessible at all hours, but respectful of the work-life balance that’s such a key factor in retaining talent in the Western Mass. marketplace “Young professionals don’t want to work 8 to 7 every day; they want that work-life balance, and that forces us as managers to run a business that can effectively serve clients but also be a good fit for the staff.”

Getting Involved

So far, it’s working, Theobald added. “We’re only as successful as our staff, and we have a low turnover rate, which translates into continuity of service and not having to retrain the staff every so often. Turnover is very disruptive to a firm, and that is maybe the best judge of what we are doing right as a firm.”

Moriarty & Primack keeps employees engaged in ways that go beyond their job description, he added — for example, though a social-action committee through which employees decide where to target the firm’s charitable resources, whether through dollars or events. “They like that; it’s empowerment. They’re contributing more than just in an accounting sense.”

The company also manages a mentorship program for younger staff, who have the opportunity to give and get feedback, Smith said. “They can help grow their own careers by talking to someone more experienced, and have someone watching out for them a little bit.”

These sorts of endeavors have myriad positive effects, Leary said, notably building employees’ knowledge — about their field and what’s happening in the community — which they can bring to bear in the future as they move throughout their careers.

As Moriarty & Primack looks to its second quarter-century, he went on, its leaders are drawing on history and experience to craft a vision of what they want to look like down the road.

“We’re a much larger firm than we were 10 years ago, and we’re a more diverse firm,” he told BusinessWest. “So we’re going through a strategic thought process: how do we get from here to there, how do we continue to distinguish ourselves from our competitors? The goal is to create a good strategy and execute it.”

It’s a vision that appeals to Behan. “I admire that Doug and Patrick are looking years down the road instead of looking back. They’re open-minded to how the firm might look in 10 years.”

It will certainly look much different — and has for a long time — from that small office Richard Moriarty and Jay Primack launched 24 years ago, Theobald said. “But we owe a lot to them for what they started.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Alden Credit Union Expands with New Financial-services Center

Seizing an Opportunity

Adam Corcoran says the new facility in Belchertown exudes what he and others call the ‘Alden mystique.’

Adam Corcoran calls it the “Alden mystique.”

And by about the third casual reference to it, he was hard-pressed by BusinessWest to elaborate and elucidate as to just what that is.

He struggled a little with that assignment, because, in his view, and those of others around him nodding their head in agreement as he spoke, this isn’t exactly something you can see or easily qualify.

“The Alden mystique? It’s hard to explain, really … it’s more something you feel; it’s our personality, for lack of a better word,” said Corcoran, president of Chicopee-based Alden Credit Union. “It’s our brand — it’s who we are, it’s everything we say, and how we say it; it’s everything. You have to witness the service and get the full effect to really understand.”

Whatever the Alden mystique is, it will be — again, according to the people acquainted with the phenomenon — very much in evidence at the new, 4,000-square-foot Alden Financial Center on State Street in Belchertown, set to open its doors at the end of this month.

“It speaks to who we are — it adds to our mystique,” said Corcoran, adding that the name ‘financial center’ is significant, because this isn’t a branch, in the strictest definition of that term, and so, therefore, that is not what it is. Rather, it’s a full-service facility to be staffed by a full-time investment/financial advisor, a full-time property and casualty insurance advisor, and those providing traditional banking and loan services.

“It’s truly a one-stop financial center,” said Corcoran, and one that speaks to the credit union’s explosive growth in recent years, from $78 million in assets in 2010, when Corcoran arrived, to $161 million at present — and its ambitious plans to continue on that trajectory.

Indeed, the Belchertown facility, formerly occupied by Easthampton Savings Bank before it relocated to another location in Belchertown, is part of a strategic initiative to better serve the credit union’s many customers in the Ludlow-Belchertown area, and attract more of them, said Corcoran. But it was also pursued (ultra-aggressively, as we’ll see shortly) out of sheer necessity; the company has been growing at such a rate that it simply needed more space, and in a hurry.

The Alden mystique? It’s hard to explain, really … it’s more something you feel; it’s our personality, for lack of a better word. It’s our brand — it’s who we are, it’s everything we say, and how we say it; it’s everything.”

“One of the biggest challenges we’ve had over the years has been trying to find space for the staff we’ve assembled to support the growth we’ve had,” he explained. “Our main office in Chicopee is only so big … we’ve had board meetings in the basement for years. We then moved into the administration building across the parking lot from us, but it seems like every year we run out of space.”

That shouldn’t be the case any longer, he went on, noting that the new center in Belchertown should provide adequate space for years to come.

Meanwhile, it will become the cornerstone of expansion efforts in an area identified as one with high growth potential.

“One of the things we decided was that expanding for the sake of expansion and just putting branches up where we had an opportunity to do so was not really the way to go,” said Alden board chairman David Hodge, referring to a branch opened in Amherst in 2012 and closed three years later due to underperformance. “We all thought this [State Street] location was a great opportunity to not only solve our space problem, but better serve existing new customers and generate additional growth.”

List of Credit Unions in Western Mass.

For this issue and its focus on banking and financial services, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at the new Alden Financial Center, the circumstances that made in a necessary reality, and the role it will play as the credit union seeks to continue and even accelerate an ambitious pattern of expansion — in every sense of that phrase.

Site for Sore Eyes

Corcoran told BusinessWest that Alden undertook what would be considered a very elaborate search for a location for its new financial center, one that would take it to several communities and a host of potential sites, many of which did not fit that aforementioned Alden personality for one reason or another, or didn’t work from a financial perspective.

To say that it became enamored with the State Street parcel in Belchertown, owned by Pride Stores, would be a huge understatement, as Corcoran’s recollection of efforts to acquire it reveals.

“This wasn’t even available when we first looked at it,” he recalled. “When we first inquired, they said, ‘oh, you want to rent it?’ We said, ‘no, we want to buy it,’ and they said, ‘but it’s not for sale.’”

Continuing with the story, he said the credit union asked the individual in question if inquiries could be made into if, and under what circumstances, the property might come up for sale.

“Some time went by, and we got a call back, and the person said, ‘I hear you’re interested in leasing the bank space in Belchertown,’” he went on. “I said, ‘no, we’re interested in buying it,’ and he said, ‘but it’s not for sale.’ And I said, ‘we’ve had this conversation.’”

Adam Corcoran, left, and David Hodge, chairman of the Alden board of trustees, believe the new facility in Belchertown will enable the credit union to continue its torrid pace of growth.

In essence, Alden wasn’t interested in taking ‘no’ for an answer, and it didn’t, eventually convincing Pride to let it acquire the property and the 1.3 acres it sits upon, a small portion of a much larger development (still owned by Pride) that includes a Tractor Supply Store, Planet Fitness, and other retail outlets, and will soon include a Pride store itself.

Why was Alden so persistent? A combination of factors, said Corcoran, including the geographic location — the proximity to communities with many customers and Belchertown itself, still one of the fastest-growing communities in the region — but also potential traffic flow at that expanding retail site, complete with the new Pride store, and the attractive physical space in the building itself. Also, there are no other credit unions in the vicinity.

“This was one of those things where timing and the pieces to the puzzle all came together,” he said. “It’s worked out fantastic so far.”

To get a better appreciation of all that, we need to back up a bit, to when Corcoran came to the company. It had $78 million in assets and roughly 12,000 members. Today, as noted, the numbers are $161 million and 22,075, respectively, and growing, with all of that growth coming organically and well ahead of the pace industry-wide, he noted.

When asked how this was accomplished, he made perhaps the first reference to the Alden mystique, noting that, during his first few years at the helm, the institution built up what he called its “infrastructure.”

By that, he meant a foundation on which to grow, meaning everything from products, a staff, new branches, and a platform for providing quality service, to aggressive marketing and smart use of improved information technology.

“We’ve set the bar higher for ourselves when it comes to the value we provide the membership and potential new members,” he explained. “We haven’t been afraid to take risks; sometimes they’ve worked out, and sometimes they haven’t, but we haven’t been afraid.”

In that ‘haven’t worked out’ category is that aforementioned branch in Amherst, undertaken as part of a partnership with UMass Amherst Athletics. The branch, located on Main Street, was not ideal, with no drive-up window and limited space, said Corcoran, and didn’t develop as expected.

Thus, the credit union, still desperately in need of more space, commenced a search for a more strategic location in Hampshire County, and for something that would be much more than a branch.

The search ended in Belchertown.

Center of Attention

Thus begins an intriguing new chapter in the story of this nearly 90-year-old institution.

Its marketing slogan is ‘Banking. No Boundaries,’ and that saying now has new meaning with the Alden Financial Center. The literal boundaries have been extended, and the figurative ones — well, there weren’t any to begin with, as evidenced by the Alden mystique.

That phenomenon is, as Corcoran said, hard to see and define. It’s the institution’s personality. And it will be on full display at this new facility.

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected].

GSB Adds New Branches in Amherst and Northampton

Expanding the Profile

nhampphoto-sign-wcoratm-rev-1

The planned new Greenfield Savings Bank branches in Northampton (top) and Amherst.

Denise Coyne says one of the most important tenets of customer service is listening to the customers. And an even more critical one, she went on, is acting on what is being heard.

Adherence to both parts of that equation sums up, quickly and efficiently, Greenfield Savings Bank’s recent announcement that it will open two new branches in Amherst and Northampton, thus putting another exclamation point on the institution’s expansion into Hampshire County.

In short, the bank listened, and it acted.

“We have a great relationship with our customers, and we talk with them a lot,” said Coyne, the bank’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Over the past year or so, what we kept hearing about was location. We have great branches in those communities, and we’re going to keep those branches — they’re great locations. But customers wanted us to be on Main Street.”

In Northampton, that meant literally — the city’s bustling Main Street. In Amherst, it meant what amounts to the main thoroughfare for retail and foot traffic (which is not actually Main Street).

Thus, the bank will augment its large, full-service branches in those communities — 6 University Dr. in Amherst and 325 King St. in Northampton — with smaller, almost full-service branches in the heart of those downtowns. There will soon be a branch at 207 Main St. in Northampton, and another at 108 North Pleasant St. in Amherst.

Over the past year or so, what we kept hearing about was location. We have great branches in those communities, and we’re going to keep those branches — they’re great locations. But customers wanted us to be on Main Street.”

The new branches are being undertaken in direct response to customer need for convenience — “parking is at a premium in Amherst and Northampton, and once you get a spot in those communities, you don’t want to move,” said Coyne — but also as part of the bank’s ongoing efforts to grow market share in communities several exits to the south on I-91 from its base in Greenfield.

And that growth has come across the board, she went on.

“We have a trust department … we’ve seen an increase in wealth-management services,” she explained. “And as far as deposits go, since we opened our branch in Northampton in 2012, we’ve seen 16% growth in deposits annually.”

But perhaps the most profound growth has come on the commercial side of the ledger, said Mark Grumoli, senior vice president and director of Commercial Lending for the nearly 160-year-old institution.

“One of the factors that spearheaded our look to establish another branch in Northampton has been from the commercial-loan growth we’ve experienced,” he said. “Over the past nine years, we’ve generated in excess of $400 million in loan volume, and a large percentage of that has come in Hampshire County; the loan portfolio has grown almost three-fold over those nine years.”

Elaborating, he said that, to better serve that growing number of commercial customers, the additional branches were a necessary strategic initiative.

And the new additions have come after a lengthy search for sites that would meet customers’ needs for more convenience, but also give the bank needed visibility and the desirable space it needed.

“We’ve been looking for locations for more than a year now,” said Coyne, adding that, in Northampton, especially, there were many options to consider, but not many that would allow the bank to accomplish its primary mission. So it waited for such an opportunity to develop.

The Northampton site, located favorably near a Starbucks and across the street from City Hall, was previously home to a clothing store, and covers nearly 700 square feet. The Amherst site, meanwhile, near a CVS and across the street from Judie’s Restaurant, had been occupied by a bookstore and was vacant for some time.

Thus, both sites will require extensive renovation, said Coyne, adding that they will feature most of the traditional services, other than safe-deposit boxes and drive-thru facilities.

Both are slated to open their doors in June, and both are needed additions in those communities, Coyne noted.

“These are ‘walking’ communities,” she stressed. “And we wanted to bring that additional convenience to our customers.”

—George O’Brien

Tax-related Incidents Are the Most Common Form of Fraud

Avoiding Identity Theft

By Cheryl M Fitzgerald, CPA, MST

Identity theft has become an increasing concern for all. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. According to a Jan. 26, 2015, FTC press release, tax-related identity theft was the most common form of reported identity theft in 2014.

Personal information (including Social Security numbers) is stolen by using various methods (including dumpster diving, skimming, and phishing). The people stealing identities have become very adept and strategic in the ways that they are obtaining this information.

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), tax-related identify theft occurs when someone uses your Social Security Number (SSN) to file a tax return claiming a fraudulent refund. Taxpayers are usually unaware of this until they receive a notice from the IRS indicating that multiple returns have been filed using the same SSN. The IRS uses your SSN to make sure your filing is accurate and complete, and that you get any refund you are due.

Cheryl M Fitzgerald

Remember to be extremely cautious when you receive unexpected e-mails or phone calls from the IRS. If no written correspondence preceded it, there is reason to be suspicious.”

Identify theft can affect how your return is processed. An unexpected notice or letter from the IRS could alert you that someone else is using your SSN; however, the IRS does not start contact with a taxpayer by sending an e-mail, text, or social-media message that asks for personal or financial information.

Some of the things that you can do to in the event that identify theft (not just with the IRS) has occurred are as follows:

• Call your credit-card companies if you believe fraud has occurred;
• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports and get copies of the report;
• Report identify theft to the FTC;
• File a report with your local police department; and
• Contact your financial institutions and close any financial or credit account opened without your permission.

If your SSN is compromised and you know or suspect you are a victim of a tax-related identify theft, the IRS recommends these additional steps:

• Respond immediately to any IRS notice. Call the number provided or, if instructed, go to idverify.irs.gov;
• Complete IRS Form 14039 (identity-theft affidavit) if your e-filed return rejects because of a duplicate filing under your SSN or you are instructed to do so. Use a fillable form at IRS.gov, print, then attach the form to your paper filed return and mail according to the instructions; and
• Continue to pay your taxes and file your tax return, even if you must do so by paper.

According to the IRS, some suggestions that you can do in order to help reduce your risk are as follows:

• Always use security software with firewall and anti-virus protections, and use strong passwords;
• Learn to recognize and avoid phishing e-mails, threatening calls, and texts from thieves posing as legitimate organizations such as your bank, credit-card companies, and even the IRS;
• Do not click on links or download attachments from unknown or suspicious e-mails; and
• Protect your personal data; do not routinely carry your Social Security card, and make sure your tax records are secure.

These steps should be followed because, if an identity theft does occur, the situation can typically take many months to correct. Some identity-theft victims have experienced a year or more wait before receiving their appropriate refund. The IRS will typically tell taxpayers who inquire about the status of their identity-theft case that cases are resolved within 180 days; however, it has typically taken longer than that time frame.

In conclusion, the single most important takeaway is that the IRS will always send a written correspondence first. Remember to be extremely cautious when you receive unexpected e-mails or phone calls from the IRS. If no written correspondence preceded it, there is reason to be suspicious. With the increased occurrence of identity theft, it is especially important this tax season (and throughout the year) to be diligent with your information and take proper measures to secure it.

Cheryl M Fitzgerald, CPA, MST, is senior manager at Holyoke-based public accounting firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; (413) 322-3500; [email protected]

Colleges Work to Help Parents, Students Maximize Financial Aid

Education Sections

Dollars and Sense

Attaining a college degree is a stern challenge. These days, paying for one is probably an even bigger challenge, for both students and their families. Area colleges are responding proactively with programs and initiatives that put information into the hands of those who need it and help students and families understand all the options and opportunities available to them.

Springfield College students Olivia Otter and Emily Giardino are well aware of the cost of higher education.

Although Springfield College (SC) was Otter’s first choice and she was thrilled to be accepted, she needed to see the financial-aid package the school offered her before she could commit to entering the freshman class.

“This year I signed up to be an RA [resident assistant] so I won’t have as much debt when I graduate,” said the 20-year-old sophomore, explaining that the job provides her with free housing and a reduced rate on her meal plan.

Giardino, meanwhile, is a junior and has a merit scholarship and a grant. Her mother, Trish Giardino, found the financial-aid process daunting but said that, at one point, their financial needs changed, and they were able to benefit from the college’s appeal process.

Families have very different financial situations, but they are faced with common denominators: the cost of higher education continues to climb, and the amount of student debt is reaching new, alarming heights.

Springfield College students Emily Giardino (left) and Olivia Otter say the amount of financial aid students receive can play an important role in the school they choose to attend.

Studies show 44.2 million Americans owe $1.28 trillion in college debt, and the average class of 2016 graduate has $37,172 in student loans, which is 6% more than 2015 graduates owed. Graduate students incur even more responsiblity, with an average of $57,000 in loans because there isn’t much financial help available for them.

Although some people question why higher education is so costly, Stuart Jones says the demand for amenities such as great food, health and counseling services, and advanced technology continues to rise, and these are certainly factors.

