HOLYOKE — The Dowd Agencies, LLC announced the promotion of Jennifer Lawton to vice president of Insurance Operations. Lawton, who began her career with Dowd in 2014, was formerly the agencies’ personal-lines manager.

“We’re very excited to welcome Jennifer to her new and well-deserved role,” said John Dowd Jr., president and CEO. “Of her nearly 30 years’ experience in the insurance industry, Jennifer has spent the last five lending her significant talent, expertise, and sense of dedication to the Dowd Agencies. We think Jennifer will thrive in her new position, which not only helps our organization but also, and most importantly, the clients we serve.” 

In her new position, Lawton provides leadership in the development, implementation, and oversight of systems and procedures that align with Dowd’s organizational strategic initiatives, helping to ensure the achievement of business results. She also serves as the primary advisor to the company’s senior executive leadership team on operational efficiencies.

A certified insurance service representative, Lawton received her associate degree in business from Holyoke Community College. She is the chairperson and program coordinator for Distinguished Young Women of Greater Easthampton, a scholarship program for high-school girls.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Eastern States Exposition announced that Timothy Garstka has joined ESE and will serve as the organization’s director of Sales. Garstka comes to ESE from his position at Williams Distributing in Chicopee, where he served as Sales manager and Brand Marketing manager.

He has more than 15 years of experience in strategic direction, coaching and counseling, performance management, and revenue growth, overseeing inside and outside sales professionals. His skills range from direct sales management and revenue growth to team building and training initiatives.

Prior to joining Williams Distributing, Garstka was a Field Sales manager for Molson/Coors Brewing Co. in Burlington, Vt., and worked as a salesperson for Burke Beverage in Chicopee.

“We are extremely pleased to have Tim on board at the Exposition,” said Gene Cassidy, ESE president and CEO. “His experience will bring a fresh, new approach to our year-round program of events and help bring innovative shows and events to our grounds.”

As director of Sales, he will be responsible for the oversight of the department, including the extensive number of year-round events held at ESE, Big E sponsorships and vendor/concessionaire space sales, advance ticket-sales outreach, and group sales.

“As a West Springfield native, I understand the importance of the Big E to the local economy,” Garstka said. “I am honored to be a part of this iconic organization that believes strongly in supporting local business, agriculture, and education. It’s an amazing organization with an outstanding team.”

Garstka graduated from West Springfield High School in 1991. He serves as the vice president of the East Longmeadow Baseball Assoc. and is a former board member of the Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter. He and his wife, Christine, are active volunteers for local Jimmy Fund events. He was also an assistant golf professional at Springfield Country Club in West Springfield and the Forest Country Club in Fort Myers, Fla.

NORTHAMPTON — Country Hyundai has been awarded the 2019 DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award and the 2019 Consumer Satisfaction Award, which recognize auto dealerships across the U.S. and Canada that deliver outstanding customer service, based on consumer reviews written on DealerRater.com.

“Car buyers have spoken and have identified Country Hyundai as the best Hyundai dealer to do business with in Massachusetts,” said DealerRater General Manager Jamie Oldershaw. “The quality and number of reviews for Country Hyundai speak volumes of the top-notch experiences they provide to customers.”

The DealerRater Dealer of the Year Awards are based on reviews by new- and used-car shoppers and those who took their vehicles into dealerships for service. Reviewers evaluated Country Hyundai on its customer service, quality of work, friendliness, pricing, and overall experience.

“We want to ensure that our customers are satisfied not only at the time of purchase, but as long as they own their vehicle,” said Carla Cosenzi, owner of Country Hyundai. “The DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award is reflective of our long-standing commitment to create exceptional customer experiences. Exceeding customer expectations is not an easy task. However, this is exactly what we strive to do every day here at Country Hyundai.” 

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) will host a National Pi Day celebration on Thursday, March 14 that promises to be equal parts educational and delicious.

In honor of National Pi Day, students of AIC Associate Professor and Mathematics Department Chair James Sansalone will hand out pie and pencils to peers and the public while putting their mathematical knowledge to the test. Those who visit the college’s Dining Commons from 10:45 a.m. to noon will not only receive complimentary dessert but will also be challenged by the Wheel of Pi. In a competition between students and non-students, participants will spin the wheel and attempt to identify mathematical formulas that use pi, while also learning fun and historical information about one of the most famous and significant geometric constants.

