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

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

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

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

The AIM Index, based on a survey of Massachusetts employers, has appeared monthly since July 1991. It is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative. The Index reached its historic high of 68.5 on two occasions in 1997-98, and its all-time low of 33.3 in February 2009. It has remained above 50 since October 2013.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To nominate a Healthcare Hero, click here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPRINGFIELD — Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) and Tech Foundry partnered together for a leadership-development curriculum for the students participating in the 14-week IT-training program.

At no cost to the students, Tech Foundry prepares a cross-section of the population to step into a sustainable career in the information-technology sector. The program provides a comprehensive computer-science curriculum that gives students the fundamental knowledge needed to work with a variety of programming languages, computer hardware, networking solutions, and more.

Partnering with Leadership Pioneer Valley, Tech Foundry was able to offer leadership development and skills to the students.

“We were thrilled to be able to work with the students at Tech Foundry,” said Lora Wondolowski, executive director of LPV. “It was rewarding to be able to adapt our expertise to a new audience and see how beneficial it was for their students.”

Tech Foundry initially reached out to Leadership Pioneer Valley to design and deliver a customized leadership-development program for participants to help prepare them for new careers in IT.

“I can definitely say that, as a result of working with LPV, our students’ skill sets and confidence increased by leaps and bounds. Lora was thoughtful and responsive from our first planning meetings designing the curriculum to establishing the schedule, to securing trainers and delivering the workshops to meet our unique program needs,” said Dara Nussbaum-Vazquez, executive director of Tech Foundry. “Interactive and engaging LPV sessions with Tech Foundry ranged from students creating an elevator pitch on video to team exercises building towers out of spaghetti and marshmallows, to a creativity and problem-solving session rooted in improv-comedy techniques. We would highly recommend LPV to other nonprofits and companies, and look forward to a longstanding partnership.”

LPV is also currently seeking applications for its LEAP Class of 2020. Emerging leaders, mid-career professionals with leadership potential, and those looking to better the Pioneer Valley are encouraged to apply. The deadline for applications is Monday, July 1. Applications and further information can be found at www.leadershippv.org.

SPRINGFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) recently released its 2019 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and Pioneer Valley Plan for Progress Five-year Update, a blueprint for economic development in the region.

The CEDS features a description of regional economic-development conditions and sets forth goals and objectives for the future, as well as a list of projects seeking the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration Public Works funding in the next year.

The report highlights the region’s continued decrease in unemployment, an improved workforce-talent pipeline, and increased early-education enrollment and high-school and community-college graduation rates, among others, as metrics illustrating the overall progress being made.

The CEDS also lists many major committed projects of regional significance, such as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame renovations in Springfield, North Square at the Mill District in Amherst, and the One Ferry Street mixed-use development in Easthampton.

A full digital copy is available by clicking here. Hard copies are also available upon request. 

HOLYOKE — MassHire Holyoke Career Center will host a workshop titled “How Will Marijuana Affect the Workplace In Massachusetts” with attorney Erica Flores from Skoler, Abbott & Presser. This free event will take place on Tuesday, May 14 from 8 to 10 a.m. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided.

Seating is limited, so attendes are encouraged to reserve seats early. Register for this free workshop by contacting Yolanda Rodriguez at (413) 322-7186 or [email protected].

Flores will discuss the current state of the law regarding marijuana use by employees for both medical and recreational purposes, including employers’ obligations to accommodate marijuana use by disabled employees; proposed legislation that would prohibit employers from discriminating against employees who use recreational marijuana and how this rule would affect employers’ current rights in the workplace; and the importance of reasonable-suspicion testing in this new legal climate and strategies for implementing and enforcing such testing programs.

SPRINGFIELD — More than 350 professionals from throughout Western Mass. will gather on the campus of Western New England University on Wednesday, May 22 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the 37th annual Social Work Conference.

The keynote speaker will be Jen Falcone, director of Businesses Against Human Trafficking. A survivor of child sexual abuse and trafficking as an adolescent, she will discuss her experiences and how utter devastation kick-started the healing that drives her life choices and professional work. Falcone will focus on launching a movement within the Springfield-area business community to address human trafficking.

Frank Sacco will be honored with the Jim Quinn Human Service Award at the conference. In addition to a celebrated career nationally and internationally in the fields of social work and psychotherapy, Sacco has spent his life researching and authoring books and articles on bullying, teacher bullying, and building a successful anti-bullying structure within a school. He consulted for the FBI after the 1999 Columbine shooting as well as internet sexual exploitation and domestic violence.