“We call it the arms race,” said Springfield College’s vice president for Enrollment Management. “When families visit us, they judge our buildings and compare them to what they see at other schools. Plus, today’s students want to have fun and want to know whether the school holds events like movie nights and carnivals. They want a great education, but also want a great experience, and that comes with a price tag.”

Full tuition at SC is $36,000 annually, or $43,000 with room and board, but 85% of its students receive financial aid. “We have a responsibility to help families get the help they need, so we really work hard to keep costs down; for six consecutive years, our tuition has remained lower than the national averages for colleges of the same size,” Jones said.

Kathleen Chambers said Western New England University (WNEU) is tuition-driven: the majority of the price it charges pays for the school’s operating budget, and 90% of its students receive some sort of financial aid.

“It’s our job to help parents and students meet the bottom line,” said WNEU’s director of financial aid, adding that the school’s tuition plus room and board is $49,000.

We have a responsibility to help families get the help they need, so we really work hard to keep costs down; for six consecutive years, our tuition has remained lower than the national averages for colleges of the same size.”

Public schools tend to be less expensive, but families still typically need help to pay for schooling. Suzanne Peters, director of Financial Aid Services for UMass Amherst, said 80% of the school’s full-time undergraduate students have loans, grants, or other forms of aid. Tuition at UMass Amherst is $30,000, which includes room and board, books, and transportation, and www.umass.edu/umsa contains forms, information, and search engines for a wide range of scholarships which students are urged to explore.

“Part of going to college is learning to advocate for yourself, but we give families as much information as we possibly can and things to think about, such as interest rates and repayment terms,” Peters said, noting that private schools usually have more scholarship money to award students than public schools.

List of Colleges in Western Mass.

For this issue and its focus on education, BusinessWest looks at what public and private schools do to help students and their parents access the help they are eligible for so they can earn a degree that will lead to a satisfying and well-paid career.

Variable Factors

Guidance counselors at high schools have information about financial aid and can steer prospective college students and their parents to appropriate resources. Most high schools also hold financial-aid information nights, while colleges and universities hold similar sessions during annual open houses.

Peters said UMass Amherst goes out into the community and puts on 100 presentations every year for prospective students and their parents, as well as panel discussions for guidance counselors, programs for incoming families, and financial-literacy sessions on campus that remind students about the debt they are accumulating.

Stuart Jones says Springfield College is unique in the amount of money it awards to graduate students.

Catherine Ryan, director of Financial Aid at Westfield State University, said that school also gives presentations and works closely with community colleges because many students transfer there after completing two years of schooling.

In general, private schools are the most costly form of higher education. State schools are less expensive, and their price tag is determined by a tiered system: community colleges are the least expensive, state universities cost more, and the UMass system is at the top of the tuition-cost pyramid.

Ryan said Westfield State costs $9,275 without room and board and $20,000 with it.

“Some students expect to be able to borrow the full amount of the cost of their education, but that’s not possible,” she noted, explaining that there are limits to federal loans. “It’s important for families to research the cost of each college the student is interested in because there are a lot of different price tags. I tell them to be organized and look at a wide range of schools.”

There are three main sources of funding for higher education. The first comes from the government via federal loans, Pell grants, state grants, and work-study programs.

The second source is scholarships or awards from a college or university, and the third is independent scholarships that are given out by a wide array of local and national groups.

“It’s our job to educate students about where they can find scholarships and grants,” Jones said, adding that millions of dollars of scholarship money goes unclaimed every year, and students should visit www.fastweb.com, the nation’s largest scholarship clearinghouse.

“We give families the tools they need to explore options and tell them what they need to know about private loans,” he went on. “But we are very honest about the amount of debt the student is likely to incur, and although some really want to come to Springfield College, we know they can’t afford it and have to help them face that reality.”

Chambers agreed, and said 90% of students at WNEU receive financial aid, and the admissions office gets in touch with students after they receive their financial-aid package to answer any questions. But they have also had to tell some students it is not realistic for them to attend the school.

However, experts say every student should fill out the Free Application for Student Aid, or FAFSA, which automatically qualifies them for low-interest and forgivable federal loans if they meet eligibility standards. It is also the first step needed to qualify a parent for a federal PLUS loan, which can be used to help pay college costs.

Catherine Ryan, director of Financial Aid at Westfield State University

Experts say the form is important even for the wealthiest families because students may qualify for merit scholarships or other forms of aid if they don’t meet the benchmarks for federal programs. In addition, the most generous private colleges have awarded need-based aid to some students from families earning more than $200,000 a year.

However, Peters noted that it’s critical to read the FAFSA directions carefully. For example, it’s important to understand where to include the student’s tax information and where to use the parent’s.

The U.S. Department of Education recently announced new income-reporting rules for FAFSA beginning with the upcoming 2017-18 school year. Instead of using prior-year income as ‘base year’ income, it will now use what it refers to as ‘prior-prior year income.’ For example, the FAFSA will report 2015 calendar year income to schools the student designates on the form for the 2017-18 ‘expected family contribution’ determination instead of 2016 calendar-year income.

In addition, for the first time, families were able to fill out the FAFSA in October instead of having to wait until Jan. 1. Students who did so right away and were accepted at colleges received financial-aid packages early, which gives them more time to consider their options.

Ryan cautions that the FAFSA should be filled out as soon as possible each year because students who file after March 1 may lose out on help, as a college may have allocated all of its resources by that date.

Different Circumstances

Although every family is expected to contribute toward their child’s education to fill the gap between what can be borrowed and what is given to them in grants, sometimes this is not possible. “The amount is often double or triple what parents expected to pay,” said Ryan. “Middle-class families don’t quality for a lot of aid at public schools, so they should start conversations about affordability long before the student is ready to enroll in college.”

Although most schools don’t have an extra pool of money to help students beyond their initial offer, experts say if a family’s circumstances change, they should alert the financial-aid office, because special situations are taken into consideration. If extra aid is not available, private loans can be an option, but a student needs a credit-worthy co-signer, and interest often begins accumulating as soon as the loan is processed.

“But if a parent lost their job, or there is a death, divorce, or other significant change in the family, they should contact us,” Ryan noted.

Jones said some families try to negotiate the amount of aid the student will receive. “Some don’t really need our help and simply want a bargain, while others really do need assistance,” he noted, adding that, in some instances, SC is able to offer them more grant money.

Ryan said Westfield doesn’t have a reserve fund, but it looks at individual situations, and students sometimes opt to attend classes part-time while they work or help their family.

But most schools offer payment plans, and if parents request a meeting with the financial-aid office, they will be advised about their options.

“We have our own scholarship program, but it is only for upperclassmen,” Chambers noted.

Ryan said Westfield State may offer the neediest students a package that includes federal loans, a Pell grant, a state grant, and grant money from the school, which in some cases equates to the majority of the cost.

Kathleen Chambers says 90% of students at Western New England University receive financial aid.

But when it comes to helping graduate students, most colleges and universities don’t have much to offer.

“Most graduate students who receive financial aid receive it in the form of a job as a teaching assistant or research assistant,” said Patrick Callahan, a spokesperson for UMass Amherst. “When they apply for admission to a graduate program, they are considered for this type of aid, which is typically based on qualifications rather than financial need.”

He added that some graduate students receive fellowships that help with the cost of living or scholarships that reduce their tuition cost. Fellowships can come from university sources or outside sponsors, such as the National Science Foundation.

UMass Amherst has a robust assistance program that offers tuition credits as well as health benefits, and Westfield State offers its own programs.

Springfield College awards scholarships for excellence as well as associateships that provide students with free or discounted tuition and a living stipend in exchange for work on campus that does not exceed 20 hours a week.

Chambers said WNEU’s School of Law offers merit money based on a student’s undergraduate academic record and their results on the Law School Admission Test, but noted that graduate students can get an unsubsidized federal loan of up to $20,500 for their first year of study, which is considerably higher than the amount an undergraduate can borrow.

Countdown Begins

Time is of the essence, and most colleges send out financial-aid packages by March 1 because students must decide by May 1 which school they will attend.

The amount they borrow is a very important factor, but Chambers noted that higher education is an investment. “Unlike a car or house, a degree can’t be taken from you.”

Jones added that, although affordability and financial aid are critical factors in decision making, many parents say support services, the safety of a campus, and whether the school is student-focused also weigh into the equation.

“They want to know if the school is going to give their son or daughter the greatest chance at success,” he said.

When they finish their schooling and settle into careers, the amount of debt they owe may well figure into that definition, so it is indeed a situation that deserves serious consideration — because it will affect their lives for years to come.

Elms, WNEU College of Pharmacy Forge Admissions Agreement

Education Sections

Close to Home

Janet Williams says an automatic interview at the WNEU College of Pharmacy is a big leg up — and a chance to stand out — for Elms students who might otherwise seem equivalent to other applicants.

Students at Elms College tend to have local roots and want to remain in Western Mass. after graduation, Janet Williams said. Meanwhile, pharmacists are in demand in the region, as they are almost everywhere in the U.S.

That’s why a recent agreement between Elms and the College of Pharmacy at Western New England University (WNEU) — guaranteeing qualifying Elms students an interview with an admissions officer at the College of Pharmacy — makes sense.

“We’ve had a few students attend their pharmacy school,” said Williams, an Elms professor of Biology, before citing the examples of two: Grant Stebbins, who graduated from Elms and then was part of the inaugural graduating class at the WNEU College of Pharmacy in 2015; and Kevin Krupczak, who graduated from Elms, went to MIT — where he co-authored biomedical articles in venerable journals — then returned to Western Mass. this past fall to enroll in the College of Pharmacy.

“He was involved in research at MIT before deciding research might not be his bag, but maybe pharmacy was,” Williams said.

For Elms undergrads who want to create a life in the Valley, she went on, it’s convenient for them to get their degree in pharmacy at WNEU and continue to practice in the area. That’s true for Stebbins and Krupczak. “They’ve grown up in this area and wanted to stay local. It’s important for many of our students to stay local.”

One of the reasons an agreement like this makes so much sense and is so practical is that, when you look at where individuals want to practice healthcare, they always say, ‘I want to be local.’ If we can get Springfield-area students to stay in the Springfield area and be pharmacists, I think we’ve got a much better chance of trying to impact some of the care issues that are going on right in our yards.”

That idea appeals to Evan Robinson, dean and associate provost for Academic Affairs at the WNEU College of Pharmacy.

“One of the reasons an agreement like this makes so much sense and is so practical is that, when you look at where individuals want to practice healthcare, they always say, ‘I want to be local,’” he told BusinessWest. “If we can get Springfield-area students to stay in the Springfield area and be pharmacists, I think we’ve got a much better chance of trying to impact some of the care issues that are going on right in our yards.”

Interviewing and accepting more students who have local roots, he noted, is one way to do that. “An interview doesn’t guarantee anything, but it’s an important step considering how competitive pharmacy programs are.

“Elms has a great reputation and has worked with other programs in the past on articulation partnerships,” Robinson went on. “If someone has an affinity or affiliation being in the Greater Springfield area, if they have an opportunity to continue their education in the area, so much the better.”

Important Step

The agreement between the two institutions ensures that any Elms student who meets the requirements set out by Western New England College of Pharmacy will be given an automatic interview — requirements that include a minimum GPA and Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) score, and completion of certain required courses, Williams explained.

While Elms doesn’t have a pre-pharmacy program per se, it does offer majors in biology and chemistry that students often use as a springboard into further education in the medical, dental, pharmacy, or veterinary fields. Some major in one and minor in the other, or take on a dual major.

When it comes time to apply to pharmacy school, she said, many students appear equivalent on paper, with similar GPAs, standardized test scores, and extracurricular experiences.

“How do you select who to interview? Potentially, some students could slip through the cracks. With an interview, they’re able to stand apart,” she told BusinessWest. “This is a big leg up for students. It doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be accepted to the program, but it’s a way for them to stand apart from the rest of the students.”

Colleges with MBA Programs in Western Mass.

She said Elms students bring another advantage to the field. “Elms College, because of its Catholic roots, spends a lot of time making sure our students have good integrity and a good background of bioethics built into their classes. It’s also possible for our students to minor in bioethics while majoring in biology or chemistry.”

This is important, she said, because of how the role of the pharmacist has changed over the past several years.

“It really is expanding, I think. To a large degree, pharmacists are acting as healthcare coordinators,” Williams said. “Many people have more than one doctor and are taking more than one medication for different conditions. The pharmacist is really there to coordinate everything for the patient. Say you’re taking one thing for your heart and another for blood sugar and maybe something else for your thyroid. You have to be careful these medications don’t counteract in a negative way and cause harm. The pharmacist is playing a very big role in being a healthcare coordinator.”

Robinson agrees, having long expressed a philosophy of the pharmacist as patient educator. With the WNEU College of Pharmacy continuing to thrive — it will send its third graduating class into the field this spring — students have embraced that role as well, often honing it in community clinical residency programs with the likes of Big Y and Walgreens.

“We’ve been very excited with how our students — our learners — have not only embraced the notion of being in pharmacy school, but embraced a big part of the health profession: their activities in the community,” he said. “They have been outstanding.”

But Robinson wants pharmacy students to do more, to tackle specific issues that bring them closer to the communities in which they live and work. As one example, the College of Pharmacy has issued a challenge to students to come up with strategies to address the state’s opioid crisis.

“The problem isn’t specific to Western Mass., but realize we need to be part of the solution, whether that’s doing talks at area high schools and colleges or providing better education on this campus or working with our healthcare partners,” he told BusinessWest, adding that he has met with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno on the topic. “It’s a huge and complicated problem, and we’re hopeful we’ll be able to assist in some small way. There are a lot of players and a lot of complexities.”

He’s confident, though, that it’s just one way pharmacy students can begin to interact with their communities even before starting their careers.

“Our learners and our faculty and staff here at the College of Pharmacy have embodied the notion of community service, and they’ve done a wonderful job giving back and engaging,” he said. “This is another way of trying to channel some of that engagement.”

Making a Difference

Elms College, which currently has a range of agreements in dozens of programs with more than six institutions throughout the region, sees the value in such a community-focused pharmacy program, Williams said.

“Having a college of pharmacy in the vicinity of Elms College is a wonderful pathway for our students, because a lot of our students are local. This will give them opportunities to not only get their education in pharmacy, but also possibly continue to practice in the area.”

They will enter a field with considerable potential for career seekers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14% growth in jobs between 2012 and 2022, an increase of 41,400 positions. The annual median wage for pharmacists is more than $116,000.

Meanwhile, 3.5 billion prescriptions are written each year, and medications are involved in 80% of all treatments. In its 2014 National Pharmacist Workforce Survey, the Midwest Pharmacy Workforce Research Consortium predicted that these trends and others — like the aging of America and the high number of pharmacists, especially men, approaching retirement age — will continue to create opportunities in the field.

“When we opened the College of Pharmacy, we were looking to do things that would impact the profession, but also the community, and one of those was keeping kids local,” Robinson told BusinessWest.

“It’s great to have graduates who want to stay in their backyards. Their hometown is where their head is, where their heart is. It’s where they were raised,” he added. “So if we can get folks from the Springfield area affiliated with Western New England, the thinking is, they’ll want to stay here and practice and hopefully make a difference.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Tree House Brewing Co. Expands Its Horizons

Entrepreneurship Sections

Pour Planning

It’s one of the region’s most unlikely success stories — a brewery that doesn’t distribute its beers beyond the building where they’re crafted, yet has managed to amass a passionate following of enthusiasts who wait in long lines to buy that week’s selections. From humble beginnings in a Brimfield barn, Monson-based Tree House Brewing Co. will make its second big move later this year, into a 55,000-square-foot brewery in Charlton, which will dramatically expand its capacity, raise its profile, and put smiles on the faces of a lot more thirsty people.

It’s called Julius, and it’s a different type of IPA beer.

“Julius is a beer that is near and dear to our heart, both because we love it and because it is the embodiment of our identity: a brewery that makes carefully crafted, brightly flavored, contemplative, and pleasant-to-drink malt beverages,” said Nate Lanier, co-founder and head brewer at Tree House Brewing Co.

Describing it as robustly flavored, with notes of citrus, papaya, and mango, Lanier said Julius is typically available year-round at Tree House’s headquarters on Koran’s Farm in the rolling hills of Monson. “If you’re used to light-beer flavors, drinking a Julius will be a shock to the palate — in the most lovely way imaginable.”

No wonder, then, that the day BusinessWest visited, the line to purchase cans of Julius and other ales stretched a football field’s length from the door of the barn that currently houses the brewery’s entire production and retail space (but not for long; more on that later). In fact, fans surge into the farm’s parking lot and brave those sometimes hour-long lines every time the doors open to the public, like zealous fans who can’t find Tree House brews anywhere else.

Because they can’t.

“We’re 100% sold out of this building, and that is uncommon,” said Dean Rohan, one of the brewery’s three co-founders, along with Lanier and Damien Goudreau. But it’s not strictly by design, Rohan said.

“By Saturday, there is no beer left to put on a truck and bring somewhere. We brew 340 barrels of beer a week, and we sell every single drop of it every single week.”

beer

It was like nothing they’d had before. A lot of the guys out west were making big, hop-forward beers, and when Nate started brewing hop-forward beers, they were what we called ‘drinkable hops’ — they weren’t so bitter and in your face. People who don’t like IPAs say they like our beer.”