Pi, represented mathematically by the Greek letter π, is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. While it has been calculated to more than one trillion digits past its decimal, pi is most commonly identified numerically as 3.14. As such, Pi Day is celebrated each year on March 14. In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution supporting National Pi Day, encouraging schools and educators to teach students about pi and engage them about the study of mathematics.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University has been awarded $5,000 in grant funding support from the Charles H. Hall Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., trustee, for its project, “Impacting the Community: Fostering Social Justice Through Student Internships.” The foundation’s support will benefit Bay Path undergraduate students who are performing internships at nonprofits in Hampden County, including Square One, the Jewish Community Center, and Girls Inc., all of whom service at-risk children and youth.

Bay Path requires its traditional undergraduate students to complete a three- or six-credit internship, research project, or field-work experience, depending on their major, to ensure they have the opportunities to develop the skills and competencies that will help them launch their careers. This funding, which will cover four internships, will help relieve the financial worry that unpaid internships can bring for students. Many Bay Path students hold part-time jobs to make ends meet, and adding an unpaid internship to the mix can be stressful.

“Supporting our students as they perform their required internships not only develops leaders and underlines the importance of giving back to our local community, but also enables students to experience a sense of self-discovery and often personal transformation as they undertake their projects and interface with the nonprofit community,” said Kathryn Wiezbicki-Stevens, Bay Path’s chair of Undergraduate Psychology and director of Pre-OT Studies and Human and Health Science Programs, who oversees the project.

The Charles H. Hall Foundation was established in 2007 to support and promote educational, health and human services, religious, arts, and cultural programming for underserved populations. 

NORTHAMPTON — CommunicateHealth announced its 10th anniversary as a national consulting firm specializing in health information design.

CommunicateHealth started as a consulting practice focusing on translating health information into plain language. Co-founders Xanthi Scrimgeour and Stacy Robison started the business in their Northampton attic. “From day one, the demand for our services was off the charts. There was no one else out there doing this type of work,” said Scrimgeour. The couple quickly outgrew their attic space, eventually establishing an office on nearby Market Street.

Over the past 10 years, the company has been successfully evolving into a full-service communications shop. “We’ve brought nearly every service in house, including graphic design, website development, audience research, and usability testing,” said Robison. “All the while, we’ve kept our focus on designing simple, accessible health information.”

The mission-based company works for some of the biggest names in healthcare and public health, including health-insurance companies, health systems, patient-advocacy groups, and government. They also take on projects for local hospitals and community organizations. “Our formula is simple,” says Robison. “We write and design health information that’s easy to understand, and we test it with real people to make sure we got it right.”

CommunicateHealth’s growth is exceptional, noted Scrimgeour, as 70% of businesses fail in the first 10 years. The statistics are even more dramatic when it comes to women-owned businesses. “Only 1.7% of women-owned businesses generated revenues of more than $1 million in 2018,” she said. “CommunicateHealth broke $1 million in our third year of business. In 2018, we did over $12 million [in sales].”

CommunicateHealth is headquartered in Northampton with a second office in the Washington, D.C. area. It employs more than 65 employees across both offices.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled with our arrangement,” said Scrimgeour. “We are proud to be a part of the Northampton community and have an impact at the national level.”

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest is looking for nominees for its fifth Continued Excellence Award, and will accept nominations through 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].

AMHERST — The online MBA offered by the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst has been ranked first in the U.S. and third in the world by the Financial Times. 

With one of the largest and most established accredited online MBA programs in the country, the Isenberg School of Management has provided online education opportunities for nearly 16 years. More than 1,100 students are currently enrolled in the program.

“The Isenberg School has established itself as an international leader in online education, offering students innovative pathways to develop advanced skills and enrich their careers,” said UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy. “This world-class ranking from the Financial Times is yet another recognition of UMass Amherst’s leadership in the business world.”

The Isenberg School stood out in the Financial Times’ 2019 rankings in a number of areas. The online MBA program ranked first for increase in salary after earning an MBA, with a 39% increase; first in the U.S. for total salary; and first for percentage of female faculty, with 45%. Furthermore, the program ranked fifth in online interaction, which measures how well alumni rate interactions between students, teamwork, and availability of faculty.

“We are thrilled by the strides reflected in the latest Financial Times rankings, as they affirm that our recent investments in faculty and technology have provided a gateway for our program participants to excel,” said Tom Moliterno, interim dean of the Isenberg School. “We anticipate sustaining this momentum moving forward, as well as again demonstrating Isenberg’s online MBA bona fides as a pioneering online program.”