The day-long conference, sponsored by Western New England University’s Bachelor of Social Work Program, the Social Work Advisory Council, and the Office of Enrollment Management, will also feature more than 30 exhibitors from throughout the region.

The conference fee is $150 until May 7 and includes registration, luncheon, and six credit hours for full (100%) attendance. Registrations received after May 7 will have a fee of $165. Lower student rates are also available. To register online, visit wne.edu/prodev, or call (413) 796-2173.

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College AmeriCorps Program will receive $1,133,274 in AmeriCorps funding spread out over the next three years from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps and other national service programs.

Springfield College is one 26 Massachusetts-based organizations that received federal funding, supporting 6,611 AmeriCorps members in their efforts to tackle ongoing challenges in early-childhood education, job readiness, and environmental conservation.

For 22 years, the Springfield College AmeriCorps program has provided the city of Springfield and its public schools with student-support and academic-support specialists. Its staff and student volunteers provide mentoring, counseling, social-emotional reinforcement, direct interventions, and identification of risk factors that lead to dropping out of school. The Springfield College AmeriCorps program is the largest in Western Mass., with 56 total members.

The AmeriCorps member experience can be summed up by the words of Nick Fouche (a three-year veteran member), who said, “we wake up every morning knowing that there is more to give. So we throw on our name badge and our quarter zip. The ‘A’ we wear on our chest is no scarlet letter. It’s something that we should be proud of — it says we make the world better.”

Springfield College AmeriCorps members have provided an average of more than 44,000 hours of service to more than 16 of Springfield’s public schools leading to student academic success in English and math, and improved results in early literacy skills, attendance, and behavior.

AmeriCorps’ unique model means that the latest grants will leverage an additional $70,155,026 from the private sector, foundations, and other sources to further increase the return on the federal investment. CNCS will provide an additional $19,902,265 in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an award of up to $6,000 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans.

Both Springfield College undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply to the Springfield College AmeriCorps program, as well as community members and retired educators. Both half-time and quarter-time positions are available. Members receive a modest living allowance and, upon completion of their service, they earn Education Award funds that can be applied toward tuition or qualified student loans. For more information about the Springfield College AmeriCorps program, visit springfieldedu.americorps or e-mail [email protected].

GREENFIELD — Michael Tucker, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB), announced that the board of directors has approved the promotions of Christopher Wilkey to MIS officer, Adam Baker to vice president – commercial loans, Janet Rosenkranz to vice president and senior credit officer, and Erin Tautznik to assistant vice president and branch officer.

Wilkey is responsible for administration of the bank’s internal network and assisting staff in technology issues. He has been with GCB since 2007 and has been lead technology specialist since 2014. He attended the accounting program at Greenfield Community College.

Baker has more than 11 years in banking, primarily in commercial credit. He is a graduate of UMass Amherst and received his MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. He is based in the King Street office of Northampton Cooperative Bank, a division of Greenfield Cooperative Bank. He is responsible for developing new commercial-loan business in the bank’s market area, with a focus in Hampshire County. He is active in Horizons for Homeless Children, the Special Olympics, and Lighthouse Holyoke.

Rosenkranz has more than 23 years in banking and has been with GCB since 2016. She is a graduate of UMass Amherst with a degree in economics. She is based at the 62 Federal St. office of GCB and is responsible for managing the bank’s commercial credit-analysis staff and assisting in managing the overall bank loan portfolio. She is active with the American Cancer Society, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and Safe Passage.

Tautznik has more than 14 years of banking experience. She is responsible for managing the 67 King St., Northampton office of the bank. She joined the bank in 2004 and has attended Holyoke Community College and numerous banking seminars and courses. She is also a volunteer with the JFK Middle School’s after-school program.

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) will launch AIConversations, a discussion series highlighting important topics featuring members of the campus community, today, May 2, at 6 p.m. in the Stinger Pub on campus. The inaugural event will feature Lina Racicot, AIC’s director of Graduate Psychology, who oversees the forensic psychology and clinical psychology master’s-degree programs as well as the educational psychology and mental health counseling doctoral offerings for the college.

Racicot has decades of experience as an educator, author, researcher, clinician, and advocate. Further, she has been invited to work on a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant investigating medically assisted treatment for opioid addiction.

AIConversations will include discussion of Racicot’s recently released novel, Living with the Little Devil Man, which is based upon her own experiences with a loved one’s struggle with mental illness and addiction.

“The opioid public health crisis has led to such senseless loss for so many,” she said. “Whether it be the addicted losing everything, including their own identity, or loved ones losing them to the addiction, it’s essential to open the dialogue with healthcare providers to help recognize the comprehensive needs of each unique individual that comes their way.”