But the phenomenon wouldn’t exist were it not for Lanier’s wife, Lauren, who got him started in the craft of home brewing.

“He loved craft beer and would go on pilgrimages to his favorite breweries and stand in line,” Rohan said. “So she bought him a home-brewing kit as a gift. I call her the mother of this place; she started it all.”

The three knew each other through music — they’re all musicians who occasionally played together — but Tree House Brewing Co. was born from a different kind of gathering, when Lanier threw a craft-beer tasting party as his house. Everyone brought favorites, and Lanier tossed three of his own home brews into the mix; when attendees voted, his creations finished first, second, and third among some 25 selections.

That got the three of them talking about investing time and money into making beer together, which they did, in Goudreau’s backyard barn in Brimfield, after getting permission from his wife. In 2012, they applied for and received a license to sell to the public, filling growlers right from the barn.

Tree House Brewing Co. founders (from left) Damien Goudreau, Nate Lanier, and Dean Rohan say the Charlton expansion will create opportunities for growth and perhaps broader distribution.

“Our business plan said maybe if we could get 25 people to come buy our beer, we’d be able to pay off the little loan we took to buy a 12-gallon, half-barrel system,” Rohan said. “Well, those 25 people came the first day, then 50, then 75. From the day we opened our doors, we had more people than we’d expected.”

That’s a story that would be repeated again and again, resulting in a move to Monson two years ago and the ongoing development today of a much larger brewing facility in Charlton. At its heart, it’s a story about the enthusiasm shared among folks who make beer, and those who seek it out and stand in long lines to buy it.

Word of Mouth

The initial response to that tiny brewery in Brimfield — and, really, much of the marketing ever since — was driven by social media, which has long been a fertile communications network for craft brewers. Beer enthusiasts like the idea of hunting down something new and different, and Lanier had already developed a reputation for his beer.

“It was like nothing they’d had before,” Rohan said. “A lot of the guys out west were making big, hop-forward beers, and when Nate started brewing hop-forward beers, they were what we called ‘drinkable hops’ — they weren’t so bitter and in your face. People who don’t like IPAs say they like our beer.”

Unable to meet the demand from people who were driving up to the barn, the partners quickly outgrew the 12-gallon system, and approached the bank for their first big loan. The funds helped purchase a five-barrel brewhouse — a 150-gallon system — from California.

“That was going to be it,” Rohan said. “We were going to be able to make enough beer in that little barn to keep people happy. But we couldn’t do it.”

Again, simply through word of mouth and social media, beer enthusiasts continued to cram into the Brimfield site. Clearly, it was time to find larger digs.

“After about a year and a half in that neighborhood, the neighbors decided it was getting to be too much, having 125 cars driving up their agricultural, residential road in Brimfield, and rightfully so. We didn’t have an inch to grow in that barn anyway, so we came here.”

The lines to buy beer at Tree House often stretch to an hour or more.

The partners built the current brewery — a 7,000-square-foot building housing a 30-barrel brewhouse, which could pump out 13,000 barrels per year — at Koran’s Farm in Monson. During construction, they continued to sell beer out of a little red barn across the street.

“This is where we were going to retire,” Rohan said, adding that, at the very least, the farm would be the framework of a five-year plan. But, a year and a half into that plan, production still wasn’t keeping up with demand.

“We have these plans and goals for the future, and the future arrives much faster than we expect it to,” he went on. “Wait, that’s wrong — we actually expect it now.”

It was in Monson that the long-line phenomenon really took off, he added. “In the dead of winter, on days when the news people were saying, ‘coldest day of the year — stay home, don’t go out’ — we’d have 25 cars in the parking lot an hour or two before we opened.” So he started printing tickets with the line order and passing them out so people could stay warm in their cars and not lose their place.

There are benefits to selling on site only, starting with freshness, as everything patrons carry out has been very recently brewed. As the partners note on their website, people like the convenience of finding a favorite beer at the convenience store, but that convenience comes at a price. “The minute our beer leaves our loving hands, it is subjected to forces that seek to destroy it — temperature fluctuations, ultraviolet light, mistreatment, etc. These forces are especially destructive to the pale, hoppy beers we love so much.”

The no-distribution model hasn’t hindered the company’s recognition; Beer Advocate recently listed 14 of its offerings on a list of 100 favorite beers. Besides the ever-popular Julius, other brews in regular rotation include ‘That’s What She Said,’ a milk stout with elements of chocolate and coffee; ‘Sap,’ a piney IPA originally brewed as a Christmas beer; ‘Green,’ a citrus-heavy IPA with notes of pineapple, tangerine, and orange rind; and ‘Eureka,’ which boasts a delicate bouquet of passionfruit and a slight lemon flavor.

Nate Lanier crafts a brew at Tree House’s headquarters in Monson.

Occasional offerings may include ‘Tornado,’ which Lanier concocted in the aftermath of the June 2011 tornado that ripped through Monson and Brimfield, and features notes of pine, tropical fruit, and citrus; ‘Good Morning,’ which pours black in the glass with a creamy head and offers the flavors of milk chocolate, maple syrup, and coffee; and ‘Double Shot,’ a rich, decadent coffee stout.

Stay Awhile

Those beers and more will soon be brewed in Charlton — specifically, in a 55,000-square-foot brewery on a 68-acre parcel that was most recently considered for a Home Depot warehouse, and before that, a casino. Built with the help of a $7.7 million MassDevelopment bond, the facility will initially boast a 30,000-barrel annual capacity, with the potential to expand to 125,000 barrels. Customers will be able to sample beers, buy and fill growlers, and buy cans of Tree House beer.

“For the first time in our history, we will have a taproom where guests can enjoy pints and enjoy a self-guided tour from a mezzanine level of our new, state-of-the-art brewing facility,” Lanier said. “We were lucky to find an amazing property high on a hill off of Route 20 that will allow guests to explore the grounds and disconnect a bit from the world at large.”

The people who wait in line in Monson typically make their purchases and get back in their cars, as there’s no space inside for socializing. Lanier is excited that Charlton will provide that social space.

“Since our inception, we have never been able to make enough beer to keep up with demand. Charlton will solve that problem and allow us to focus more on curating a communal environment,” he said — a place where beer enthusiasts can sit, enjoy the selections, and pass time with friends.

With the much larger quantities Tree House will be able to produce in Charlton, it may be able to keep public hours every day, as opposed to the four days a week — and maybe 20 total hours — it keeps now. While the Monson facility will remain operational, both for testing new beers and probably a scaled-back retail presence, Charlton will become the main hub, potentially doubling the company’s 22 employees.

“Once we get up and running, we may even do a little bit of distribution,” Rohan said. “There are so many taps in Massachusetts that have been waiting for us to give them a keg since the first month we were open. We’d never be able to get kegs to all those bars and restaurants, and we wouldn’t be anything but hyper-local for the next five to seven years. The closer we keep the beer to us, the fresher it will be.”

He expects the long lines and early arrivals at the new facility as well, but said the phenomenon has grown to be endearing phenomenon. “We’re in awe that some people sit there for hours for no other reason than to be first or second in line.”

In a way, he told BusinessWest, customers have made themselves into a community and made new friendships over their shared passion for craft beer. “We’re seeing upwards of 5,000 people a week coming through the doors, and when I walk out and talk to the people in line — some of them have been here four or five times — I feel like we’re friends.”

equipment

It’s a vibe he, Lanier, and Goudreau try to maintain among their employees as well.

“We want to make sure everyone is happy and friendly and can answer questions and give people what they need. We want this to be more than just a place to come get beer — we want it to be an experience, and a good experience. That’s really important to us, and I think that started from the beginning, when they’d walk into the red barn in Brimfield, put a record on the record player, sit on the couch next to the pot-belly stove, and wait for their beer to get poured. I want to give everyone that vibe here, and I’m hoping that vibe comes back twofold or even tenfold in Charlton.”

Climbing Higher

When the founders first petitioned the state for a brewery license, they had to list a company name, and went through a few rustic-sounding options to match their surroundings.

“We thought maybe Red Barn Brewing, or Brimfield Brewing,” Rohan said. “Well, Damien had this beautiful treehouse in one of the trees right next to the brewery. We realized it had to be Tree House Brewing.”

The company’s logo — a treehouse stylized in a whimsical, flowing manner — has become a common sight on car bumpers throughout the Quaboag region, which he finds gratifying. “I can drive down the road and see the sticker in front of me and know they’re coming from the brewery or have been there. It’s recognizable.”

And it all started with a wife’s gift, a tasting party — and an idea.

“We’re riding a wave that is bigger than any of us imagined, for sure,” Lanier told BusinessWest. “We love Tree House — the beer, the community, the philosophy, and the brand — and our goal every day is to wake up and work our tails off to meet the very high standards we set for ourselves before we ever brewed a beer.”

In short, he concluded, “if the beer is good, and the attitude is right, everything else will fall into place.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Through Vision, Daring, an Entrepreneurial Venture Took Root

Entrepreneurship Sections

Business Is Blooming

Christine Adams combined a long-time love of flowers, design expertise, and an entrepreneurial itch to create a success story in Florence.

Christine Adams tells of a trip she and her husband, Chip, took to the White Mountains in New Hampshire many years ago, and a sign that caught her attention along a scenic hike.

“We walked by this rickety old bridge, and I looked up and saw a sign that said ‘Badger’s Realty,’” she said, adding that the name struck her for some reason. “I said to Chip, ‘that’s going to be the name of my store someday.’ It wasn’t just the name — the look of the building was ratty, and I loved it. I just love rustic. And it just stuck with me.”

Fast-forward to Adams’ current business, Florence-based Badger’s Flowers & Co., where she creates floral arrangements for weddings and other events that are anything but ratty; in fact, she has won awards from WeddingWire and the Knot for her work with clients. But she took a circuitous route to entrepreneurship.

“I was a bookkeeper for an architecture firm in my single days,” she said. After she got married, her husband, a TV producer, wound up traveling quite a bit, and she stayed home with her two children. When they reached school age, she worked part-time — mother’s hours, as she put it — at a local florist for the better part of a decade.

“When the kids went off to college, it was time to reinvent myself,” Adams told BusinessWest, and she again looked to the world of flowers, but as her own boss this time. “I thought, why not try doing this? So, about three years ago, I had a website made, and a friend of a friend told a friend getting married, they called me, and it just slowly started trickling in.”

Helping clients decide on everything from bridal bouquets and boutonnieres to table centerpieces and outdoor arbors, in styles ranging from rustic to garden to classic elegance, Adams has taken her passion for design (she attended Rhode Island School of Design, and holds a degree in business management) and married it — pun intended — to a desire to provide brides and their families with what she calls ‘wow’ moments.

“I love the experience of meeting with people. I’ve had brides, grooms, moms, and dads spend hours here, chatting over coffee or wine,” she said, explaining that she takes on no more than one event per weekend, often traveling to New York or Boston during the week — as well as local flower farms — for some hard-to-find flower or specialty ribbon. “It’s a boutique style of business. I pride myself on bringing something with a specialty touch. I’m always looking at how I can make it a little different.”

Tech Savvier

Interestingly, it wasn’t the floral-design element of Adams’ business that challenged her at first. It was the decidedly 21st-century business models she had to get used to.

“It’s funny — at one point, I noticed I was getting nothing, so I hired a guy to take a look at my website. He said, ‘whoever did your website didn’t fill in your geographic information, so you’re located in New York.’ Since he tweaked it, I started getting hits again.

Flowers come easy for me. My learning curve has been social media and having to learn, at this point in my life, how Instagram works. I met with a marketing consultant, and as soon as I did what she suggested, my visibility doubled.”

“Learning technology and social media is so new to me, but it’s such an integral part of this business, because that’s where everyone goes for their information,” she went on. “Much of my demographic is out of state; I get calls from San Francisco, San Diego — people whose parents live here, or they went to college here, and they’re coming back to get married. I don’t feel like I’m competing with local businesses, with so much of my business coming from out of state.”

She did, however, recently join the Berkshire Wedding Collective, a group of wedding vendors that provides an online information portal for people seeking such services in Western Mass., and also got involved with the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, through which she has taken classes in Google AdWords, Excel, and other business tools.

“Flowers come easy for me. My learning curve has been social media and having to learn, at this point in my life, how Instagram works,” she said, before opening up her account and scrolling through dozens of examples of her work that potential clients can peruse. “I met with a marketing consultant, and as soon as I did what she suggested, my visibility doubled. I wouldn’t have guessed that.”

Christine Adams makes effective use of Instagram to display dozens of photos to inspire clients planning their own weddings.

As someone who was once very shy, business networking is new for her as well. “But at the same time, I can see the benefit, and I’m slowly growing more comfortable.”

It’s the one-on-one sessions with clients where she feels truly at ease, though. It’s in those discussions where she can formulate a vision. Sometimes the budget doesn’t match the wish list, but when everything comes together and the client gets that ‘wow’ feeling, it’s gratifying. “It’s a collaboration, and I want people to be happy.”

She told of a bride from San Diego coming back to Western Mass. to be married near her parents, who live in South Hadley. She loved patriotic colors, but didn’t want a bright, gaudy red, white, and blue design. Adams found a ribbon featuring a motif of American flag colors, but more subdued, and when she showed her the ribbon via Skype — and how it could match with ivory fabric — the client loved it.

That give and take is the heart of the business, but an element she wouldn’t have as much time for if she operated a storefront flower shop rather than working out of her home, a restored 1800s farmhouse that’s been in her husband’s family for five generations. “When you have a flower shop, you can’t take all this time with people.”

Bursting to Life

Adams delights in hard-to-find flowers to pepper arrangements of more traditional choices. “I might hit Boston or New York for those specialty stems that say, ‘wow.’ You don’t need a lot of them. Even few items like that gives it a special look, and really sets it apart.”

The challenge doesn’t always end with the order, however.

“It’s in my contract that Mother Nature is a variable,” she said, recalling one wedding where cafe au lait dahlias were a featured item. When she went to pick them from the wholesaler a few days before the wedding, inclement weather had rotted those particular flowers. But while her heart was racing, she called local farmers and ended up with smaller dahlias that were just as striking, and visited a market in Boston for some other unique pieces. “When I delivered them, there was a ‘wow,’” she said.

Indeed, weather that’s too hot, too wet, or too dry can mess with the best-laid plans, she said, but scrambling to replace an item and still coming up with something impressive is an oddly gratifying experience.

Adams’ satisfaction isn’t priority one, of course; her clients’ happiness is. And the comments on her website testify to that.

“She is truly a floral artist with an eye for design like I have never witnessed in my life,” one bride from Westfield wrote. “She is so extremely talented, but most importantly so extremely passionate about her work, and her clients. When I first saw her stunning work, I was truly taken back. I witnessed her hard work first-hand — the time, effort, and passion she put into every arrangement, like a piece of art.”

Reactions like that provide a ‘wow’ factor of their own.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Commercial Real Estate

Commercial Real Estate Sections

For Sale, for Lease

A listing of available commercial properties

Building Permits

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the months of February and March 2017.