Isenberg’s online MBA program offers an expansive course of study, from business analytics, finance, and healthcare administration to marketing and sports management. Isenberg students come from all 50 states and around the globe, and include physicians, attorneys, entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, and scientists.

HOLYOKE — The Dowd Agencies, LLC announced that Suzanne Mlinarcik has joined its staff as a commercial account manager and marketer. She is responsible for marketing new and renewal business and managing in-house accounts.

“Suzanne has done it all in the insurance industry,” said David Griffin Sr., executive vice president and treasurer of the Dowd Agencies. “She is passionate about her work and is proud of the relationships she builds with her clients and co-workers. She’s an excellent addition to our staff, and we are excited to have her on our team.”

Mlinarcik has been an insurance professional for more than 25 years, specializing in commercial insurance and training and mentoring employees. Her career began at an insurance agency in Connecticut, where she climbed the ranks from a part-time employee to manager of the Commercial Lines department. She eventually stepped into the role of senior account manager, where she mentored new hires and managed her own client portfolio.

Mlinarcik is an active member of the motorcycle community, regularly participating in charitable events including Brightside’s Hope for the Holidays Toy Drive/Run, Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, and the Wicked in Pink Cancer Run.

SHELBURNE FALLS — Wanda Mooney, associate-broker with Coldwell Banker Upton Massamont Realtors, has been awarded the 2018 Coldwell Banker International President’s Elite. Only the top 5% of all sales associates worldwide in the Coldwell Banker system qualified for this group.

Mooney also received the 2018 Platinum Award from the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley and the Platinum Award from Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Realtors.

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College will host a Majors and Career Fair for students, local vocational high schools, and community agencies interested in exploring opportunities in the biomedical, architectural, civil and mechanical engineering, optics and photonics, social work, landscape and design, digital media, graphic communications, IT security, and many other STEM fields.

The Majors and Career Fair will be held Wednesday, April 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Scibelli Hall Gymnasium in Building 2. This event is a collaboration among the Career Development Center, the HSI-STEM Grant, and the Perkins Grant.

Representatives from academic majors, career fields, and local employers will be on hand. With a goal of raising awareness about STEM majors and careers, the fair will give attendees an opportunity to speak with employers about potential opportunities in their field.

For more information, contact Felicia Griffin-Fennell at [email protected] or (413) 755-4819.

SPRINGFIELD — Complete Payroll Solutions announced it saw more than 100% year-over-year revenue growth compared to a year ago, setting a record pace of new customer acquisitions. The momentum reflects the company’s investment in its people and processes to better serve clients.

This momentum is evidenced by several highlights from 2018, including four location openings in Wakefield, Mass., White Plains, N.Y., West Warwick, R.I., and Portsmouth, N.H.; 35 new employees across all offices and an expanded sales force with 10 additional salespeople, providing enhanced resources in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Connecticut; a new HR consulting division that delivers local, personalized HR solutions to clients; partnerships with industry leaders like BankRI, Brookline Bank, and First Ipswich Bank, along with the company’s continued relationship with Webster Bank; and the addition of iSolved, an HCM technology, to complement its existing platform, Kronos. Together, the solutions help clients with their workforce-management processes, including payroll, time and attendance, benefits, and HR to recruit, onboard, and manage employees. 

Founded in 2003 as a startup venture by owners with a long tradition in the industry, Complete Payroll Solutions now has 14 locations throughout the Northeast with 150 employees, and services over 6,000 clients across all 50 states.

“Our expanding client base is testament to the value we deliver in empowering businesses for success,” said John Pettengill, CEO of Complete Payroll Solutions. “I’m grateful for the relationships we’ve built and our dedicated team that have fueled this trajectory and secured our position as an industry leader.”

PITTSFIELD — The Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative (BFMC) received two grant awards for its newly established Community Film Fund, which is a matching fund to help local nonprofit organizations create videos for their branding, marketing, fundraising, and social media. The grants were received from the Berkshire Bank Foundation and the Feigenbaum Foundation, each in the amount of $2,500.

In today’s world, video messaging is becoming increasingly important. Wordstream, an online advertising company, states that the average user spends 88% more time on a website with video. Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% when reading it in text, and an initial e-mail with a video receives an click-through rate increase of 96%.