In addition to her role with the college as an advocate for at-risk youth, Racicot partners with the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative to identify rehabilitative opportunities in lieu of imprisonment for non-violent offenders. She also works with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department researching the efficacy of post-incarceration services.

AIConversations is free and open to the public. For more information, visit [email protected] or call the Office of Institutional Advancement at (413) 205-3520.

AMHERST — The U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) announced the election of 100 new members to the academy in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. They include Lila Gierasch, distinguished professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Chemistry at UMass Amherst.

The NAS is charged with providing independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology. Scientists are elected by their peers to membership in the NAS for outstanding contributions to research. Gierasch’s research focus for decades has been protein folding — that is, how amino-acid sequence determines the three-dimensional structure of a protein. She is particularly focused on how proteins fold in the cellular environment and the role of molecular chaperones in ensuring high fidelity in the folding process.

“I am thrilled by this honor,” she said. “The recognition of one’s contributions over a career by colleagues is truly gratifying.”

Added John McCarthy, UMass Amherst provost and senior vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, “this is a richly deserved honor for one of our stellar faculty members. Lila Gierasch is part of what makes this university great.”

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a private, nonprofit society of distinguished scholars charged with providing independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology. Scientists are elected by their peers to membership in the NAS for outstanding contributions to research. 

Gierasch’s honor is the latest in a recent series of recognitions she has earned from research peers and professional societies. Last year, for example, she received the American Chemical Society’s Ralph F. Hirschmann Award in Peptide Chemistry for “her seminal contributions to peptide structure and function, peptide models for protein folding and function, and roles of peptide and protein aggregation in disease.”

In 2016, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. That same year, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology named Gierasch editor in chief of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the society’s flagship journal, for a five-year term.

In 2014, Gierasch was named to the National Institutes of Health Council of Councils, established to advise the NIH director on policies and activities of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, which includes making recommendations on research that represents important areas of emerging scientific opportunities, rising public-health challenges, or knowledge gaps that deserve special emphasis or would otherwise benefit from strategic planning and coordination.

Most recently, she was recognized for her “outstanding contributions to peptide science” by the American Peptide Society. She will formally receive its lifetime achievement honor, the Merrifield Award, at a ceremony at the society’s annual meeting in Monterey, Calif. in June.

HOLYOKE — The largest healthcare IT managed-services provider in Western Mass. is expanding its leadership team with the appointment of David Rooks as director of Operations. A seasoned IT and telecommunications industry leader, Rooks previously served as manager of the Project Management Office at VertitechIT.

“In our nationwide search for the right person to oversee our expanding field services and call-center staff, we realized that the most qualified and dynamic management candidate was literally sitting right across the hall,” said baytechIT President Patrick Streck. “David has successfully managed complex technology projects ranging from office moves to the implementation of new unified communications platforms for baytechIT clients through his position at our parent company, VertitechIT. Placing him in charge of our entire technical staff creates a sense of continuity for our clients and staff alike.”

Headquartered in Holyoke, baytechIT serves more than 155 healthcare clients and manages and monitors more than 16,000 end-point devices. Since its founding in May 2018, the company has worked to fulfill its mission to meet the increasing demand for diverse healthcare IT services by hospitals, medical practices large and small, clinics, and social-services agencies.

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) will welcome Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey to campus today, May 1, to tour the campus and discuss current issues with students and faculty.

Healey will meet with students studying criminal justice, human services, and nursing from 2 to 3 p.m. in the PeoplesBank Conference Room on the third floor of the HCC Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development. She will give a brief talk followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by HCC Criminal Justice Professor Alex Sanchez. The event is free and open to the public.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for our students to hear from and talk to the top law-enforcement official in Massachusetts about issues that directly relate to their studies here at HCC, particularly on the subject of opioid addiction,” said Sanchez. “We’re looking forward to her visit and hearing her opinions on the subject, especially as it relates to the lawsuit the attorney general filed earlier this year against pharmaceutical industry giant Purdue Pharma.” 

Prior to the discussion, Healey will meet with HCC president Christina Royal, members of the HCC board of trustees, and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse. HCC students will also lead Healey on a brief tour of HCC’s Thrive financial-success center and food pantry, the new Center for Life Sciences, and the HCC Campus Center now in the final phase of a $43.5 million renovation.

“HCC has a long history as a leader in providing young people with the tools to succeed,” Healey said. “Their work is vitally important to our economy here in Massachusetts, and I am looking forward to speaking with students about the critical issues our state is facing.”