CHICOPEE

Emrullah Durmaz
20 Johnson Road
$58,000 — Build exterior egress canopy

Jick LLC
1535 Memorial Dr.
$60,000 — Remove cladding and replace with metal panels and EIFS system, remove and replace signage, painting

EASTHAMPTON

Autumn Properties LLC
184 Northampton St.
$22,000 — Demolition of office building

Moushabeck Properties Inc.
119-121 Main St.
$3,000 — Install nine replacement windows

EAST LONGMEADOW

Baystate Dental
250 North Main St.
$2.5 million — New commercial building

Eyesight & Surgery Associates
382 North Main St.
$14,980 — Commercial alteration

Powerclean Fitness
45 Baldwin St.
$70,000 — Commercial alteration

GREENFIELD

409 Federal St. LLC
407-409 Federal St.
$1,978 — Fire protection

Greenfield Corporate Center LLC
101 Munson St.
$11,000 — Rework existing fire sprinkler to new tenant office space

Town of Greenfield
125 Federal St.
$1.7 million — Replace windows and doors at Federal Street Elementary School

Mark Valone
319 Wells St.
$1,500 — Outfit temporary space in existing main building

HADLEY

Amherst Development Partners
300 Westgate Center Dr.
$10,950 — Remove one interior non-bearing wall

GNC
344 Russell St.
$9,000 — Shelving and interior tenant buildout

Pearson NCS
300 Venture Way
$135,000 — Toilet room additions and office renovations

LONGMEADOW

Colvest Longmeadow, LLC
471 Longmeadow St.
$29,280 — Demo interior space of former Hampden Bank

Leavitt Family Jewish Home
770 Converse St.
$42,000 — Roof replacement

NORTHAMPTON

American Tower Corp.
327 King St.
$19,865 — Remove three existing antenna panels and replace them with three upgraded panels and related equipment on existing telecommunications tower

Chicopee Kendall, LLC
129 Pleasant St.
$162,500 —Installation of fire sprinkler system

Colvest/Northampton LLC
327 King St.
$732,000 — Tenant fitout for Baystate Health

Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc.
30 Locust St.
$1,263,329 — Create a comprehensive breast center

Gretna Green Development Corp.
118 Conz St.
$5,000 — New built-in express counter in main lobby

Smith College
41 West St.
$2,000 — Repair damaged roof

PALMER

Baystate Wing Hospital
40 Wright St.
$225,000 — Construct new exterior module block site retaining wall

Steve Sathis
1313 Park St.
$500 — Sign installation

SOUTHWICK

King Brothers Decorating Center
615 College Highway
$35,600 — Roofing

SPRINGFIELD

Bridge Hillman LLC
315-333 Bridge St.
$2,000 — Modify existing fire-alarm system

Crown Castle
20 Birnie Ave.
$7,000 — Remove and upgrade six antennas and six remote radio heads on Verizon telecommunications tower

GBS Realty
676 Dickinson St.
$5,150 — Add walls to interior and ceiling, move bathroom in building housing insurance agency and pizzeria

Islazul Realty LLC
2559 Main St.
$208,208 — Convert 4,744 square feet of commercial space to four separate office spaces

Kentucky Fried Chicken
1780 Boston Road
$1,000 — Repair roof

Raj Rayonia
1116 St. James Ave.
$4,179.93 — Install fire-protection system to monitor hood-suppression system

Trinity Methodist Church
361 Sumner Ave.
$10,000 — Remove and replace four existing cellular antennas

UniFirst Corp.
281 Parker St.
$1,412,480 — Entry addition and existing officr renovations

WARE

Charter Foods North LLC
118-124 West St.
$488,000 — Construction of new Taco Bell restaurant with a drive-thru

Give Them Sanctuary Inc.
1 Canal St.
$3,000 — Install Harman P43 pellet stove

WEST SPRINGFIELD

City of West Springfield
39 Golden View
$20,000 — Modify existing telecommunications facility, remove and replace three antennas

Eighty Congress St. LLC
900 Memorial Ave.
$22,160 — Remove wall to enlarge room, paint, carpeting, install mag-lock on fire door

Sears Property Management
1179-1189 Westfield St.
$38,000 — Attic renovation

West Springfield Housing Authority
Grove Street
$48,132 — Replace 21 metal doors, wood frames, and hardware with new fiberglass doors in wood frames

WILBRAHAM

Wilbraham & Monson Academy
43 Faculty St.
$500 — Rebuild deck

Wing Memorial Hospital Corp.
2344 Boston Road
$8,000 — Repairs to wall after vehicle accident

Real Estate Transactions

Departments Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

164 Parmenter Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Peter E. Hyrne
Seller: FNMA
Date: 02/10/17

COLRAIN

64 Stetson Brothers Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: James L. Martin
Seller: Carl J. Michels
Date: 02/14/17

DEERFIELD

45 Graves St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Lisa L. Herringshaw
Seller: Lorralyn Fitzgerald
Date: 02/10/17

16 Settright Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $134,059
Buyer: Anthony D. Martino
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/06/17

GREENFIELD

482 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Gerald J. Farmer
Seller: Joan D. Richardson
Date: 02/10/17

473 Main St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: David B. Russell
Seller: Antebellum Beauty LLC
Date: 02/06/17

40 Union St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Robert W. Killay
Seller: Erich Price
Date: 02/17/17

MONTAGUE

27 Industrial Blvd.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $1,710,000
Buyer: River Bluff Realty LLC
Seller: Miller Falls Road LLC
Date: 02/14/17

38 Prospect St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $136,500
Buyer: Steven G. Williams
Seller: Louis S. Corbiere
Date: 02/07/17

19 Unity St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $286,534
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Rene Moreno
Date: 02/06/17

ORANGE

150 Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $116,500
Buyer: Michael Shaw
Seller: FHLM
Date: 02/10/17

170 Wheeler Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Its A. Pleasure Training
Seller: Gary E. Haueisen
Date: 02/06/17

ROWE

43 Middletown Hill Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Dennis W. Kuehl
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 02/06/17

SUNDERLAND

55 Montague Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Tessa L. Doubleday
Seller: Mark A. Felix
Date: 02/17/17

WENDELL

22 Checkerberry Lane
Wendell, MA 01379
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: Abigail R. Shapiro
Seller: Charles Bado
Date: 02/08/17

174 West St.
Wendell, MA 01379
Amount: $169,500
Buyer: Michael L. Skerry
Seller: Mark A. Dearborn
Date: 02/07/17

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

325 Adams St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Nicholas J. Dion
Seller: Roger L. Perruse
Date: 02/15/17

85 Alhambra Circle North
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $179,100
Buyer: Jonathon Mach
Seller: Shane Dunbar
Date: 02/14/17

74 Broz Terrace
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Briana M. Solek
Seller: Radwilowicz, Karen, (Estate)
Date: 02/08/17

75 Highland St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Roy E. Tatro
Seller: Gary A. Polacco
Date: 02/13/17

21 Joseph St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Peter & Anna Montessi LT
Seller: Julia Montessi
Date: 02/06/17

BLANDFORD

Bassett Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aaron Newton
Seller: Christine Coe
Date: 02/10/17

Pomeroy Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aaron Newton
Seller: Christine Coe
Date: 02/10/17

Strong St.
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aaron Newton
Seller: Christine Coe
Date: 02/10/17

BRIMFIELD

82 1st St.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Amber M. Ditomasso
Seller: Sharon S. Carty
Date: 02/14/17

CHICOPEE

138 Artisan St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Zachary E. Nummy
Seller: Vasily Morozov
Date: 02/17/17

23 Bessette Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Andrew R. Serrenho
Seller: Lynne M. Serrenho
Date: 02/10/17

32 Felix St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $139,300
Buyer: Laura M. Cloutier
Seller: Pauline C. Hamel
Date: 02/14/17

555 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $177,400
Buyer: Mark J. Arcott
Seller: Max Pienkos
Date: 02/07/17

52 Julia Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $184,900
Buyer: Alexander Sotomayor
Seller: Leclerc Properties LLC
Date: 02/10/17

97 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $139,200
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Anthony M. Windoloski
Date: 02/07/17

235 Meadow St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: HRES Meadow LLC
Seller: Michael Robare
Date: 02/13/17

749-755 New Ludlow Road
Chicopee, MA 01075
Amount: $857,915
Buyer: Gen 2 Realty LLC
Seller: SDK Realty Corp.
Date: 02/17/17

45 Stebbins St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Diane M. Fernandes
Seller: Scanlon, Elaine A., (Estate)
Date: 02/15/17

135 Stebbins St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Donald R. Chapdelaine
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 02/08/17

EAST LONGMEADOW

34 Anne St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Natalya Kuznetsova
Seller: FNMA
Date: 02/06/17

132 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Shane R. Dunbar
Seller: Christopher D. McKinnon
Date: 02/14/17

18 Woodlawn St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Jeremy Douglas
Seller: Liberty Home Equity
Date: 02/17/17

GRANVILLE

215 Silver St.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $232,500
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Charles A. Fortin
Date: 02/07/17

HAMPDEN

179 Allen St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Norman W. Mackinnon
Date: 02/07/17

9 Brookside Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: PD Developments LLC
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 02/13/17

135 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Fletcher & Maple LLC
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 02/14/17

234 South Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Richard J. Bertheaud
Seller: Isham, Daniel R., (Estate)
Date: 02/17/17

HOLLAND

65 Union Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $138,600
Buyer: Allen J. Czamara
Seller: FNMA
Date: 02/16/17

HOLYOKE

5 Central Park Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Brian W. Anderson
Seller: David F. Magri
Date: 02/06/17

Country Club Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aaron Newton
Seller: Christine Coe
Date: 02/10/17

17-19 Gates St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $133,500
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Ayten Mesecher
Date: 02/10/17

5 Glen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Danielle M. Ryan
Seller: Frances M. Bach
Date: 02/10/17

650 High St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: 650 High Street LLC
Seller: Della Ripa Real Estate
Date: 02/16/17

79 Memorial Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Robert E. Dennison
Date: 02/14/17

1238 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Marie S. Lauzon
Date: 02/15/17

1965-1967 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $232,900
Buyer: Andrew M. Vega
Seller: Jessica Laureano
Date: 02/10/17

19 Norwood Terrace
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Daniel A. Millette
Date: 02/10/17

402 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Yamil Acosta
Date: 02/16/17

Southampton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aaron Newton
Seller: Christine Coe
Date: 02/10/17

LONGMEADOW

85 Franklin Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: 1066 Granby Road LLC
Seller: FNMA
Date: 02/07/17

124 Franklin Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Robert H. Dunn
Seller: Zevidah Vickery
Date: 02/17/17

225 Twin Hills Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Anthony
Seller: Jon P. Dana
Date: 02/17/17

214 Wimbleton Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Lisa A. Martin
Seller: Alissa Teta-Bachelor
Date: 02/07/17

MONSON

56 May Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Jesse L. Allen
Seller: Peter J. Ross
Date: 02/15/17

165 Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Jennifer Lamotte
Seller: Jessica L. Allen
Date: 02/15/17

MONTGOMERY

53 Old House Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $242,250
Buyer: Peter King
Seller: Alfred J. Albano
Date: 02/14/17

PALMER

41 Forest St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Kari A. Gracie
Seller: David A. Carter
Date: 02/13/17

68 Jim Ash Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Jacob P. Stokowski
Seller: Stacey Vogel
Date: 02/07/17

38 Riverview Pkwy.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Adam V. Hageman
Seller: Edward Hageman
Date: 02/15/17

SOUTHWICK

10 Dairy Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Kevin Meder
Seller: James M. Papai
Date: 02/07/17

SPRINGFIELD

97 Amore Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $173,500
Buyer: Andrea Liranzo
Seller: Saroun C. Ouk
Date: 02/07/17

56 Balis St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Thu T. Vo
Seller: Suong T. Vo
Date: 02/13/17

784 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Argenis Ramos
Seller: Joseph A. Whitton Properties
Date: 02/17/17

17-19 Beauchamp St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Ana C. Quiles
Seller: Forest Beach LLC
Date: 02/13/17

40 Bissell St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Flagstar Bank FSB
Seller: Hannah A. Wachira
Date: 02/07/17

40 Bulat Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Felecia Griffin
Seller: Carlos A. Vitorino
Date: 02/07/17

78 Chalmers St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Kiet T. Quach
Seller: Eric L. Johnson
Date: 02/15/17

64 Church St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $134,900
Buyer: Arnaldo Gomez-Lugo
Seller: Saw Construction LLC
Date: 02/17/17

154 Darling St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Jose R. Marquez-Vargas
Seller: Johaim Santiago-Ayala
Date: 02/10/17

36 Frontenac St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $119,500
Buyer: Aimee L. Reyes
Seller: Adam J. Wheeler
Date: 02/14/17

74 Gresham St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $236,205
Buyer: HSBC Bank USA
Seller: Charles R. Gordon
Date: 02/07/17

94 Harmon Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Nicorn LLC
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 02/17/17

63 Hope St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $131,398
Buyer: 63 Hope Street RT
Seller: NSP Residential LLC
Date: 02/15/17

Ingersoll Grove (ES)
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Regina B. Tillery-Jenkins
Seller: Charles R. Nathan
Date: 02/17/17

41-43 Langdon St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Enrique L. Santiago
Seller: Marisabel Agosto
Date: 02/15/17

42 Lumae St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $152,310
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: David M. Lafountain
Date: 02/14/17

116 Narragansett St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Melvin Oquendo
Seller: Thomas R. Connors
Date: 02/10/17

54 Oak Hollow Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Corliss Watson
Seller: Dean T. Godek
Date: 02/14/17

1349 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Samuel M. Duboise
Seller: Willis M. Schoof
Date: 02/17/17

103 Spikenard Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $147,500
Buyer: Elvin Blanco
Seller: Kari-Ann Gracie
Date: 02/10/17

374 Springfield St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Pedro Perez
Seller: FNMA
Date: 02/08/17

93 Sunapee St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Kyle Lorenz
Seller: Leonel C. Pereira
Date: 02/06/17

135 Tamarack Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Michael Donato
Seller: Jeffrey A. Kiratsoulis
Date: 02/10/17

547 Tiffany St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Deng FT 2017
Seller: Nu Way Homes Inc.
Date: 02/06/17

37-39 Virginia St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Dashira S. Torres
Seller: Matteo Maida
Date: 02/10/17

90 Welland Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: William N. Shipwash
Seller: Domingos D. Fernandes
Date: 02/16/17

1500 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $143,250
Buyer: Elton W. Miller
Seller: James Santaniello
Date: 02/10/17

115 Woodside Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Natasha Polite
Seller: Enid Astacio
Date: 02/10/17

1355-1357 Worcester St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Chris Graham
Seller: Valiantsin Zhmaidziak
Date: 02/15/17

WESTFIELD

Angelica Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: CIL Realty Of Mass Inc.
Seller: Angelica Development LLC
Date: 02/07/17

136 Elm St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Westfield Bank
Seller: Chapin-Bailey LLC
Date: 02/17/17

6 Evergreen Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $244,800
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Richard P. Brown
Date: 02/07/17

88 Highland View St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Sergey Yusenko
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/17/17

100 Honey Pot Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: William J. Brown
Seller: Nardone, Anthony J., (Estate)
Date: 02/15/17

17 Jeanne Marie Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $408,545
Buyer: Joseph H. Potts
Seller: Belco Construction Co. Inc.
Date: 02/10/17

167 Joseph Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Tiffani Huynh
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/13/17

4 Linda Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Patriot Living LLC
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 02/17/17

30 Nicholas Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $365,500
Buyer: Dale Villar
Seller: Richard W. Yerdon
Date: 02/17/17

66 Orchard St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $206,500
Buyer: Candice S. Olszewski
Seller: David L. Weatherhead
Date: 02/15/17

461 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Levgenii Gusiev
Seller: FNMA
Date: 02/10/17

91 Wildflower Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $381,500
Buyer: Erin E. Gauthier
Seller: Robert G. Hoffman
Date: 02/17/17

WILBRAHAM

6 Brooklawn Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $120,277
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Olga S. Sears
Date: 02/14/17

7 Pidgeon Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Jered S. Sasen
Seller: Scott Barrus
Date: 02/10/17

8 Severyn St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Bridgette Adams
Seller: Matthew S. Barkyoumb
Date: 02/10/17

WEST SPRINGFIELD

89 Baldwin St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Zak Smith
Seller: Chesapeake Holdings
Date: 02/07/17

50 Belle Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $156,450
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Tracy R. Tolbert
Date: 02/16/17

100 Virginia Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Robert J. Colson
Seller: Frances E. Demont
Date: 02/10/17

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

235 East Hadley Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: German O. Cruz-Urias
Seller: Florence M. Boynton
Date: 02/07/17

BELCHERTOWN

2 Rimrock Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Kenneth Line
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 02/08/17

CUMMINGTON

24 Main St.
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Chrisoula I. Roumeliotis
Seller: Richard M. Zaaft
Date: 02/15/17

EASTHAMPTON

1 Burt St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aaron Newton
Seller: Christine Coe
Date: 02/10/17

Burt St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aaron Newton
Seller: Christine Coe
Date: 02/10/17

30 Lyman St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Thomas B. Stone
Seller: Nancy D. Gwinner
Date: 02/17/17

10-22 Nashawannuck St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $2,362,500
Buyer: Laurel Ridge Apartments
Seller: Pleasant Realty Apts. LLP
Date: 02/17/17

Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aaron Newton
Seller: Christine Coe
Date: 02/10/17

Strong St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aaron Newton
Seller: Christine Coe
Date: 02/10/17

GOSHEN

41 Main St.
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $158,500
Buyer: Hilltown Community Development
Seller: Goshen Cong Church
Date: 02/16/17

GRANBY

92 Kendall St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Johaim Santiago-Ayala
Seller: William Sullivan
Date: 02/13/17

66 Lyman St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Michael A. Sicard
Seller: James E. Downing
Date: 02/10/17

32 Pleasant St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: Cassandra M. Os
Seller: Michael A. Sicard
Date: 02/10/17

206 School St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Kurissa Stefaniw
Seller: Harold Woodworth
Date: 02/17/17

HADLEY

88 Comins Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Joseph J. Czajkowski
Seller: Czjakowski FT
Date: 02/10/17

28 Middle St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: James H. Wallace
Seller: Donald R. Dion
Date: 02/17/17

HATFIELD

6 Prospect St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $243,407
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Edward J. McCarthy
Date: 02/06/17

HUNTINGTON

15 East Main St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $151,900
Buyer: David J. Prats
Seller: Gary E. Ellinger
Date: 02/10/17

57 Old Chester Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jeffrey R. Jorritsma
Seller: Laura Shubert
Date: 02/13/17

7 Rockybrook Dr.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $174,800
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Frank R. Ortiz
Date: 02/08/17

NORTHAMPTON

99 Blackberry Lane
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Isaac C. Fleisher
Seller: Barbara B. King RET
Date: 02/08/17

132 High St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jonathan S. McFadden
Seller: Lisa S. Bachand
Date: 02/15/17

Holyoke St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Valley Community Development Corp.
Seller: Gail M. Labarge
Date: 02/08/17

17 Mountain St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $250,500
Buyer: Dawn J. Striker
Seller: Susan E. Walker
Date: 02/06/17

256 Pleasant St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Valley Community Development Corp.
Seller: Gail M. Labarge
Date: 02/08/17