 “Many times, this essential tool is cut from a nonprofit’s budget,” said BMFC Executive Director Diane Pearlman. “The Community Film Fund will help give a voice through video to our local organizations, as well as create jobs for professional filmmakers in our area.”

BFMC is in the process of raising $50,000 for this new initiative, which it expects to launch later this spring. BFMC is partnering with the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires to provide information to local organizations about this opportunity.

PITTSFIELD — The School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Elms College, in partnership with Berkshire Community College and 1Berkshire, will host an early-childhood-education workshop on Saturday, April 13 from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the cafeteria at Berkshire Community College.

The workshop, titled “A Glimpse at Growing Up WILD,” is free and open to the public. In this extensive training for educators run through MassWildlife, Jane McCarry, academic coordinator and advisor for the Early Care and Education program at Elms, and also a trained Growing Up WILD facilitator, will present two of the program’s activities: “Seed Need” and “Lunch for a Bear.” These hands-on activities encourage participants to move, learn to collect data, and make science-based observations, all at a preschool level. Participants in this workshop will take part in these activities and learn how to use them in childcare settings.

The primary intended audience includes people who are already working in early education at preschools or in group care who are required to obtain 20 hours of training per year, but the workshop is also open to BCC students currently earning their associate degrees in early education or a related field, prospective early-childhood-education students, and any community members who are interested in learning about Growing Up WILD.

Upon completion of the training, participants will receive a certificate of attendance confirming they have successfully completed two hours of training in Core Competency Area 5: Learning Environments and Implementing Curriculum. 

The total participants are limited to 50. For more information or to register, e-mail Kelly Zieba at [email protected].

HOLYOKE — Women leaders of prominent area institutions will be featured speakers at a spring Women’s Leadership Luncheon Series hosted by the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute.

The four-part, monthly “Leadership in Your Future 2019” series kicks off Friday, March 22 and continues on April 26, May 24, and June 28.

Each of four presenters will sit at a different table and speak on a subject of their choosing. Over the course of the four-session series, they will rotate among the tables so guests have the opportunity to hear all the presentations. 

The four presenters are Ashley Allen, vice president of Marketing for Health New England (topics: “What Is a Career?” and “Designing Your Career Destiny”); Beth DeGray, managing partner at the Log Cabin, Delaney House, and D. Hotel Suites & Spa (“Mentoring & Being Mentored”); Christina Royal, president of Holyoke Community College (“Authentic Leadership in an Age of Disruption”); and Shannon Rudder, executive director of Providence Ministries Inc. (“Building Your Coalition”).

The luncheons will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 164 Race St. in Holyoke. Lunch will be prepared and served by students in the HCC Culinary Arts program.

The series will provide an opportunity to learn from women leaders of area institutions and a chance for participants to network with their peers and gain insights on building their own careers.

The cost is $150 for all four sessions. Seats are limited. To reserve a spot, contact Jordan Hart at (413) 534-3376 or [email protected], or register online at holyokechamber.com under ‘Events.’

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — Connecticut-based Liberty Bank announced that David Glidden will serve as its new president and CEO, effective March 18, succeeding Chandler Howard, who has led the bank since 2007.

“We extend a warm welcome to David as he joins Liberty Bank,” said Mark Gingras, chairman of the Liberty Bank board of directors. “After an extensive, nationwide search, we are confident that David’s leadership experience and remarkable achievements will lead Liberty Bank toward a future of continued growth, outstanding customer service, and community involvement.”

Glidden brings more than 30 years of industry leadership experience to Liberty Bank. Most recently, he served as regional president for the Northern New England and Upstate New York Region for TD Bank. He was responsible for managing retail banking, small-business, wealth-management, commercial, and specialty banking operations and lending services. Glidden began his banking career at Shawmut Bank’s Commercial Lending Division in Boston and joined TD Bank in 1994, embarking on a path that led to numerous positions of increasing responsibility. 

“I look forward to joining Liberty Bank and working with the team to reach new heights,” said Glidden. “Under Chandler’s leadership, Liberty built a solid foundation and continues to be a top company in Connecticut. During the next chapter of Liberty’s history, we will remain committed to helping customers handle their finances with confidence. I am proud to have the opportunity to lead the team to more successes as we continue to provide outstanding products and services, one-of-a-kind customer experiences, and unparalleled community support to the areas within our footprint.”

HOLYOKE — Whittlesey announced that Amy Richards, CPA has been promoted to manager in its Holyoke office. In this role, she is responsible for expanding and managing assurance, tax, and advisory engagements.