LAS VEGAS — MGM Resorts International reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. Consolidated net revenues increased 13% compared to the prior year quarter to $3.2 billion.

MGM Springfield earned $9.38 million on $77.9 million in net revenue. That figure represents adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization, or EBITDA.

“The first quarter came in slightly better than our expectations with consolidated net revenues up by 13% and adjusted EBITDA up 5%,” said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. “Our Las Vegas resorts experienced broad and diversified customer demand. Our non-gaming revenues grew by 4%.”

Net revenues increased 21% to $804 million, including $78 million in contributions from the opening of MGM Springfield in August and $37 million in contributions from the acquisition of Empire City Casino in New York in January.

“We remain focused on achieving our 2020 targets of $3.6 billion to $3.9 billion in consolidated adjusted EBITDA and significant growth in free cash flow,” Murren said. “Our strategy to achieve these goals includes the continued ramping up of MGM Cotai [in Macau], Park MGM [in Las Vegas], and MGM Springfield, and the implementation of the MGM 2020 Plan. MGM 2020 is a company-wide initiative aimed at leveraging a more centralized organization to maximize profitability and lay the groundwork for the company’s digital transformation to drive revenue growth. We are creating a streamlined, nimble organization that empowers leaders to make faster decisions. We are excited about our targeted growth opportunities in Japan, sports betting, and interactive initiatives. At the same time, we are maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation and creating long-term value for shareholders.”

EASTHAMPTON — Hogan Technology recently received Technology Assurance Group’s (TAG) top award at the 19th annual TAG Convention held in Orlando, Fla. TAG, an international organization of independently owned managed-technology service providers in the U.S. and Canada, selected Hogan Technology as the winner of the TAG Champion Award.

The award is based on the company’s ability to drive fellow TAG members’ growth and advancement. Hogan Technology offers an array of IT networking, voice, and video solutions all designed to increase customers’ profitability and productivity. The TAG Champion Award was accepted by Sean Hogan, president of Hogan Technology.

“Our company’s goal is to always strive to be on the leading edge of technology,” Hogan said. “Through TAG, we learn best business practices for the betterment of the customers we serve. We believe in giving back to the members that have helped us along the way. We’re proud to have won this award among such a sophisticated group of managed-technology services providers.”

Brian Suerth, president of TAG, added that “Hogan Technology continues to stand out as an exceptional TAG member. It was no surprise that they received this award. They are committed to continually educating their clientele on the latest advancements in technology. They have shared what they learned with their peers. As a result, they have helped raise the bar of customer service and satisfaction of our industry as a whole. This is why they deserve to be recognized as the best provider in our industry.”

SPRINGFIELD — Time is running out to submit a nomination for BusinessWest’s fifth Continued Excellence Award. The deadline is this Friday, May 3. The winner of the award will be unveiled at the magazine’s 40 Under Forty gala on Thursday, June 20.

Four years ago, BusinessWest inaugurated the award to recognize past 40 Under Forty honorees who had significantly built on their achievements since they were honored.

The first two winners were Delcie Bean, president of Paragus Strategic IT, and Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, president of Allergy and Immunology Associates of Western Mass. and chief of Allergy and Immunology at Baystate Medical Center. Both were originally named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2008. The judges chose two winners in 2017: Scott Foster, an attorney with Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas (40 Under Forty class of 2011); and Nicole Griffin, owner of Griffin Staffing Network (class of 2014). Last year, Samalid Hogan, regional director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (class of 2013), took home the honor.

“So many 40 Under Forty honorees have refused to rest on their laurels,” said Kate Campiti, associate publisher of BusinessWest. “Once again, we want to honor those who continue to build upon their strong records of service in business, within the community, and as regional leaders.”

Candidates must hail from 40 Under Forty classes prior to the year of the award — in this case, classes 2007-18 — and will be judged on qualities including outstanding leadership, dedicated community involvement, professional achievement, and ability to inspire. The award’s presenting sponsor is Health New England.

The nomination form is available by clicking here. For your convenience, a list of the past 12 40 Under Forty classes may be found here. For more information call Bevin Peters, Marketing and Events Director, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or e-mail [email protected].

WEST SPRINGFIELD — As part of its community partnership with Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, the United Bank Foundation Massachusetts announced it unanimously approved a $5,000 sponsorship of JA’s 100th-anniversary gala, “The Roaring ’20s Are Back!” The Great Gatsby-themed event will be held on Saturday, May 4 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at MGM Springfield.

In addition to the $5,000 sponsorship of the centennial gala, United Bank’s Massachusetts charitable foundation approved a total of $15,000 in recent years to bring financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurial programs to K-12 students in Western Mass. The programs teach students concepts related to budgeting, saving, and money management with the intent of promoting good financial habits.