20 Rockland Heights Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Norma Roche
Seller: David S. Clark
Date: 02/10/17

227 South St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Black Sheep Development
Seller: Northampton Vet Clinic
Date: 02/15/17

101 Vernon St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Serena Kabat-Zinn
Seller: Julie E. Hooks
Date: 02/13/17

Westhampton Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: City Of Northampton
Seller: JPST LLC
Date: 02/06/17

PLAINFIELD

372 West Main St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Duane B. Meehan
Seller: Seth Martin
Date: 02/10/17

SOUTH HADLEY

82 Abbey St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $169,500
Buyer: Sokharun Yim
Seller: Eric T. Cestero
Date: 02/13/17

14 Benger Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $161,500
Buyer: Stephen A. Romeo
Seller: Javeria Mir
Date: 02/17/17

28 Bridge St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Katie M. Malloy
Seller: Kevin Malloy
Date: 02/13/17

43 Lexington Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $180,500
Buyer: Jonathan D. Trudeau
Seller: Alfred J. Albano
Date: 02/10/17

749 New Ludlow Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $857,915
Buyer: Gen 2 Realty LLC
Seller: SDK Realty Corp.
Date: 02/17/17

13 Normandy Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Diana A. Steward
Seller: Katherine L. Bechtold
Date: 02/17/17

9 Overlook Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Adam C. Baker
Seller: Andrzej Rochalski
Date: 02/08/17

8 Skinner Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Joseph G. Lugo
Seller: Gelinas, Bruce P., (Estate)
Date: 02/17/17

SOUTHAMPTON

Burt St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aaron Newton
Seller: Christine Coe
Date: 02/10/17

377 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: James B. Nutter
Date: 02/06/17

44 Line St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Eric Gralenski
Date: 02/16/17

73 Middle Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $322,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Niejadlik
Seller: Robert G. Orlando
Date: 02/10/17

Pomeroy Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aaron Newton
Seller: Christine Coe
Date: 02/10/17

1 Strong St.
Southampton, MA 01027
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aaron Newton
Seller: Christine Coe
Date: 02/10/17

Woodmar Lane #D
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Margaret J. Szostak
Seller: Chester J. Kellogg
Date: 02/17/17

WARE

14 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $152,040
Buyer: Jonathan D. Meyer
Seller: Schworer, Larry B., (Estate)
Date: 02/17/17

10 Clifford Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Maximilian C. Delpino
Seller: John A. Chabot
Date: 02/15/17

274 Monson Turnpike Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: John V. James
Seller: Sandra C. Ryder
Date: 02/07/17

32 Park Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Samantha Gancorz
Seller: Suzanne Gomes
Date: 02/14/17

15 School St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Deutsche Babk
Seller: Festus N. Kinvanjui
Date: 02/16/17

WESTHAMPTON

22 Main Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Douglas P. Ferrante
Seller: Jessie M. Cole TR
Date: 02/08/17

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Binette, Carl E.
125 Simonds St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/14/17

Blondin, Eric John
242 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/14/17

Bonneville, Rhonda G.
52 Regency Park Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/17

Bouvier, Bernard J.
44 Day St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/03/17

Burnias, Manuel C.
11 Flynt Ave.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/02/17

Deanne Worldwide Ventures
Pfister, Deanne J.
111 Adelaide Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/17

Deauseault, Kelly Anne
20 Boulay Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/07/17

Diaz, Starling N.
a/k/a Diaz Agramonte, Starling N.
101 Lowell St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/17

Downer, Edward Robert
103 Cottage St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/17

Fernandez, Edgardo L.
31 Delaware Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/07/17

Gamache, Timothy M.
23 Cypress St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/17

Grabowski, Timothy Matthew
24 Cedar Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/08/17

Hafner, Robert C.
Hafner, Melodie A.
181 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/13/17

J&M All Season Work
Mikalunas, John Richard
Mikalunas, Laurie Ann
31 Maine Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/17

Kenneway, John F.
184 Podunk Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/15/17

Kline, Bryan Michael
18F Pleasant St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/07/17

Langone, Christine M.
16 North St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/04/17

Lindberg, Pamela Kristine
a/k/a Jordan, Pamela
333 Tremont St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/13/17

Lucia, Deborah Ann
538 East St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/17

Macaluso, Janet J.
P.O. Box 813
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/08/17

Maldonado, Justin
Maldonado, Ana
1292 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/14/17

McCabe, Michael T.
56 Perrine Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/09/17

McHendry-Biron, Jennifer Lee
80 Hadley Village Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/17

Melemed, Amanda L.
48 School St., Apt. C
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/17

Morales, Andres E.
776 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/02/17

Oasis 7 Pictures
North/South Pictures
Hahn, William J.
PO Box 704
Monterey, MA 01245
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/17

Patterson, Timothy P.
28 Anzio Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/07/17

Perez, Angel G.
125 Rochford Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/15/17

Podsiadlo, Virginia C.
62 Fairview Ave., Apt. 1
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/17

Roncarati, Philip L.
17 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/17

Saez, Ana L.
11 Bayonne St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/17

Sakowicz, Catherine E.
a/k/a Sakowicz, Katie
a/k/a Winston, Catherine E.
605 Berkshire Trail
Cummington, MA 01026
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/17

Stowell, Richard A.
9A Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/14/17

Suzor, Louis P.
22 Salli Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/06/17

Thompson, Scuelin W.
a/k/a Forde, Scuelin N.
24 Old Brook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/17

Toczek, Lana A.
99 Ducharme Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/17

Walkowski, James A.
55 Gregory Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/04/17

Weise, Melissa D.
17 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/17

Western Mass Off-Road Rec
LaCombe, Eric
P.O. Box 1245
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/14/17

Winn, John C.
3 Hedgerow Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/17

Doing Business As Certificates

DBA Certificates Departments

The following business certificates and trade names were issued or renewed during the months of February and March 2017.

AGAWAM

J.N. Duquette Construction
215 Barry St.
Jean Duquette

NewsMatch.com
200 Silver St., Suite 201
Kenneth Vincunas

Vintage Couture Interiors
525 Springfield St.
Crystal Dukes

Vintage PTS Inc.
40 Bowles Road
Christopher Bignell

AMHERST

Gil’s Auto Repair & Performance Inc.
40 Belchertown Road
Gilberto Rivas

The Red Barn of Hampshire College
893 West St.
Mike McKenna

Terrill Productions
629 Main St., Apt. 2
Alex Terrill

CHICOPEE

Absolute Motors Inc.
245 East St.
Mahmoud Awkal

ACM Décor
32 Harding St.
Tatyana Rotar

Day Lumber Co.
70 Orange St.
Samuel Fortsch

Have a Heart Dog Training
59 College St.
Kelli-Marie Malke

Kin’s Auto Glass & Repair
628 Center St.
Joaquin Rodriguez

EASTHAMPTON

Aldeia
116 Pleasant St., Studio 232
Lillianna Pereira

Baystate Boards
6 Cood Dr.
Joseph LaBonte

Bulldog Transport & Recycling
21 Wright St.
David Meunier

D & L Cleaning
25 Franklin St., Apt. C
Daniel Bond

Haircuts by Jessy at Lisa’s Hair Shop
54 A Northampton St.
Jessy Kaminski

Head Ease
49 Union St.
Nicole McCorkindale

John Brelsford Psychotherapy
123 Union St., Suite 204
John Brelsford

Liberty Tax Service
53 Union St.
Saqib Tasneem

EAST LONGMEADOW

B & L Landscape
219 Kibbe Road
Brian Booth

Embrace Home Loans
48 Center Square
Embrace Home Loans

Frank’s Auto Service
528 North Main St.
Frank Vecchiarelli

The Salon at Bluebird Estates
1 Appleblossom Lane
Mary Rosso

GREENFIELD

All About the Promo
13 Cedar St.
Susan Brulotte

Amy’s Hair Salon
466 Main St.
Amy-Jo Kostanski

LenSocial
298 Deerfield St.
Celinda Scott

Montague Webworks
20 River St.
Montague Webworks Inc.

Spiritual Counseling
221 Main St.
Cheri Evans

HADLEY

Simmons Masonry, LLC
5 Cemetery Road
Greg Simmons

STC
269 Bay Road
Soccer Tournament Centers, LLC

Tiny House, Giant Lif.com
204 River Dr.
Susan Kuc

Verizon Wireless
360 Russell St.
Cellco Partnership

HAMPDEN

West One International Inc.
160 Chapin Road
Brent Bertelli

HOLYOKE

G & M Enterprises
740 High St., Suite 2
Mark Feinbein

Holyoke Kenpo and Fitness
208 Race St.
Lizabeth Rodriguez

Journeys #1470
50 Holyoke St., F-389
Robert Dennis, et al

Rosa de Saron Creation
223 Maple St.
Myriam Diaz, Jorge Diaz

West on Jade Photography
79 George St.
Juliet Cannici

LUDLOW

A E D Moving and Enterprises
41 Bruni Ave.
Angelo DiRosa, Ewa DiRosa

A. Martins & Sons Construction Inc.
679 Moore St.
Antonio Martins

John’s Corner
204 Sewall St.
Tony Esoo

Meadowbrook Shopping Center
7-265 Fuller St.
Elizabeth Salvador

Mill’s Tavern & Grille
14 Worcester St.
Paulo Marques

Renaissance Advisory Services, LLC
733 Chapin St., Suite 202
Werner Maiwald

Sosa Barber Shop
85 East St.
Antonio Sosa

T Fiorentino Roofing
201 Cady St.
Thomas Fiorentino

NORTHAMPTON

Andy’s Spaceworks
142 Riverside Dr.
Ann Dollard

Electric Eye Records
52 Main St.
Andrew Crespo

Grace Notes Doula Services
21 Maple Ave.
Emma Roderick

HealthLens Inc.
378 Pleasant St.
Joyce Miga

Krantz Wellness
92 Main St.
Stefanie Krantz

Laladales
33 Aldrich St.
Margaret Robbins, Thomas Riddell

The Living Art Studio
219 Main St.
Scot Padgett

Northampton School of Dance
141 Damon Road
Jennifer Peterson

PALMER

Palmer Agway
1515 Park St.
Stacey Kelly, Brian Kelly

Trio Salon at Images
1207 South Main St.
Karen Kozlik

SOUTHWICK

Backcountry Tackle
13 Ed Holcomb Road
Nathan Dudek

Housefly Aerials
11 Ham Hill Road
Todd Servis

SPRINGFIELD

Ackilli’s Dance Studio
481 Carew St.
Linda Ackilli

Art for the Soul Gallery
235 State St.
Rosemary Woods

Belmont Human Resources
465 Belmont Ave.
Subash Majhi

Charles Buy N Sell
29 Verge St.
Carlos Pena

Clip & Go Barber Shop
2625 P Main St.
Ronald Lopez

Dupre Finish Carpentry
13 Delano Dr.
Louis Dupre

Everything Window Tint
100 Lucerne Road
Victor Delgado

Garcia Deli Mini Market
142 Dickinson St.
Darlin Dionicio

Hamid Hallums
233 Center St.
Hamid Hallums

Ike’s Maple Street Deli
155 Maple St.
Isaac Alvarez

Infinite Interpretations
117 Bremen St.
Melanie Daly

London Monet Salon & Spa
475 Sumner Ave.
LaTonya Renee

Ludenberg Store Inc.
349 Allen St.
Sawkat Wally

Maple Mart
155 Maple St.
Shamin Qureshe

Milan Menswear
1655 Boston Road
Ahmed Mostafa

Noor Mini Mart
431 White St.
Yaser Abughiad

People’s Dental, P.C.
239 Bridge St.
Craig Saltzman

Real McKoy Trucking LLC
155 Laconia St.
Mark McKoy

Rich Herbert Law
413 Main St.
Rich Herbert

Sherwin-Williams Co.
670 Boston Road
Paul Koch

T W Construction
986 Berkshire Ave.
Timothy Walsh

Thanh Thuy Fashion & Video
407 Dickinson St.
Yen Nguyen

U.N.I.T.Y.
685 State St.
Vyeluv Nembhard

Zyana’s Market
11 Dorset St.
Jorge Perez

WARE

Healthy Paws Lifestyle
40 East Main St.
Robin Bujnis

M & R Concentrates
54 Greenwich Plains Road
Lori Sinclair, Megan Sinclair, Ryan Sinclair

WESTFIELD

Bill’s Repair Service Inc.
530 Pochassic Road
Bill’s Repair Service Inc.

Center City Arts Space
62 School St. East
Jonathan Adams

Easter Touch Bodywork
79 Main St.
Douglas Cotton

Edward Jones
20 Elm St., Suite A
Edward Jones

Kirby Productions
77 Mill St., Suite 112
Alexander Liptak

Safety Restore Inc.
45 Meadow St.
Artem Martynyuk

Yola’s Caring Touch Massage
10 C Union Ave.
Jolanta Abramczyk

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Alterations Unlimited
197 Union St.
Trindade Agostinho

Carol at Debron’s Salon
242 Westfield St.
Carol McGurn

Elm’s Cleaners & Expert Alterations
245 Elm St.
Urzula Matysiak

Kaboom Booth
130 Elm St.
Josue Jimenez

On the Border
33 Border Way
OTB Acquisition LLC

Paper Delivery Services
41 Irving St.
Yelisei Rakhubenko

Quality Renovations
74 Elm St.
Leah McCarthy

Restless Auto Repair
11 Lowell St.
Emmanuel Soto

WILBRAHAM

Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services
5 Lodge Lane
Zbigniew Kielczewski

CSR Lab
4 Briar Cliff Dr.
Phillip Clawson

Daisy Door LLC
2040 Boston Road
Samantha Macero, Daniel Macero

East Coast Design Services, LLC
8 Bruuer Ave.
Matthew Blanchard

KDT Associates
9 Nokomis Road
Kevin Magilc

Papa Gino’s Inc.
1876 Boston Road
Linda Bythrow

Reliable Insurance Agency
2133 Boston Road, Unit 7
Cynthia Lajzer

Incorporations

Departments Incorporations

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

AMHERST

Hands for Life Amherst Corp., 462 Main St., Amherst, MA 01002. Breanna Werme, 1703 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Nonprofit organization whose purpose is to provide natural health care through chiropractic along with educational programs designed around wellness and prevention for less-fortunate people.

CHICOPEE

First Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry Inc., 10 Harvey St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Nicolette R. Meola, 64 Myrtle St., Weymouth, MA 02189. Nonprofit organization designed to promote a general interest in the history of the Civil War.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Healthy Choice Vending Inc., 62 Pembroke Terrace, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Tracy L. Martin, same. Own and operate healthy choice vending machines.

INDIAN ORCHARD

DNA Corp., 1295 Worcester St., Indian Orchard, MA 01151. Orlando Ovalles, 67 Brown Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040. Real estate.

LONGMEADOW

Hampshire County Light Sport Flying Club Inc., 95 Glenbrook Lane, Longmeadow, MA 01106. William I. Morey Jr., same. Nonprofit organization whose purpose is to own, lease and maintain one or more aircrafts for educational, transportation and general use of its members or their families to carry on all businesses and activities.

LUDLOW

Fastlane Transport Inc., 99 Southwood Dr., Ludlow, MA 01056. Lyubov Titar, same. Transportation company.

PITTSFIELD

Fahey Home Improvement Inc., 82 Wendall Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Theresa Fahey, 36 Pinecone St., Middle Island, NY 11953. Chimney cleaning and repairs.

SPRINGFIELD

Enuff Inc., 97 Hadley St., Springfield, MA 01118. Veronica McNair, same. Nonprofit organization whose purpose is to advance the public interest by providing social services and access to resources for underprivileged, at-risk members of the community, including those involved in the criminal justice system and recovering addicts.

WARE

Charles River Farmers’ Market Association Inc., 3684 Greenwich Road, Ware, MA 01082. Marie Louise Hills, 15 Worcester Road, Hollis, NH 03049. Nonprofit organization whose purpose is to operate and promote a farmer’s market in the city of Cambridge.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Cretecrew Concrete Service Inc., 20 Warren St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Yevgeniy Y. Rudenko, same. Concrete contractor.

Del Composites Inc., 410 Elm St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Victor Archakov, same. Manufacturing of composite aircraft parts.

Briefcase

Briefcase Departments

Massachusetts Tops U.S. News Ranking of States

BOSTON — The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been named the best overall state in U.S. News & World Report’s inaugural report. This best-state ranking evaluates all 50 states in various categories, with Massachusetts ranked the top overall state, first in healthcare, second in education, and among the top 10 for economy and crime and corrections. Massachusetts was recognized for having the most accessible healthcare and is ranked third for pre-K through grade-12 education. “Massachusetts is a great place to live, work, and raise a family because of the strength and character of all those who call the Commonwealth home,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “Everyone should be proud that Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in healthcare access and public education for all citizens, and our administration will continue to build on these accomplishments to bring more economic success to every corner of Massachusetts.” Massachusetts ranked well above the national average as number one in enrollment for Medicare Advantage plans, higher-education educational attainment, and college readiness, and number two in patents granted and populations with fast download speed.