Richards has more than 11 years of experience providing accounting, tax, and advisory services. Over her career, she has managed client relationships, made process improvements, and analyzed data to provide actionable insights for her clients.

“We are pleased to have Amy in the role of manager,” said Steve Erickson, partner-in-charge of the Holyoke office. “As an integral member of our team, Amy has shown the initiative and dedication necessary to not only provide outstanding client service, but also develop our next generation of team members.”

Richards formerly served as a supervisor at Whittlesey. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fitchburg State University and an MBA in accounting from UMass Lowell.

SPRINGFIELD — The board of directors of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley (RAPV) recently welcomed Brendan Bailey as its new CEO.

“We are so excited to welcome Brendan to the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley. We look forward to his energy and enthusiasm to take our association to the next level,” said Kelly Bowman, 2019 RAPV president.

Bailey began his career in association management with the Raleigh Regional Assoc. of Realtors (RRAR) in Cary, N.C., a board of more than 8,000 members, where he served as chief operating officer. Prior to joining RARR, he served as policy coordinator for the American Assoc. of Colleges of Pharmacy and as a House legislative assistant in the North Carolina General Assembly. On the national level, Bailey currently serves as vice chair for the AE YPN Forum for the National Assoc. of Realtors.

“The members of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley serve a wonderful, exciting community,” Bailey said, “and I am honored to be joining them in the work they do here.”

SPRINGFIELD — This St. Patrick’s Day weekend, MGM Springfield will bring the community together for “Be Brave & Shave,” a head-shaving event to support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s fight for childhood cancer research. 

Open to the public from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, MGM Springfield employees and guests can volunteer to have their heads shaved by the Salon at MGM Springfield staff in the historic Armory to raise money for this worthy cause. Conducted as an expression of courage and endearment, the act of head-shaving allows volunteers to stand in solidarity with children battling cancer, who typically lose their hair during treatment. 

“We are honored to partner with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to help the youngest in our community battle this terrible illness,” said Alex Dixon, general manager of MGM Springfield. “Every two minutes, a child is diagnosed with cancer worldwide, so knowing that an act as simple as shaving our heads can help provide more research and ultimately, hopefully, cures for these children makes us all proud to participate.”

Since 2000, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has granted more than $253 million for the development of childhood cancer treatments. The nonprofit continues that effort through its foundation and nationwide head-shaving events. 

Those interested in shaving or raising money can register online by clicking here, or register on site the day of the event. Group registration is also available for teams and organizations. For more information on “Be Brave & Shave” and how to donate, visit stbaldricks.org.

SPRINGFIELD — The Melha Shriners announced they have sold their property and building at 133 Longhill St. in Springfield to the Breakthrough Worship Center of Springfield, with a March 25, 2019 closing date anticipated. The Melha Shriners, the local chapter of Shriners International, supporters of Shriners Hospitals for Children, have been headquartered at the Longhill Street location for almost 60 years.

According to 2019 Melha Potentate Dan Smith, the sale of the building marks the end of an era, but the beginning of a new one.

“With our membership continuing to decline, it was not financially viable to remain in such a large building,” said Smith, noting that the Melha Shriners, who numbered near 4,000 in the late 1970s, now number few than 1,000. “We are very pleased that our buyers, and their planned use of the property, is consistent with the residential character of our Forest Park neighborhood.”

The Melha Shriners will hold a commemoration event at the Longhill property on Saturday, March 16 at 5 p.m. Complimentary tickets are available through the Melha Shrine Center office by calling (413) 736-3647 before Thursday, March 14. During the event, which will include complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a limited cash bar, the cornerstone from the 133 Longhill St. building will be removed, with the hope the Masonic Brothers left something to find. There will also be a slideshow of the history of the Melha Shriners at 133 Longhill St., and the public is encouraged to e-mail photos [email protected] before March 14.

The Melha Shriners, who were chartered in Springfield in 1898, purchased the former Dwight W. Ellis property in the late 1950s after having met around the city and occupying buildings on Sergeant Street and Worthington Street. The building on Longhill Street was dedicated on Sept. 26, 1959.

The fraternity will have temporary office space at the Clarion Hotel in West Springfield until a new, permanent location can be secured. The Melha Shriners also operate a property at the former Knights of Columbus Hall in Ware.

LONGMEADOW — At its 2019 annual meeting in Atlanta, the Assoc. of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) announced that Carol Leary, president of Bay Path University, was appointed chair of the board.