Also, United Bank employees have been longtime active volunteers in Junior Achievement, enthusiastically investing their time and expertise to help teach financial literacy in area schools.

“Over the years, United Bank and our employees have been dedicated partners in helping JA of Western Mass. make a real and meaningful difference in the financial well-being of so many young people and their families,” said Dan Flynn, president of the United Bank Foundation Massachusetts and executive vice president and chief operating officer of Wholesale Banking at United. “Our $5,000 sponsorship of JA’s centennial celebration on May 4 is just another way of joining so many other generous individual and corporate supporters in honoring, recognizing, celebrating, and sustaining 100 years of empowering youth in Western Mass.”

NORTHAMPTON — Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Realtors announced the addition of Realtor Melissa Brunt to its roster of professional real-estate agents in its Main Street, Northampton office.

Brunt, who grew up in Brimfield, currently resides in Southampton, where she has lived for the past 18 years. “I fell in love with the beauty of the landscape and the kindness of the people in the Valley,” she said. After working in the hospitality industry for a number of years, she decided to make the switch to residential real-estate sales.

“I am pleased to have Melissa on our team of Realtors in our Northampton office,” said Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Realtors broker Christine Aubrey. “Her background in hospitality has always made customer service her first priority, and her career in real estate will be no different. She is focused on giving her clients the very best experience.”

Brunt is a member of the Realtor Assoc. of the Pioneer Valley, the National Assoc. of Realtors, and the Massachusetts Assoc. of Realtors. As a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Realtors, her primary focus will be residential real estate in Hampshire and Franklin counties.

SPRINGFIELD — Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) is now accepting applications for enrollment in the LEAP class of 2020, a nine-month, regional leadership-development program that engages the Pioneer Valley’s most promising emerging leaders through learning and exploration. Participants are trained in leadership skills by experts in a classroom setting. They also attend in-depth field experiences across the region where they meet with local leaders and explore the region’s economy and culture. The LEAP program runs September through May.

In its seven years, nearly 300 individuals representing more than 90 companies, organizations, and municipalities have participated. The program has filled a critical need for a leadership program that builds a network of emerging leaders to address the challenges and opportunities of the region. Fifty-three percent of alumni have a new leadership role at work, 64% have joined a new board of directors, and 99% made new meaningful connections.

“It’s exciting to see the growth of the individuals during the course of the LEAP program,” said Lora Wondolowski, executive director of LPV. “Our program continues to grow to meet the needs of the community, and we are super excited for the new class.”

LPV is seeking applicants all over the Pioneer Valley, including Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties in different sectors. The program is made for those in nonprofits, businesses, and government who are eager to increase their leadership skills and take action to better the region.

Applicants are considered in a competitive application process that prioritizes diversity by employment sector, geography, race, gender, and sexual orientation. Emerging leaders, mid-career professionals with leadership potential, and those looking to better the Pioneer Valley should consider applying. Those who apply by June 1 will be eligible for $100 off of their personal tuition, and companies with three or more applicants by June 1 will receive 50% off one participant. The deadline for LPV class of 2020 applications is July 1. Applications and further information can be found at www.leadershippv.org.

SPRINGFIELD — Christopher Johnson, chair of the Springfield Technical Community College board of trustees, will be the featured speaker at STCC’s 52nd commencement on Thursday, May 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the MassMutual Center.

Johnson, a lawyer, currently serves as president of the Agawam City Council. He served as the town’s first mayor from 1989 to 2000 and as Agawam city solicitor in 2008 and 2009.

Born and raised in Agawam, Johnson is a graduate of the Agawam Public Schools, American International College, and the Western New England University School of Law. He initially practiced law in Northampton with Wilhelm, Hamilton & King. He currently is a partner with Johnson, Sclafani & Moriarty in West Springfield.

Johnson was appointed to the STCC board of trustees in 2006. His term is set to expire in 2019, making him one of the longest-serving community-college trustees in the Commonwealth.

“We are grateful to Chris Johnson for the many years of leadership, dedication, and outstanding service he has given to Springfield Technical Community College,” said STCC President John Cook. “With his keen insight of public higher education, including affordability considerations and the STCC mission, Chair Johnson truly has made a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of so many students.”

Added Johnson, “I am both honored and thrilled to speak at the STCC commencement. The Greater Springfield area is fortunate to have such an outstanding place of learning. STCC truly transforms the lives of its students, both the traditional college-transfer students and those taking advantage of our fantastic technology and health programs.”