Connecticut River Watershed Council Applauds Clean-water Legislation

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker recently introduced legislation that — if signed into law along with his budget proposal to begin increasing staffing at the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) — will start a several-year process of rebuilding and significantly changing the state’s clean-water program. The immediate focus of the announced legislation is to begin the process of delegating Clean Water Act permitting, enforcement, and compliance authority to the state. Massachusetts is currently one of three states in the country that does not have this authority. “The Connecticut River Watershed Council supports creating a top-notch water-quality program that administers the federal Clean Water Act at the Mass. DEP. The governor’s budget proposal combined with this legislation is a first step to begin creating such a program,” said CRWC Executive Director Andrew Fisk. “We stand ready to work with the administration and the Legislature to enact additional legislation that will create a program based on strong and achievable standards, timely and fair permitting, robust enforcement, and widely available technical assistance.” The Connecticut River Watershed Council works to protect the watershed from source to sea by collaborating, educating, organizing, restoring, and intervening to preserve its health for generations to come.

Survey: Most Businesses That Chose Massachusetts Would Do So Again

WATERTOWN — A large majority of companies that chose Massachusetts as a place to expand their business would do it again, primarily based on its innovative economy, industry clusters, and skilled workforce, according to “Choosing Massachusetts for Business: Key Factors in Location Decision Making,” an 18-month study commissioned by MassEcon, a non-partisan economic-development organization, and conducted by the UMass Donahue Institute’s Economic and Public Policy Research group. A statewide survey of businesses that had expanded within Massachusetts found that more than three out of four (77%) would choose to locate or expand here again, if faced with the same decision, and 64% rated the state as a “good” or “very good” place to do business. Nearly all of the surveyed companies (96%) cited the state’s high-quality workforce as a key factor in choosing Massachusetts. According to survey respondents, the top three strengths of doing business in Massachusetts were workforce, superior industry clusters, and the community environment. “This report is a valuable tool for us to use to measure our successes in creating a business environment that supports employer growth and uncover opportunities to strengthen collaboration across the state to help our cities and towns increase jobs and investment,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “I look forward to the solutions that we can implement with our partners across business, nonprofit and government sectors to improve the business environment for the benefit of all Massachusetts residents.” The comprehensive study was drawn from a multi-faceted survey and in-depth interviews of nearly 90 companies that had expanded or relocated within Massachusetts over the past 10 years. “We are heartened by the validation of Massachusetts as an outstanding location for business expansion,” said Susan Houston, executive director of MassEcon, “but equally important, this study tells us that we can’t be complacent. For Massachusetts to maintain — and grow — its leadership position, we must continue to nurture our key assets and address the challenges that could undermine our economic competitiveness.”

Pioneer Valley Home Sales Down Slightly in January

SPRINGFIELD — The Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley reported that single-family home sales in January were down 0.6% in the region compared to the same time last year. The median price was up 5.9% to $195,000. In Franklin County, sales were up 2.9%, while the median price rose 8.2%. In Hampden County, sales were down 11.4%, while the median price was up 0.6%. And in Hampshire County, home sales rose by 41.3%, while the median price fell by 1.9%.

Commonwealth Adds 13,000 Jobs in January

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate increased to 3.2% in January from the revised December rate of 3.1%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday. The preliminary job estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicate Massachusetts added 13,000 jobs in January. Over-the-month job gains occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities; financial activities; construction; leisure and hospitality; education and health services; information; and government. From January 2016 to January 2017, BLS estimates Massachusetts has added 65,100 jobs. The January state unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate of 4.8% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Massachusetts continues to experience low levels of unemployment with the largest year-over-year percentage gains in jobs in the construction, education, and health services sectors. We remain focused on fostering an employment environment where businesses can grow and create jobs while having access to workers with the skills and training needed to fill them,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker II said. The labor force increased by 1,600 from 3,561,700 in December, as 9,800 more residents were employed and 8,200 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped 1.1% from 4.3% in January 2016. There were 40,400 fewer unemployed people over the year compared to January 2016. The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — increased to 64.9% over the month. The labor-force participation rate over the year has decreased 0.1% compared to January 2016. The largest private-sector percentage job gains over the year were in construction; education and health services; financial activities; professional, scientific, and business services; and leisure and hospitality.

State Expands Residential Substance-use Treatment Programs for Women

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration recently announced it is awarding contracts to programs in Pittsfield, Lowell, and Salisbury to support and expand residential substance-use-disorder treatment for women in Massachusetts. The contracts will fund 60 long-term, residential treatment slots that, when operational, will provide services to approximately 240 women each year. “The opioid and heroin epidemic has tragically impacted too many people and communities in our Commonwealth, and we are committed to helping those struggling with addiction,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “Support for these residential treatment slots underscores not only our comprehensive approach to addressing the opioid epidemic, but also adds to the investment we’ve already made to strengthen our treatment and recovery infrastructure.” Since coming into office in 2015, the Baker-Polito administration has increased spending on addiction services by 50%, from $120 million to $180 million, and has added more than 500 substance-use treatment beds to the system. “As the Commonwealth continues to fight the opioid and heroin epidemic from all angles, our administration is pleased to announce these contracts for communities in need,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. “We will keep investing in this public-health crisis and partnering with communities in every corner of the state to offer resources and treatment for those struggling with this horrific epidemic.” The $1.75 million in annual funding awarded to the three programs was based on a competitive procurement and will support expansion of one existing and two new programs. The funded programs are:

• The Brien Center/Seymour House, Pittsfield: funding to create a new, 17-bed program serving the needs of pregnant or post-partum women.

• Megan’s House, Lowell: funding to support 28 beds in its existing program serving the needs of young women, ages 18-25. This new funding will ensure greater access to treatment for women without health insurance.

• John Ashford Link House/Seacoast Recovery Home for Women, Salisbury: funding to create a new 15-bed program with a focus on serving the needs of women on the North Shore, some of whom are criminal-justice-involved.

Residential treatment programs provide a highly structured and supportive environment to assist each resident’s recovery from substance-use disorders. Programs include individual and group counseling, comprehensive case management, and assistance with skills necessary to maintain a drug- or alcohol-free lifestyle. Work on each of the funded programs will begin immediately and are expected to be fully operational by the end of June.

Company Notebook

Company Notebook Departments

Hogan Technology Invited to Technology Assurance Group Convention

EASTHAMPTON — Hogan Technology announced that Sean Hogan, the company’s president, has been invited to attend the 17th annual Technology Assurance Group Convention, an organization of dominant unified-communications companies in North America representing $350 million in products and services. The event, to be held in Houston on April 2-5, brings together the most successful leaders in the unified-communications sector in order to elevate the industry as a whole, through the sharing of best business practices, CEO-to-CEO collaboration, and exchange of viewpoints as the future of technology. The theme of this year’s convention is “teamwork drives success.” It will focus on the power of teamwork, and is fittingly situated at the nation’s epicenter for space exploration. “We’re proud to have Sean Hogan attend our event,” stated Brian Suerth, president of Techology Assurance Group (TAG). “Sean brings a tremendous amount of insight, and we’re thrilled to have him share his views with our membership. His contributions throughout the year to his fellow members have raised the bar for every company in the technology space. In sum, we’re honored to have Sean in attendance.” One of the keynote speakers at the TAG Convention is Col. Richard “Mike” Mullane, a former pilot and astronaut who developed his expertise in leadership and teamwork through an array of combat reconaissance missions in Vietnam and space-shuttle missions for the U.S. Mullane will share his insights and collaborate with TAG members in order to help advance their leadership and teamwork abilities. Also in attendance will be some of North America’s elite technology manufacturers. These providers will deliver futuristic technology to TAG members in order to accelerate the technological proficiency of small to mid-sized businesses. With their new software, cloud computing, and auxilary equipment, businesses will be better-positioned for strong growth in 2017. “I look forward to attending this year’s event and coming back with new ideas to improve our customer experience,” Hogan said. “The better we understand teamwork, leadership, and technological expertise, the more profitable our customers will become. We consider this event a privilege to attend, especially because of the high-caliber peers, and it also serves as a very effective way to keep our customers miles ahead of their competitors, sustaining their competitive edge through our delivery of futuristic technology.”

Health Program at STCC Wins Accreditation

SPRINGFIELD — The Health Information Technology program at Springfield Technical Community College was awarded accreditation, a big step forward for an area of study that can help hospital workers like Pamela Rau advance in their careers. Rau, 53, of Southampton, worked at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield for more than 20 years when she decided to seek an associate degree in health information technology from STCC. She needed the diploma to continue working as a supervisor in health-information management. Rau was part of the first graduating class in June. “It was interesting because what I learned on the job coincided with what I learned in school,” she said. “And the things I learned in school helped me grow in this position in my job.” Her next step is to take a certification exam to become a registered health-information technician. She also hopes to earn a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration. But her academic journey started with STCC’s Health Informatics and Information Management (HIIM) program, which awards degrees in health-information technology. On Dec. 20, the two-year-old program received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Accreditation, a tool for assuring academic quality, shows that the program meets a certain minimum standard. A graduate of the accredited HIIM program at STCC becomes eligible to take professional certification exams. Tracey McKethan, department chair and professor of Health Information Technology, said the program went through a rigorous process involving an on-site review by accreditors and met 33 standards. “There are no other programs like this in Western or Central Mass. or in Northern Conn.,” McKethan said, noting that STCC’s program has a 100% graduation rate. The HIIM program prepares students, who are awarded degrees in health-information technology, for certification and practice as registered health-information technicians. The program has transfer agreements with four-year institutions, which means students can apply their credits from STCC to pursue bachelor’s degrees. Master’s programs also are available. The technicians typically work at hospitals, nursing homes, long-term-care facilities, mental-health centers, or large medical practices. As the custodians of patient medical records, the technicians must be able to translate complex data into understandable, simplified information for the general public. For more information, call the admissions office at (413) 755-3333 or visit www.stcc.edu/apply. Fall applications are due by April 30.

Rick’s Place Wins Grant from New York Life Foundation

WILBRAHAM — Rick’s Place recently received a $10,000 Grief Reach grant from the New York Life Foundation, which will enable the organization to make significant improvements to its technological capacities, including major website enhancements. The New York Life Foundation created the Grief Reach program to help providers overcome barriers to bringing grief-support services to youth not served by existing bereavement programs. One hundred and ninety-five Grief Reach grants totaling nearly $6 million have been awarded since the program’s inception in 2011. The New York Life Foundation has been one of the leading funders in the childhood-bereavement field, investing more than $30 million to date in support of grieving children and their families.

People on the Move

Departments People on the Move

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) announced the following:

• Kara Graves, CPA has been promoted from audit and accounting senior associate to Manager. Graves, who has been with MBK since 2011, has spent the past six years developing a diversified technical skill set with a focus in the company’s commercial audit niche. She has also had the opportunity to develop a leadership skill set, serving as the in-charge accountant on a variety of large-scale projects. During that time, she has demonstrated her ability to lead teams through challenging projects, all while delivering a quality client service experience. Before coming to MBK, Graves worked as an associate at a regional public accounting firm in Westwood. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University and a master’s degree from Western New England University;

• Joe Vreedenburgh has been promoted from from audit and accounting associate to Senior Associate. Vreedenburgh, who was promoted to senior associate in the audit and accounting niche, has been with MBK since 2014. His promotion is the result of his continued commitment to technical development, excellent client service, and team-oriented approach. As a senior associate, he will be leveraging his 10 years of accounting experience to help lead teams in conducting the audit process. He specializes in commercial audits and accounting, employee-benefit plans, not-for-profit entities, and individual and business taxation. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington and holds an master’s degree from UMass Amherst. He is a member of the AICPA and MSCPA and treasurer of the Hitchcock Center for the Environment; and

• The company welcomed Nathan Nicholson to the firm as a Tax Senior Associate. Nicholson comes to MBK from the Ayco Company, L.P., a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs in Latham, N.Y., where he worked as a tax associate, handling individual, trust, and gift-tax returns for high-net-worth individuals. He has a range of experience working with governmental, nonprofit, and for-profit entities, including banking, manufacturing, healthcare, real estate, and small family-owned businesses. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Siena College. He has mentored high-school business classes on the basics of tax preparation and financial planning.

“Kara and Joe have worked hard to develop themselves technically and as leaders within our organization,” said partner Howard Cheney, CPA. “Our succession plan demands that our next generation be not only technically competent, but ready to deliver premier service and value our clients have come to expect. We are confident in Kara and Joe’s ability to provide that exceptional experience, and Nathan’s addition to our team only serves to strengthen our next generation.”

•••••

Bert Gardner

Caolo & Bieniek Associates Inc., a full-service architecture, planning, and interior-design firm located in Chicopee, announced that Bert Gardner has become a principal. A graduate of Roger Williams University, Gardner is a registered architect in Massachusetts and New Jersey. Since joining Caolo & Bieniek Associates in 1999, Gardner has served in key roles on numerous project teams with increasing levels of responsibility. Most recently, he has been the project architect for projects at Westfield State University, UMass, and the Dupont Middle School in Chicopee (former Chicopee High School), and is currently overseeing the Maple Street Elementary School project in Easthampton. He has been an active board member for the Chicopee Boys & Girls Club, serving as president in 2013 and 2014. Caolo & Bieniek Associates has been providing architectural services since 1955. Its design process integrates a creative approach to problem solving with a sustained commitment to client needs. The firm’s scope of services includes renovations, adaptive reuse, new construction, facilities assessment, feasibility studies, master planning, interior design, historic preservation, and sustainable and ‘green’ design expertise.

•••••

Elizabeth Daley

Elizabeth Daley, a 20-year veteran in the public and private accounting sector and a 10-year employee of Webber and Grinnell Insurance, has been named Finance Manager at the agency. Daley is also concurrently pursuing her SHRM-CP certification in human resources from Westfield State University School of Graduate Studies. She will oversee accounting, finance, and human resources. “Elizabeth has been a great asset to our organization for many years, and it’s nice to fill this position from within the agency,” said company President Bill Grinnell. “The fact that Elizabeth has chosen to earn her Society for Human Resource Management certification is a professional distinction that sets her apart and further elevates both her own and the agency’s credentials.”

•••••

Blair Robidoux

Elise Kowal

Melissa Mann

Country Bank announced that Blair Robidoux has been appointed Branch Manager of the West Street Office. It also welcomed two new branch managers to its Retail Banking division — Elise Kowal and Melissa Mann. Robidoux has been with the bank for 12 years and began her career as a teller before working her way up to branch manager. Robidoux’s strong operational and management skills, along with her desire to help people, provides leadership at one of the bank’s busiest offices. Kowal is located at the West Brookfield office and has been in banking for more than eight years. She began her career at Country Bank as a teller and worked her way to a teller supervisor position before moving to the bank’s Corporate Risk Department. She will graduate this summer from Western New England University, where she is studying for her bachelor’s degree in business administration. “I love working with people, educating others, and providing encouragement and guidance in reaching their professional and financial goals,” she said. Mann will work in the Belchertown office. She has been in the banking industry for 14 years in various positions in Western Mass. and Central Conn., most recently at PeoplesBank in Sixteen Acres. She is a graduate of Belchertown High School. Relocations, family needs, and professional development have brought her back to Belchertown. “As a branch manager, I’m most proud of the personal connections that my team builds with our customers,” she said. “We want our customers to know just how much we appreciate them.”

•••••

Robert Cummings

Robert Cummings, CEO and founder of American Benefits Group (ABG), has been nominated for the 2017 EBN Innovator Award by Employee Benefit News, a leading national benefits-industry publication serving 106,800 senior-level benefits decision makers across all platforms. This audience includes human-resources executives and benefits directors, whose sphere of responsibility and influence spans health and retirement plans, voluntary benefits, legal and regulatory compliance, employee training and development, benefits procurement, technology, strategic direction, and finance. Cummings founded ABG in 1987 and was an early adopter and innovator of flexible spending accounts in the late 1980s. The company added COBRA administration services and commuter benefit accounts in the 1990s, and health savings accounts and health reimbursement arrangements when they came into being in the early 2000s. For decades, ABG focused exclusively on working with Western Mass. employers, providing full benefits strategy, funding, communications, and administrative solutions. The company began to focus on a national expansion of its specialty employee-benefits administrative services beginning in 2007. Today, ABG serves a diverse base of more than 1000 employer clients nationwide from its home offices near downtown Northampton. ABG’s employer clients range from small and mid-size businesses to high-profile Fortune 1000 employers and global organizations, covering all of the continental U.S. Recognition on the national stage is not new for ABG. In 2014, the Institute for Health Care Consumerism presented the company with a Superstar Innovator Award, and in 2015 ABG was recognized by its platform provider, consumer account technology giant Alegeus Technologies, as its national Customer Service Champion. ABG also serves as the preferred platform partner for consumer-account-based plans and COBRA administration services for NFP, one of the largest global insurance and corporate benefits brokers and consultants. Cummings has been on the leading edge of technology innovation since before the Internet, as ABG was one of the first benefits administrators in the nation to adopt debit-card payment technologies. The ABG debit card allows consumers to pay expenses from their consumer pre-tax accounts directly at the point of service, and auto-substantiates the majority of their transactions. ABG was one of the first adopters of web-based participant portals and mobile applications that offer instant account access and management anytime, anywhere. In 2010, ABG was again at the forefront of the market with its introduction of a live participant-feedback review portal, where participants could rate their experience and post live reviews that are shared online. Basically a private Yelp review and rating portal for its own clients, the company has leveraged this to garner thousands of five-star feedback reviews. Working with the top global benefits consulting and brokerage organizations like Mercer, Lockton, HUB, Gallagher, and NFP, as well as leading independent benefits consulting and brokerage firms from across the country, ABG has been able to achieve consistent growth. In 2016, the company grew revenue by a record 35%, and it has achieved compound annual growth since 2010 of more than 20% per year.

