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.”

AGAWAM — As part of organizational changes previously announced by OMG Inc. to accelerate growth, the company has promoted Web Shaffer to the position of senior vice president and general manager for the FastenMaster Division.

In this role, Shaffer is responsible for developing and executing the division’s overall strategy for the two recently created divisional business units, Decking and Structural Products. In addition, he is responsible for overseeing FastenMaster’s new product-development and innovation group and its sales and marketing teams, including retail sales, customer service, and technical support. He reports to Hubert McGovern, president and CEO of OMG.

“Web is uniquely qualified for the FastenMaster position,” said McGovern. “He came to OMG not only with 20 years of experience growing global businesses, but also extensive experience servicing home centers, a big part of FastenMaster’s customer base. Since joining OMG, Web has established a proven track record of leadership with a strong focus on creating long-term value for customers and shareholders. We are confident he is the right resource to lead the FastenMaster team to succeed.”

Shaffer joined OMG Roofing Products in 2015 as vice president of Marketing and took on international sales responsibility in 2016. He was promoted in 2018 to vice president of the Fastener Business Unit. Prior to joining OMG, he spent eight years in the Newell Rubbermaid tool business, managing hand tools and power-tool accessories for the Lenox and Irwin brands. He also served as vice president of Marketing for the baby gear segment at Newell. Earlier, he was director of Product Management at Permatex, a division of Illinois Tool Works, and worked in sales, channel marketing, and market research at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College and an MBA from The University of Indiana.

SPRINGFIELD — The Hampden County Bar Assoc. is now accepting applications for the John F. Moriarty Scholarship and the Colonel Archer B. Battista Veterans Scholarship.

The John F. Moriarty Scholarship is available to any Hampden County resident who has been admitted to or is attending a certified law school for the 2019-20 academic year. Applicants must have been residents of Hampden County for at least five years. The deadline date for the John F. Moriarty Scholarship is May 31.

The Colonel Archer B. Battista Veterans Scholarship is available to any veteran with an honorable discharge or a current member of the U.S. military who has been admitted to or is attending a certified law school in New England for the 2019-20 year. The deadline for the Colonel Archer B. Battista Veterans Scholarship is May 15.

Both scholarships are based on merit and financial need. Applications and additional information are available by contacting  Caitlin Glenn at the Hampden County Bar Assoc. at (413) 732-4660 or [email protected] or by visiting www.hcbar.org/about-us/scholarships/.

ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College (ACC) will hold an open house on Tuesday, March 26, starting at 5:30 p.m. The open house will feature information about ACC’s academic programs, including healthcare and manufacturing, and credit-free options. Attendees will learn about the admissions and financial-aid process and be able to take a campus tour, including the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center.

Walk-ins are always welcome, but reservations are recommended. RSVP at www.asnuntuck.edu/admissions/visit-us to reserve a spot. Refreshments will be served.

Students can apply on the spot, and one prospective student from Connecticut will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship for the 2019-20 academic year. To qualify for the scholarship, an application for the fall semester must be completed on or before March 26, and they must attend the open house.

Registration for the fall semester will open on Monday, April 1. Visit www.asnuntuck.edu for information on how to register.

PITTSFIELD — The School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Elms College, in partnership with Berkshire Community College (BCC) and 1Berkshire, will host a social-work career panel on Saturday, March 30 from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the cafeteria at BCC.

The event will feature panelists — Elms faculty, BCC faculty, and Elms alumni — with experience in criminal justice, youth service, guidance counseling, senior services, mental health, private practice, addiction and recovery, and more. The panelists will illuminate the array of options available to those who have a bachelor’s degree in social work.

The  moderator will be Maureen Holland, director of Social Work at Elms. Panelists will include Tom Verdi, Department of Youth Services social worker, Social Work academic advisor, and adjunct faculty in Social Work for Elms College Off Campus at BCC; Pam DiGrigoli, Lee Council on Aging and Senior Center director; Jonathan Schnauber, adjunct faculty for Elms College Off Campus at BCC Social Work and doctoral candidate at the University of Southern California; Kari Dupuis, BCC associate professor of Human Services, program advisor for Social Work transfer concentration/associate’s degree, and licensed therapist in the Berryman Professional Building; and Pamela Coley McCann, BCC assistant professor of Human Services and licensed therapist in the Berryman Professional Building.

A continental breakfast will be served. For more information, e-mail Kelly Zieba at [email protected].

GREENFIELD — PV Squared, a worker-owned cooperative and local solar design and installation company located in Greenfield, recently welcomed seven new worker-owners to the ownership team: Madeleine Geschwind, Brain (Craig) Lakas, Jeremy Latch, Jeff Molongoski, Todd Sessions, Nik Perry, and Matt Valliere.

To become a worker-owner, employees must work at PV Squared for at least one year before participating in an additional one-year worker-owner in training (WOIT) program. The WOIT program involves in-depth education about all aspects of the cooperative, the development of a personal leadership plan, and additional learning opportunities about socially responsible business practices.