Richard Guarasci, president of Wagner College, will continue to serve on AAC&U’s board as past chair. The members also voted to appoint William Craft, president of Concordia College, as vice chair of the board. Royce Engstrom, professor of Chemistry at the University of Montana, will continue his term as treasurer.

Two new directors were also appointed to AAC&U’s board: Timothy Eatman, inaugural dean of the Honors Living-Learning Community and associate professor of Urban Education at Rutgers University Newark; and Mary Ann Villareal, assistant vice president, Strategic Initiatives at California State University Fullerton.

“It is a privilege to welcome our new board members as we work together in support of AAC&U and our president, Lynn Pasquerella,” Leary said. “The mission and goals of AAC&U, and our commitment to equity, inclusivity, and innovation, are more critical than ever as higher education grapples with the seismic shifts presented by the 21st century.”

Added Pasquerella, “it is an honor and a privilege to work with such an extraordinary group of higher-education leaders. I look forward to learning from the insights and expertise of AAC&U’s new board members as we seek to achieve our shared objective of advancing liberal education and equity as the foundations for excellence in undergraduate education in service to democracy.”

LENOX — James Wolfe has been appointed general manager of Seven Hills, a historic, 57-room boutique hotel in Lenox. Backed by 17 years of senior leadership experience in the hospitality industry, Wolfe joins the hotel in the midst of a repositioning and renovation that is slated for completion this spring. 

Wolfe comes to Seven Hills from Comfort Inn & Suites Sturbridge, where he also served as general manager. Over the course of his career, he has held general-manager positions at hotels throughout the Northeast and Midwest under the Courtyard by Marriott, Hyatt Place, and Residence Inn brands. As general manager of Newark Metropolitan Hotel in Newark, Ohio, he led the 118-room hotel through an acquisition, renovation, and grand opening.

Wolfe has also served as director of operations for Crowne Plaza and the Lofts in Columbus, Ohio, and for Sage Hospitality’s Cherry Valley Lodge and Sheraton Kansas City Sports Complex.

“We’re delighted to welcome James to the Scout family and are confident that his past experience in the Berkshires region and through the renovations process makes him the right choice to lead Seven Hills during this exciting, transformative time,” said Robin Kirk, principal and CEO of Scout Hotels and Resort Management.

SPRINGFIELD — Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM), now celebrating its centennial anniversary, has earned a 5-Star Award from Junior Achievement USA for the third consecutive year.

“The board of directors and staff of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts are proud to receive this recognition for working for a cause we feel passionate about — giving students knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship,” said Jennifer Connolly, JAWM president. “This recognition is a real testament to the outstanding support we receive from our board of directors, our volunteers, and our local communities.”

Junior Achievement organizations are now judged on five categories: Student Growth/Year-over-Year % Change in Contact Hours; Surplus; Cash on Hand; Debt Ratio, and Current Ratio, defined as current assets divided by current liabilities. All chapters must meet the criteria for Surplus and at least one of the two student ratios, with the level of the star determined by how many of the other three standards are met.

JAWM’s volunteer-delivered, K-12 programs foster work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial-literacy skills, and use experiential learning to inspire students to reach their potential. It provides turnkey solutions for businesses to engage students; rigorous and proven curriculum to educators for Massachusetts frameworks in English-language arts, mathematics, and social studies; and business-startup experience for teens.

In addition, Junior Achievement provides educational programming for K-12 students that supports the newly signed law by Gov. Charlie Baker aimed at giving Massachusetts students the tools they need to navigate their financial futures, including milestones like buying a home and planning for retirement. The law allows state education officials to establish standards around financial literacy, which schools could incorporate into their existing curricula in subjects like math, business, and social sciences.

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest is looking for nominees for its fifth Continued Excellence Award, and will accept nominations through 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 Enlgand.

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].

SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts is seeking nominations from throughout Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties for the Pynchon Award, which recognizes citizens who have rendered distinguished service to the community.

The Order of William Pynchon was established by the Advertising Club in 1915 to recognize and encourage individuals whose lives and achievements typify the ideals of promoting citizenship and the building of a better community in Western Mass. Past recipients include war heroes, social activists, teachers, volunteers, philanthropists, historians, clergy, physicians, journalists, public servants, and business leaders. A complete list of recipients since 1915 can be found at www.adclubwm.org/events/pynchonaward.