•••••

Springfield College Assistant Professor of Physical Education Tan Leng Goh recently received the 2017 Hally Beth Poindexter Young Scholar Award presented by the National Assoc. for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE). The award was presented at the annual NAKHE Conference in Orlando, Fla. “Tan Leng Goh’s recent award from NAKHE is a true testament to her commitment to her scholarly work,” said Springfield College School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Dean Tracey Matthews. “I look forward to her continued scholarly successes at Springfield College.” During the 2017 NAKHE’s annual conference, Goh presented her paper titled, “Children’s Physical Activity and On-task Behavior Following Active Academic Lessons.” Goh’s presentation focused on the amount of hours a day children remain sitting when receiving academic instruction. Goh’s presentation hypothesizes that sitting for an extended amount of time is detrimental to children’s physical health, and may cause off-task behavior in the classroom. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of active academic lessons on children’s physical activity and on-task behavior. The NAKHE organization provides a forum for interdisciplinary ideas, concepts, and issues related to the role of kinesiology subdisciplines in higher education with respect for social, cultural, and personal perspectives. Kinesiology is an academic discipline that involves the study of physical activity and its impact on health, society, and quality of life. It includes, but is not limited to, such areas of study as exercise science, sports management, athletic training and sports medicine, socio-cultural analyses of sports, sport and exercise psychology, fitness leadership, physical-education teacher education, and pre-professional training for physical therapy, occupational therapy, medicine, and other health-related fields.

•••••

Berkshire Bank Foundation Inc., the philanthropic arm of Berkshire Bank, announced the appointment of Thomas Barney to its board of trustees. Barney, a certified financial planner, is a senior vice president and wealth advisor with Berkshire Bank Wealth Management in Lenox. Barney has spent more than 19 years with Berkshire Bank, rejoining the wealth group out of retirement to work on all aspects of client relationships, including financial planning and strategy implementation. He previously served as an officer of the foundation. “While Berkshire Bank has grown as a successful company, serving the community has always been at the forefront,” he said. “The Berkshire Bank Foundation was established to demonstrate the bank’s dedication to its communities and neighbors. I am honored to join their board and support the foundation’s work.” The mission of the Foundation is to strengthen and improve quality of life in communities where Berkshire Bank or its affiliates have offices. The foundation supports programs that enhance opportunities for children and adults, specifically in the areas of community and economic development, education, and meeting the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals. The foundation also administers the bank’s comprehensive volunteer program, called the X-Team, in addition to a scholarship program for high-school seniors. Barney has more than 40 years of experience working on investments, trusts, and planning, including tenures at Michigan Avenue Financial Group of Chicago, Bank of Boston’s Private Bank, Fleet Investment Services, and the First National Bank of Geneva. He is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County, recently serving as its treasurer, vice president, and president. He is a graduate of Monmouth College, Loyola University of Chicago, the National Trust School, and the Trust Management School at Northwestern University. “We are so pleased to welcome Tom to the foundation’s board as he shares our vision to support the many community needs throughout our growing footprint,” said Lori Gazzillo, director of Berkshire Bank Foundation. “Tom’s close community ties and breadth and depth of knowledge will serve as a valuable asset to our talented board.”

Chamber Corners

www.explorenorthampton.com

Chamber Corners Departments

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

• April 7: Seminar, “Microsoft Word: “Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts,” 8:30-10:30 a.m., at Hampton Inn Chicopee, 600 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Presented by Pioneer Training. Cost: $40 for members, $50 for non-members

• April 12: Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., at the David M. Bartley Center for Athletics & Recreation, Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke. Presented by the Greater Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Parking available on site. Admission: $10 pre-registered; $15 at the door.

• April 19: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Willits-Hallowell Center, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College Street, South Hadley. Cost: $23 for members, $28 for non-members. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 584-1900

• April 5: April Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., at Degrees of Comfort & VNA, 168 Industrial Dr. # 2, Northampton. Sponsors: BusinessWest, Center for EcoTechnology, and Northeast Solar. Networking event. Cost: $10 for members.

• May 5: Spring Swizzle Auction, 6:30-10:30 p.m. Hosted by Eastside Grill, Strong Ave., Northampton. Cost: $75. Purchase tickets at www.chamberspringswizzle.com.

• May 10: May Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., at Goggins Real Estate, 79 King St., Northampton. Sponsors: Applied Mortgage, Greenfield Community College Foundation, MassDevelopment, and Northeast Solar. Networking event. Cost: $10 for members.

• May 11: “Google Analytics,” 9-11 a.m., at the Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by SCORE of Western Mass. What is Google Analytics? A free, powerful analytics tool that provides reports showing how visitors found your website and what they did when they got there. It measures the effectiveness of your online and offline marketing campaigns. Pre-registration is required; space is limited. Cost: free.

• May 18: “Intro To QuickBooks,” 9-11 a.m., at the Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. This is an introduction to the popular accounting program QuickBooks. This session will cover setting up a new company, invoicing and receiving payments, writing checks, and paying bills. The session will end with a brief introduction to and overview of reports. It is suitable for those who have recently started using QuickBooks and those planning to use it. This session is taught on the PC desktop version, but the basic principles of QuickBooks remain the same for the Windows, Macintosh, and online versions of the program. Be aware that specific details of how to accomplish a task or available features may differ on the different versions, and these differences will not be covered. It is not required, but if you have a laptop or tablet and have QuickBooks installed, you may bring it and follow along. Note: this workshop is designed for training on the basics of QuickBooks and is not intended to troubleshoot problems individuals may currently be experiencing. Those types of questions are better suited to a one-on-one consulting session. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

• June 7: June Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., at ConVino, 101 Armory St, Northampton. Sponsors: Keiter Builders and MassDevelopment. Networking event. Cost: $10 for members.

• June 23: “Microsoft Excel: Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts,” 9-11 a.m., at the Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. This workshop will present our favorite tips, tricks, and shortcuts that we have collected and developed over 15 years of teaching and using Microsoft Excel. Topics will include shortcuts for selecting ranges, using Autofill to create a series of dates or numbers, setting the print area, using page-break preview, adding headers and footers, and using page-layout view. You’ll learn how to group spreadsheets in the same workbook in order to type or format more than one sheet at the same time, as well as how to create 3D formulas that calculate across several spreadsheets in the same workbook. You’ll practice dividing text from one column into two columns, as well as how to concatenate text from two columns into one. You’ll learn how to use conditional formatting to format cells according to their values, how to protect all or part of a worksheet, and how to paste an Excel spreadsheet into Word as an Excel object that links to the original spreadsheet and updates automatically. The workshop will also cover a new set of features in Excel 2013 that includes the new Start screen, Backstage View, Flash Fill, the Quick Analysis Tool, and a new set of options related to creating Excel charts. A set of handy keyboard shortcuts will also be included in the workshop. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor, but this is not required. Pre-registration is required; space is limited. To register, visit [email protected]. Cost: $35 for members, $45 for non-members.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

• March 24: Employment Law Workshop, “Managing Employee Appearance and Religious Accommodations in the Workplace,” 8:30-10 a.m., at the Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Join attorney Timothy Netkovick of Royal, P.C. for a roundtable-style seminar to discuss appearance in the workplace and religious accommodations, including an overview of religious discrimination law; dress and appearance standards; body modification (tattoos and piercings); and workplace culture, individual self-expression, and employee retention. Royal, P.C. is a woman-owned firm that exclusively represents and counsels businesses on all aspects of labor and employment law. Netkovick exclusively represents employers in management-side labor and employment-law matters. Cost: free to chamber members, $30 for general admission paid in advance. Online registration will be available at www.westfieldbiz.org. For more information, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

• April 3: April Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at the Forum House, 55 Broad St., Westfield. Join us for our monthly Mayor’s Coffee Hour with Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan. This event is free and open to the public. Call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 to register for this event so we may give our host a head count.

• April 6: “Improving Website Visibility with SEO,” 8:30-10 a.m., at the Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Join us for a chamber workshop presented by Scott Pierson of the Executive SEO. This event is free for chamber members and $30 for general admission (cash or credit paid at the door or in advance). Are you looking for a way to optimize your website visibility? Join Pierson and examine current search-engine optimization (SEO) best practices to increase brand awareness, local web visibility, web traffic, organic rankings, and domain authority. Understand how SEO works, why some pages rank highly, and what to do to move the needle. Pierson is a 15-year SEO consultant, speaker, blogger, trainer, and adviser on the subject of search-engine optimization. Register online at www.westfieldbiz.org. For more information, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

• April 7: 2017 Legislative Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (please note new date), at Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Raise your voice and business concerns to your legislators. Come and hear the challenges facing the Commonwealth, our communities, and our businesses. Invited legislators include state Sens. Adam Hinds and Donald Humason Jr. and state Reps. Nicholas Boldyga, Peter Kocot, Stephen Kulik, William Pignatelli, and John Velis. Cost: $30 for members, $40 for non-members (must be paid in advance). Register online at www.westfieldbiz.org. For more information, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

• April 12: April After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at One Arch Road, Westfield. Refreshments will be served, and a 50/50 raffle will benefit our Dollars for Scholars fund. Bring your business cards and make connections. Cost: Free for chamber members, $10 general admission (cash or credit paid at the door). Online registration will be available at www.westfieldbiz.org. For more information, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

• April 21: Employment Law Workshop, “A Transition in the Law: Transgender Discrimination,” 8:30-10 a.m., at the Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Discrimination based on transgender status or gender identity is a developing area of the law. There has been a lot of debate on the local, state, and national levels over access to bathrooms for transgender individuals. As the public debates this issue, legislators, administrative agencies, and courts are shaping the law that prohibits gender discrimination, including discrimination against transgender individuals. Join Attorney Timothy Netkovick of Royal, P.C. for a roundtable-style seminar to discuss how to navigate the legal landscape of an evolving and challenging area of discrimination law. Royal, P.C. is a woman-owned firm that exclusively represents and counsels businesses on all aspects of labor and employment law. Netkovick exclusively represents employers in management-side labor and employment-law matters. Cost: free to chamber members, $30 for general admission (cash or credit paid at the door or in advance). Online registration is available at www.westfieldbiz.org. For more information, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

• April 25: Seventh annual Home & Business Show, 4:30-7 p.m., at Tucker’s Restaurant, 625 College Highway, Southwick. Join us for this annual tabletop event in partnership with the Southwick Economic Development Commission. The event is free to the public. Southwick business owners can have a tabletop for $25 per business — one six-foot table with a tablecloth (you are free to bring your own table covering) and a listing in the show program provided you register by the deadline, April 7. For information and an application, visit southwickma.info or call (413) 304-6100.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

• April 11: Professional Women’s Chamber, Ladies Networking Night, 5-7 p.m., at City Stage, One Columbus Center, 150 Bridge St., Springfield.

• April 22: Professional Women’s Chamber, Headline Luncheon Series, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Storrowton Tavern Carriage House, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. “Maintaining Sanity: The Journey Toward Work-life Balance” is a panel discussion featuring Patricia Fay, an assistant vice president and actuary of strategic planning and analysis at MassMutual and the insurer’s 2015 Working Mother of the Year.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

• March 29: Pastries, Politics & Policy, 8-9 a.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. The speaker is Eileen McAnneny, president of the Mass. Taxpayers Foundation. The topic will be “The Fiscal Health of the Commonwealth.” Cost: $15 for members in advance ($20 at the door), $25 general admission in advance ($30 at the door).

• April 5: Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Featuring the Mayor’s Forum with Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno, Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos, and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse. Ray Hershel of Western Mass News will moderate.

• April 10: Outlook Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield.

• April 19: After 5, in partnership with the West of the River Chamber of Commerce, 5-7 p.m., at BMW of West Springfield, 1712 Riverdale St., West Springfield.

• April 20: Leadership Institute Graduation, 6-9 p.m., at the Springfield Sheraton, One Monarch Place, Springfield.

• April 26: Beacon Hill Summit, noon to 1 p.m., hosted by the Massachusetts State House, co-hosted by state Sen. James Welch and state Rep. Aaron Vega. Sponsorship opportunities are available. E-mail [email protected] for information.

Reservations for all events may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or by e-mailing [email protected].

Agenda

Agenda Departments

Understanding Gender Identity in the Workplace

March 22: HRMA of Western New England will present a half-day symposium event on understanding gender identity and supporting transgender and gender non-binary individuals in the workplace. This important topic is impacting local employers across the region. This program will help attendees understand the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation, learn ways to foster respectful work environments for all employees, and gain an understanding of the legal protections for the transgender community. Speakers will include Dr. Eunice Aviles, gender specialist and clinical psychologist; Erica Tabias, public speaker, transgender advocate, and life coach; and Jonathan Miller, chief of the Public Protection & Advocacy Bureau for the state Attorney General’s Office. The event runs from noon to 4 p.m., with a buffet lunch included. Tickets are $75. For more information, contact Allison Ebner at (413) 789-6400 or [email protected], or visit www.hrmawne.org.

Mini Medical School

March 23 to May 11: Itching to get out of the house as the winter draws to an end? Consider signing up for a little dose of continuing education as part of Baystate Medical Center’s Mini Medical School, where you can broaden your knowledge of the field of medicine with professors from the teaching hospital. Mini Medical School, which begins its spring session on Thursday, March 23, offers area residents an inside look at the expanding field of medicine, minus the tests, homework, interviews, and admission formalities. The program continues through May 11. Baystate’s Mini Medical School program is an eight-week health-education series featuring a different aspect of medicine each week. Classes this spring will include sessions on various medical topics such as surgery, deep-brain stimulation, emergency medicine, dementia, pathology, and several others. For a full list of topics and instructors, visit www.baystatehealth.org/minimed. While it is not difficult to be accepted into the program, slots are limited, and early registration is recommended. Many of the students, who often range in age from 20 to 70, participate due to a general interest in medicine and later find that many of the things they learned over the semester are relevant to their own lives. The goal of the program, offered in the hospital’s Chestnut Conference Center, is to help members of the public make more informed decisions about their healthcare while receiving insight on what it might be like to be a medical student. Baystate Medical Center is the region’s only teaching hospital, and each course is taught by medical center faculty, who explain the science of medicine without resorting to complex terms. All classes are held Thursday nights starting at 6 p.m. and run until 8 or 9 p.m., depending on the night’s topic. No basic science knowledge is needed to participate. Each participant is required to attend a minimum of six out of eight classes in order to receive a certificate of completion. Tuition costs $95 per person and $80 for Senior Class and Spirit of Women members. To register, call (413) 794-7630 or visit www.baystatehealth.org/minimed.

Cultivate & Nest Open House

March 25: Cultivate & Nest, a collaborative workspace for businesspeople with children, will host Bloom, its annual open house, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in its Hadley office center. Terra Missildine, founder and owner of Cultivate & Nest, said the event will offer talks on the topic of entrepreneurship and parenting. A highlight of the day will be a flower-hat-making craft and a hat parade around the grounds. Face painting, puzzles, and other activities will also be offered. Tours of the workspace will be offered to parents hourly, while children will enjoy story time. In addition, a drawing will be held for a one-month Cultivate & Nest membership, valued at $99. All Pioneer Valley families are invited to take part in the event and bring their children. Registration is not required, and the event is free. Cultivate & Nest is the first membership-based collaborative workspace in the Valley to incorporate a childcare component. Located on the first floor in the Hadley Crossing business park, Cultivate & Nest offers roughly 3,400 square feet of work and community space. Members of Cultivate & Nest pay in cost tiers that range from $100 to $600 per month, depending on amenities and level of office access. Event and workshop space is also available for members and the community at large to host family friendly events. To learn more about Cultivate & Nest, visit cultivateandnest.com or call Missildine at (413) 345-2400.

Mass. Restaurant Day for No Kid Hungry

March 27: Eight Massachusetts Restaurant Assoc. restaurants across the state will participate in Massachusetts Restaurant Day for No Kid Hungry. Inspired by Chef Andy Husbands of Tremont 647, who has hosted a dinner for this cause for the past 20 years, the MRA announced the program’s expansion across Massachusetts. Last year, participating Boston restaurants raised more than $60,000 to end childhood hunger in Massachusetts. This year, Hotel Northampton is hosting the Western Mass. branch of the event, a multi-course meal with wine pairings. The hotel’s culinary team is working alongside and co-sponsoring with four well-known restaurants in town, including Sierra Grille, Spoleto’s, Packard’s, and Union Station. Attendance at this event will not only help to curb childhood hunger in Massachusetts, but will also help local programs that feed children of all ages at school and in the home. The goal is to ensure all children get the healthy food they need, every day. To purchase tickets or provide sponsorship for the event, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/massachusetts-restaurant-day-for-no-kid-hungry-the-hotel-northampton-tickets-31735014282.

Regional Career Fair

March 29: The College Career Centers of Western Massachusetts will hold a career fair from noon to 3 p.m. in the Alumni Healthful Living Center on the campus of Western New England University. Nearly 100 companies will be recruiting college students for paid and unpaid internships, as well as full-time and part-time employment opportunities. This annual event is a unique opportunity for employers and graduate-school representatives to connect with motivated students and alumni who are looking to launch and advance their careers. The College Career Centers of Western Massachusetts is a consortium of career-center professionals representing the eight colleges in Hampden County, including American International College, Bay Path University, Elms College, Holyoke Community College, Springfield College, Springfield Technical Community College, Western New England University, and Westfield State University. These eight institutions of higher education enroll more than 27,000 students from diverse backgrounds, and graduate approximately 5,000 students each year with a wide range of academic degrees.

‘Stay in the Game’

March 29: The community is invited to join staff from the Baystate Wing Hospital Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation team for an education session about staying active and injury-free. The program, “Stay in the Game,” will be held in the Snow Conference Room from 6 to 7 p.m. Participants will learn about the most effective types of stretching, nutrition, and hydration that will help to avoid injury when working out. Physical therapist Dena Plante and physical therapist assistant Karen Kiernan will be on hand to answer questions and offer educational materials. The program is open to student athletes and adults interested in staying active and exercising without injury. The Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation team at Baystate Wing Hospital provides a full range of rehabilitation services to help patients regain function and achieve recovery. For more information or to register, call (413) 370-5254.

Difference Makers

March 30: The ninth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. The winners, profiled in the Jan. 23 issue and at businesswest.com, are the Community Colleges of Western Mass. (Berkshire Community College, Greenfield Community College, Holyoke Community College, and Springfield Technical Community College); Friends of the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round; Denis Gagnon Sr., president and CEO of Excel Dryer Inc.; Junior Achievement of Western Mass.; and Joan Kagan, president and CEO of Square One. Tickets to the event, which is nearly sold out, cost $65 per person. To order, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. Sponsors include First American Insurance; Health New England; JGS Lifecare; Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; Northwestern Mutual; O’Connell Care at Home; Royal, P.C.; and Sunshine Village.

Education Fair & Expo

April 4: Jared James, a national real-estate speaker and trainer, will be the featured speaker at the 24th annual Education Fair & Expo taking place at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The event is sponsored by the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley. The program features a day of educational presentations including two breakout sessions from James, three continuing-education classes, and two technology classes. A sellout trade show with more than 50 vendors is anticipated. Anyone who is interested in attending as a trade-show vendor should contact Kim Harrison, membership and meetings coordinator at the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley, at (413) 785-1328 or [email protected].

Art Show Reception

April 5: The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Western Massachusetts (NAMI Western Mass.) will hold an opening reception for its sixth annual art show featuring the work of artists living with mental illness from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front St. The reception and parking adjacent to the library are free. The exhibit runs through the end of April. The art show, originated by Karen West, an artist and art teacher at Westfield High School, will feature works for sale to the public, with proceeds going to the artists. Complimentary refreshments will be served and the public is welcome. Headquartered in Agawam, NAMI Western Mass. is an affiliate of the nation’s largest grass-roots mental-health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans who are affected by mental illness.

EANE Management Conference

April 6: The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) announced its 13th annual Management Conference will be held at the Springfield Marriott. With a focus on the power of passion in leadership, the full-day conference will address how managers and supervisors can motivate themselves and their teams to create a culture of high performance. The program will feature keynote speakers Rick Barrera and Bruce Christopher. Barrera, the head of faculty for the Center for Heart Led Leadership, works with Fortune 500 CEOs, world-class mountain climbers, astronauts, professional actors, and SEAL Team Six leaders teaching them how to build high-performance teams. Christopher, a psychologist and humorist, offers cutting-edge content with a mix of comedy, showing audiences how to embrace change and giving them practical skills to apply for success. The cost for the program is $350 per person with discounts for three or more. Register at www.eane.org/management17 or by calling (877) 662-6444. It will offer 6.25 credits from the HR Certification Institute and SHRM. Sponsoring the program are Johnson & Hill Staffing Services and the HR Certification Institute.

‘Mini Golf in the Library’

April 7-8: Friends of the Holyoke Public Library will host its second annual “Mini Golf in the Library” fund-raiser on the weekend of April 7-8. Hole sponsors and event sponsors are now being recruited. At last spring’s event, more than 250 players putted their way through five levels of the Holyoke Public Library building, laughing and enjoying unique obstacles added by enterprising hole sponsors. Funds raised help the Friends of the Library support library programs and resources, especially those for children and youth. Sponsors will be publicized and thanked in local media, social media, and the library’s website in connection with this event. Logos of sponsors will be printed on the scorecard given to each player. Names of sponsors will be displayed in the library, ranked by level of sponsorship. Sponsors will be invited as guests to the Friday-evening cocktail party, with the opportunity to preview (and play through) the course. In addition to event sponsors and hole sponsors, the event planning committee, chaired by Sandy Ward, is seeking donors of in-kind services and items for a silent auction to be held during the Friday cocktail party. Hole sponsorships start at $250. Those who wish to sponsor (and decorate) one of the 18 holes are encouraged to act quickly, as holes are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Event sponsorships are available at five levels ranging from $250 to $1,000. An exclusive title sponsorship is possible at $2,500. For more information, visit www.holyokelibrary.org/aboutfriendsgolf.asp or e-mail Sandy Ward at [email protected].

Walk of Champions

May 7: The 12th annual Walk of Champions to benefit the Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center in Ware will step off at the Quabbin Reservoir. Since 2006, the Walk of Champions, founded by field-hockey coach John O’Neill of Quaboag Regional Middle High School, has served as a tribute to the compassionate care his mother received at the Baystate Regional Cancer Program in Ware during her cancer journey. Over the years, the walk has grown into a collection of teams and individuals, each walking for their own reason. There are friends and family members celebrating victory over cancer. Others are encouraging their loved ones in their personal fight over cancer, while others walk in memory of those who have lost their battle with cancer. The Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center provides the majority of outpatient cancer services in the Baystate Health Eastern Region, which includes Ware, Palmer, and surrounding communities. Since its inception, the Walk of Champions has raised more than $740,000 to assist, support, and instill hope in those facing cancer. All funds raised remain local to support those cared for in the Baystate Health Eastern Region at the Baystate Regional Cancer Program located at Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center in Ware. The route offers a one-mile loop that allows walkers to choose the number of miles they walk among the comfortable walking terrain of the Goodnough Dike. Along the way, walkers will enjoy entertainment and refreshments. Pledge forms, fund-raising resources, giving opportunities, and more are now available at www.baystatehealth.org/woc for businesses, community organizations, and individuals who wish to participate.

Court Dockets

Court Dockets Departments

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

Michael Tuitt v. Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
Allegation: PVTA bus collided with plaintiff causing injury: $6,281.30
Filed: 2/16/17

Philip Rowe v. LeClerc Holdings, LLC and Charles Dauderis
Allegation: Assault and battery causing injury: 5,000+
Filed: 2/15/17

HAMPDEN DISTRICT COURT

Yonad Sierra as parent and next friend of Jeinaly Yanis Sierra v. Family Dollar Stores of Massachusetts Inc.
Allegation: Plaintiff struck in face by falling merchandise causing injury: $2,528.52
Filed: 2/10/17

Shainali Figueroa v. Jill Ann Hockenberry and Metro Jeep
Allegation: As pedestrian, plaintiff struck by motor vehicle owned by Metro Jeep, causing injury: $8,902.27
Filed: 2/13/17

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Wendy Lesage v. Town of Palmer
Allegation: Wage and hour claim: $25,000+
Filed: 2/22/17

Mark Lappen v. Northeast Wholesale Lumber Inc. and Michael D. Parker
Allegation: Breach of employment contract: $25,000
Filed: 2/17/17

Laura Russo, individually and as personal representative of the estate of Fernando Russo v. Richard J. Fraziero, DMD, MD
Allegation: Medical malpractice, wrongful death: $50,000
Filed: 2/15/17

Evander Machuca v. 272 Worthington St. Inc. d/b/a Glo Ultra Lounge, Juan Marrero, John Doe, and Jane Doe
Allegation: Negligence in serving alcohol to intoxicated patrons and failing to control them when they became aggressive and violent, causing injury to plaintiff: $26,000
Filed: 2/14/17

Steven Ramsey v. 851 East Columbus Ave., LLC, Allstate Installations LLC, and A.I. Construction and Development, LLC
Allegation: Slip and fall causing injury: $240,000
Filed: 2/16/17

HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT COURT

Gretchen Hendricks v. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. LLC and United Natural Foods Inc.
Allegation: Negligence causing injury, plaintiff ate foreign substance in package of pumpkin seeds necessitating dental repair: $18,670
Filed: 2/15/17

Ecograze Services Inc. d/b/a Kegcraft v. High Horse LLC and Jason DiCaprio
Allegation: Monies owed for rental of kegs for bar and brewpub: $8,218.13
Filed: 2/15/17

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Elaine Hogan v. D.P.Z. Inc.
Allegation: Negligence resulting in slip and fall causing injury: $122,283.20
Filed: 2/10/17

Eduardo Santos as parent and next friend of Matthew Santos v. Robert A. Spence, MD
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $10,000+
Filed: 2/13/17

Christy Winslow v. Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Albert Hung, RN Amanda Ruano, RN Kim Williams
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $35,000
Filed: 2/14/17

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT

Marybeth Hodgins v. CVS Caremark Corp.
Allegation: Slip and fall causing injury: $1,018
Filed: 1/26/17

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

East PBE Inc. v. GML Construction Inc. and Victor O’Brien Jr.
Allegation: Monies owed for construction equipment repairs: $7,775.82
Filed: 2/8/17

Picture This

Departments Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]
A photo essay of recent business events in Western Massachusetts March 20, 2017

Good Time, Serious Purpose

Nearly 600 guests turned out at the MassMutual Center on March 11 for the inaugural Caritas Ball, staged by the Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS) to raise awareness of the addiction crisis facing the region and the nation and to raise money for treatment and prevention programs. Themed “All You Need Is Love” (‘caritas’ means love), the gala featured live and silent auctions, the band Beantown, networking, presentation of the first Caritas Award, and a thought-provoking talk from West Springfield resident Jonah Kirk, who lost his son, Jack, to heroin addiction. Below, top to Bottom: Dr. Robert Roose, vice president of Mercy Behavioral Healthcare, addresses the audience after receiving the Caritas Award for his work on the front lines of the addiction crisis; Kirk addresses the rapt audience with a photo of his son in the background; guests join a singer from Beantown on the dance floor; gala committee chairs John Sjoberg and his wife, Brenda Garton-Sjoberg; and embracing the theme for the night (quite literally) are, from left, guests Lori Miller and Dora Sardinha, Roose, and Allison Gearing-Kalill, vice president of Fund Development for the SPHS, who spearheaded efforts to launch the gala.
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History in the Remaking

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal hosted an elaborate press conference on March 6 to celebrate the soon-to-be-opened Union Station in Springfield. Neal led a host of speakers who detailed the nearly 40-year-long effort to renovate the station as well as the projected key role the facility will play in the revitalization of the city. Other speakers included Mayor Domenic Sarno, Chief Development Officer Kevin Kennedy, Republican Executive Editor Wayne Phaneuf (who is preparing a book on the station), and Edward Pessalano, owner of Design & Advertising Associates, who led the efforts to create murals now on display at the station displaying scenes from the history of the city, Union Station, and regional transportation. One of those murals is pictured bottom.
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Survivor Journeys Introduces Cancer-survivor Mentoring Service

SPRINGFIELD — Survivor Journeys, a community-based cancer-support network based in Western Mass. and Northern Conn., invites the public to attend a breakfast on Saturday, March 25 to learn more about a new, free cancer-survivor mentoring service being offered to support the psychosocial needs of cancer survivors and caregivers in the area.

A cancer-survivor mentor is a cancer survivor or caregiver trained to assist and support others with the initial emotional, psychological, and practical needs that can seem insurmountable after a cancer diagnosis. Through this program, Survivor Journeys will match individuals recently diagnosed with cancer with a mentor who has experienced the same diagnosis and treatment. Similar support is available for caregivers as well, through mentors who have served as caregivers.

The event will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Baystate Medical Center’s Chestnut Conference Center 1A & 1B, located at 759 Chestnut St., Springfield (follow signs to Chestnut Surgery Center). To RSVP, e-mail [email protected] or call (413) 276-6100.

Attorney Carla Newton to Co-chair Family-law Symposium March 22

SPRINGFIELD — Robinson Donovan, P.C. announced that Partner Carla Newton, in collaboration with Thomas Kenefick III, will co-chair the “Cutting Edge Issues in Western Massachusetts” symposium for family-law professionals as part of the upcoming Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) regional conference. The event, to be held at the Sheraton Springfield on March 22, is expected to gather distinguished family lawyers and judges with substantive knowledge and regional expertise. This will be the third year Newton has co-chaired the event.

“Family law is constantly evolving, and it is imperative to stay abreast of emerging issues,” said Newton. “The symposium will facilitate a thoughtful exchange and will undoubtedly help all of us to better serve the needs of our clients.”

The full-day event will feature discussions on the current state of the probate and family court, including insights on pilot programs; case law and legislative updates; presentations on social-media considerations and alimony obligations; and an information exchange with members of the judiciary.

Newton is a divorce and family-law practitioner, with additional practice areas in corporate and business counseling, commercial real-estate law, and litigation. A member of the American Bar Assoc., Massachusetts Bar Assoc., Hampden County Bar Assoc., International Assoc. of Collaborative Professionals, and the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council, she has regularly been recognized for outstanding achievements, including selection to the Best Lawyers in America list (2013-present) and the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list (2013-present). Additionally, she was recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2015 family-law Lawyer of the Year in Springfield and among the Top 50 Women Massachusetts Super Lawyers in the same year. She was also a St. Thomas More Society honoree in 2013.

The March 22 event gives qualified attendees the opportunity to earn up to six continuing legal education (CLE) credits. Those interested in in attending are asked to register by calling MCLE Customer Service at (617) 482-2205 or e-mailing [email protected]. More information about the event, including tuition information, is available at mcle.org.

United Way Thrive Financial Success Center Opens in Westfield

WESTFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley is opening its third Thrive Financial Center in Western Mass. with a grand-opening ceremony today, March 21, at 11 a.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Atonement, 36 Court St., Westfield.

Thrive Centers offer free financial services to members of the community, including financial-coaching sessions, money-skills classes, personal-budgeting help, workforce-development training, and free tax preparation, among others. Thrive Westfield program partners and sponsors include the city of Westfield, PeoplesBank, Beveridge Foundation, Berkshire Bank, and Westfield Bank.

Among the attendees at today’s event will be state Rep. John Velis, Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan, and representatives of Westfield Bank, the Davis Foundation, and the United Way of Pioneer Valley.

Peter Pan Honors First Four-million-mile Driver at S.T.A.R. Awards

SPRINGFIELD — Peter Pan Bus Lines will honor the country’s first four-million-mile driver, Ed Hope, on Wednesday, March 22 at the company’s annual S.T.A.R. (Super Team Achievement & Recognition) Awards Dinner at the Sheraton Springfield Hotel. Hope will be inducted into the National Safety Council Hall of Fame.

The National Safety Council defines one million miles as the equivalent of twelve consecutive years of driving without an accident of any kind, or, as noted by Peter Pan Chairman and CEO Peter Picknelly, 4.2 trips to the moon, or 40 times around the earth.

This is a significant milestone in a professional motorcoach operator’s career. Peter Pan Bus Lines is proud to have more one- and two-million-mile drivers than any other transportation company of its size. In addition, it is the first bus company in the world to employ drivers who have driven three million, and now four million, miles without an accident.

Holyoke Hummus Co. Launches New Cafe Downtown

By BusinessWest Staff March 20, 2017

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Hummus Company will celebrate the grand opening of its new cafe at 285 High St. in downtown Holyoke on Thursday, March 23. Owners John Grossman and Dawn Cordeiro have been bringing falafel, hummus, and other Middle Eastern treats to the public for the past three years, first with a food cart and then a food truck, the Great Garbanzo.

“We’re excited to continue to grow our business in Holyoke and bring another lunch and dinner option for those living, working, and visiting downtown,” Grossman said. The event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse at 11 a.m. The event will run until 7 p.m. To thank customers, Holyoke Hummus will give away tubs of Holyoke Hummus.

In addition to falafel and hummus, the Holyoke Hummus Cafe menu includes soups, salads, potato latkes (pancakes), babaganoush, and desserts like chocolate babka, all made from scratch. The menu is vegetarian and mostly vegan, but Cordeiro noted that “it is hearty enough to satisfy the meat eaters in the crowd.”

For young customers that don’t love falafel yet, the cafe offers a $2 kids menu, with items like pita butter & jelly and pita pizza. The cafe offers local Dean’s Beans coffee and hot chocolate and Tea Guys tea. The cafe seats around 25 patrons at booths and tables. There is also a small children’s area with books and activities for kids of all ages. Cafe hours are Monday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

J. Polep Promotes Jim Kantany to Director of Sales

By BusinessWest Staff March 20, 2017