To nominate an individual, submit a one-page letter explaining why the nominee should be considered. Include biographical information, outstanding accomplishments, examples of service to the community, organizations he or she is or has been active in, and the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three people who can further attest to the nominee’s eligibility for induction into the Order of William Pynchon.

All nominees will be considered and researched by the Pynchon trustees, composed of the current and five past presidents of the Advertising Club. Nominations must be submitted by April 5 to: William Pynchon Trustees, Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts, P.O. Box 1022, West Springfield, MA 01090-1022, or by e-mail to [email protected].

Pynchon medalists are chosen by unanimous decision of the Pynchon trustees. The 2019 recipients will be announced in June, with an awards ceremony scheduled for Oct. 10 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.

WESTFIELD — Tighe & Bond Inc. announced that Brian Brenner, has joined the firm as a principal bridge engineer in its Building Services business line. He has 36 years of experience in highway and railroad bridges, tunnels, and value engineering for large highway and transit projects. Brenner will serve Tighe & Bond’s clients across the Northeast, working from the firm’s Westwood, Mass. office.

Brenner’s career has been defined by his leadership on numerous high-profile projects that include all facets of bridge analysis and design, as well as structural engineering. Representative projects include the Central Artery/Tunnel in Boston and the Burns Bridge in Worcester. In 2016, the American Public Works Assoc. named the Burns Bridge its Project of the Year, and the National Steel Bridge Alliance named it the Best Steel Bridge Design (in the medium-span category). Other project examples include two accelerated bridge-construction projects across the MBTA Commuter Rail in Dorchester, an award-winning accelerated bridge-construction project in Back Bay, Boston, and value engineering for numerous Department of Transportation projects throughout Massachusetts.

A professor of Practice at Tufts University, Brenner also teaches classes in bridge and concrete design, as well as introduction to engineering. In 2016 and 2018, the Tufts Civil and Engineering Department named him Teacher of the Year. He has published numerous papers and books relative to bridge design, and participates regularly in research projects on aspects of long-term bridge design.

“Brian’s depth of experience with bridge analysis and design will benefit our clients greatly and compliments our wealth of infrastructure services perfectly,” said Bob Belitz, president and CEO of Tighe & Bond. “Brian has a unique combination of academic and engineering practice experience on a variety of New England projects. We are very happy that he has joined our team.”

Added Brenner, “Tighe & Bond is a great and growing New England-based A/E firm. I have been fortunate to contribute to many bridge projects in Massachusetts and surrounding states. I am looking forward to this new opportunity, working with a talented group of professionals.”

Brenner is active in the American Society of Civil Engineers, where he is a fellow, and the Boston Society of Civil Engineers. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

HAMPDEN — The Starting Gate at GreatHorse is celebrating the Irish with a St. Patrick’s luncheon buffet on Saturday, March 16 from noon to 3 p.m. The Cassin Academy of Irish Dance will also be performing a few traditional Irish dances to help get everyone in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. A cash bar will be available.

This event is open to the public. The cost is $45 per person. Call (413) 566-5158 to make a reservation.

EASTHAMPTON — Friday, April 5 will mark Riverside Industries’ 15th annual Silent & Live Auction. The event will feature more than 250 silent-auction items and a live auction full of experiences from the Valley and beyond.

The event will be held at One Cottage Street, in Easthampton from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Attendees can expect plenty of food, casual attire, and a cash bar. Tickets cost $30 in advance. Securely register online at rsi.org.

The presenting sponsor is bankESB; the associate sponsor is Harvard Pilgrim; the table sponsors are Finck & Perras Insurance Agency and Mutual of America; and the collaborator sponsors are A-Z Storage & Properties, Helping Hand Society, SBI Benefits Consulting Group, Ruth and Spencer Timm, Whittlesey & Hadley P.C., and Williston Northampton School.

AMHERST — The Amherst Survival Center, a regional resource serving low-income residents of Hampshire and Franklin counties, announced the selection of K. Lev Ben-Ezra as its next executive director. Ben-Ezra succeeds Mindy Domb, who has been director since June 2013 and has been elected state representative for the 3rd Hampshire District.

“We’re thrilled to have Lev joining us,” said Lynn Griesemer, president of the Amherst Survival Center board. “Over the past several years, and with the continued and increased support of the community, the center has expanded its collection of programs. As a result, the center has been able to meet more needs and develop and achieve an ambitious strategic plan.”

Ben-Ezra’s experience includes extensive work over the past decade at Community Action Pioneer Valley, where she developed and implemented leadership and workforce-development programs for both youth and adults. Most recently, she served as director of Youth and Workforce Development, and previously as director of Youth Programs. She has also worked in several other youth-serving organizations, working to support youth at risk in a variety of settings. She has served as chair of the Franklin County/North Quabbin Communities that Care Coalition for the last eight years, as a steering committee member of the Hampshire County Strategic Planning Initiative for Families and Youth, and as a member of the Regional Employment Board’s Youth Career Connections Council, as well as on other local coalitions. She is also an adjunct faculty member of Marlboro College Graduate and Professional Studies and a board member of the Community Health Center of Franklin County.

“I have grown increasingly passionate about the importance of addressing challenges we face at both the individual intervention and systemic change level,” Ben-Ezra said. “I have been impressed for many years by the Amherst Survival Center’s commitment to leverage volunteers, donations, and advocacy to create inclusive community, starting by meeting people’s most basic needs.”

BOSTON — Business confidence rebounded modestly during February as optimism about the state and national economies outweighed a darkening outlook among Massachusetts manufacturers.

The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index gained 0.5 points to 58.2 after dropping in January to its lowest level since October 2016. Confidence remains within optimistic territory but has lost 6.8 points during the past 12 months.

The February increase was driven by a 3.4% jump in employer views of the state economy and a 3.3% rise for the national economy. The government announced last week that the U.S. economy grew at a 2.9% rate in 2018, matching 2015 as the biggest increase since the end of the 2007-09 Great Recession.

“Employers remain generally optimistic about a state economy that continues to run at full-employment levels and a U.S. economy that is projected to grow by 2.2% this year” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) and lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. “At the same time, the erosion of confidence among Massachusetts manufacturers during the past 12 months raises some concern about the long-term sustainability of the recovery.”

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.

AIM President and CEO Richard Lord, also a BEA member, said the comments provided by employers on the February AIM Business Confidence Index Survey show that many companies remain bullish about 2019, while others remain concerned about issues ranging from gridlock in Washington to the persistent shortage of skilled employees.

“There are plenty of mixed signals 10 years into the economic recovery,” Lord said. “Massachusetts employers face rising wage costs, rising raw-material costs, and the challenge of integrating new public-policy mandates such as an increased minimum wage and paid family and medical leave. It’s the right time in the business cycle for state and federal government to follow the lead of the Federal Reserve and pause the imposition of expensive new initiatives.”

NORTHAMPTON — Michael Tucker, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank, announced that Daniel E. O’Neill has joined the bank as vice president – Commercial Lending in its Northampton Cooperative Bank division.

“Dan has over 29 years’ experience in commercial credit and lending, starting his career with the former Shawmut National Bank, and was most recently the senior commercial lender for an area credit union,” Tucker said. “When we heard that Dan might be available, Greenfield Cooperative Bank felt it could not pass up this opportunity to add someone with Dan’s extensive experience to our Commercial Lending team.

O’Neill, who will be based in the 67 King St. office of the Northampton Cooperative Bank division, earned bachelor’s degree from Assumption College in Worcester and is a graduate of the School of Commercial Lending held by the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. He has been active in the community throughout his career with time spent as a volunteer board member with groups such as the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, the Holyoke YMCA, the Chicopee Boys’ and Girls’ Club, and Blessed Sacrament School in Holyoke.

LONGMEADOW — Taking care of the older adults in the community has always been a passion for Glenmeadow, a Longmeadow-based provider of senior living and services. This year, it’s going the extra mile and positioning its leadership team for further success by partnering with Bay Path University’s Strategic Alliances for a six-part series on leadership development.

As an innovative leader in adult and professional learning, Bay Path’s Strategic Alliances partners with employers to customize a curriculum that empowers employees to have a positive impact on productivity and the bottom line. Glenmeadow’s custom Leadership Development program focuses on engaging communication methods, leadership-development skills, handling difficult environments, and employee management. Each session is run by a faculty member who is an expert in their field.

“Glenmeadow’s pledge is to nurture the mind, body, and spirit of the people we serve and employ,” said Anne Miller, Glenmeadow’s vice president of Operations. “Partnering with the diverse team at Bay Path helps us to step back from our day-to-day operations and look with fresh eyes at our services, and gives both our seasoned managers and our newer managers time for growth, development, and teamwork.”