“It has been rewarding to watch the cooperative grow from a handful of worker-owners in 2002 to a team of more than 40 employees in 2019 that includes 29 worker-owners,” said Jon Child, Design & Sales team leader and worker-owner. “This means that PV Squared clients are working directly with owners in all aspects of our business, including the majority of our build-team members. We take pride in our work, and it shines through on a daily basis.”

PV Squared is a local leader in the field of solar design, installation, and maintenance. The worker-owned cooperative provides renewable-energy solutions to a range of clients, including business owners, commercial property owners, farmers, and homeowners in Western Mass. and surrounding regions.

AGAWAM — The West of the River Chamber of Commerce and its 501(c)(3) foundation presented Agawam High School with a check for $3,600 on Feb. 27 for the purchase of a Haas Simulator for its new manufacturing program.

The West of the River Chamber Foundation (WRCF) has a mission to impact the local economy and area businesses by engaging in philanthropic work in the communities of Agawam and West Springfield. It recognizes that approximately 500 machinists’ jobs are vacant in the Commonwealth on any given day. This affects local business and industry because they cannot hire skilled machinists, and, therefore, machine shops cannot operate at maximum capacity. Lower productivity means lower incoming revenue.

In an effort to alleviate this problem, the WRCF enacted a plan. It formed a focus group with the Agawam school system and the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative. The focus group’s efforts have resulted in programs, like the new Agawam High School program, implemented in its STEM program to introduce students to the vocation of a machinist. With the purchase of the new machines, the students will be able to learn trades that will provide them with lifelong skills and careers.

Ace Precision, a manufacturing company in Agawam, has purchased two new simulators and donated a CNC machine towards this new program as well. Agawam High School has received more than $100,000 in community donations towards this new opportunity for its students.

SPRINGFIELD — Allied Flooring and Paint is making a $5,000 donation to support the work of MHA, which provides residential and support services to people impacted by mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, and homelessness. Allied’s President Mario Tedeschi will present a check on Friday, March 8 at 11:00 a.m. at Allied’s new design center at 55 North Main St. in East Longmeadow.

“Allied has supplied and installed carpet, floors, and paint for MHA residences throughout the area for many years,” said Tedeschi. “These are family homes for the individuals MHA serves, and I’m proud to help ensure they are comfortable, clean, and bright.”

A long-time resident of Agawam, Tedeschi is fully invested in his community. “The community has been good to me, so of course I want to give back,” he explained. “I serve on town committees and coached youth sports, and I’ve been a leading sponsor of MHA’s annual golf tournament for 13 years. It feels great to contribute to the health and well-being of the people who also call the area home.”

Kimberley Lee, vice president, Resource Development & Branding for MHA, noted that, “when you think of flooring or paint, it’s really so much more than building materials. You can be finishing a floor that supports employees and customers, or the space where a bride poses on her wedding day, or the walls and carpets that surround your family at home year-round. Mario Tedeschi understands how important that is, and he also understands the importance of our work at MHA. Over the years, his generous contributions of financial and human resources have been crucial. We’re thrilled about his $5,000 donation, which will support our good work where it will make the most impact — MHA’s brand-new outpatient clinic for emotional wellness. We’re calling this new community resource BestLife and plan to open in March at 153 Magazine Street in Springfield.”

Added Tedeschi, “I’ve had opportunity to see first-hand the compassion and caring that MHA has for the clients they serve. I’m proud of my long-time affiliation with MHA and consider myself a champion of their work and a cheerleader as well.”

SPRINGFIELD — The Human Service Forum (HSF) and UMass Amherst University Without Walls (UWW) will collaborate on the Human Service Forum Back-to-College Night. This free event is open to the public and will take place on Wednesday, March 13 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the UMass Center at Springfield.

Local colleges and universities will share information about their night, weekend, online, and continuing-education programs with those who are interesting in pursuing or advancing a career in the human-service field.

“We recognize the importance of developing human-service programs in higher education to meet the great need that exists in our communities,” said Melanie DeSilva, director of Marketing, Communications and Recruitment for the UMass Amherst UWW program. “We are glad to be able to assist in bringing our college and university partners together to present a broad array of options.”

Institutions in attendance will include UMass University Without Walls, Westfield State University, Springfield College, Holyoke Community College, Springfield Technical Community College, Elms College, Cambridge College, and American International College.

Refreshments will be provided. To RSVP and for more information, visit the HSF website at www.humanserviceforum.org.

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].

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Eastern States Exposition (ESE) announced the following staff appointments and promotions:

Robert Gottsche Jr. was promoted to Sales manager. He will be responsible for all Big E vendors and concessionaires, and will oversee ESE’s year-round event coordinators. Gottsche first joined the staff of the Exposition in 1983 and became an event coordinator in 1991. He worked in the Special Events department for eight years during the Big E as well as the Sales department as a show coordinator throughout the year. In 1999, he began overseeing Young Building exhibitors during the fair and quickly added vendor and vendor-space sales and contracting to his list of responsibilities.

Throughout the year, he will contract all commercial vendors and food concessions at the Big E. As the Fair approaches, he will place all on-grounds sales outlets inside and outside all buildings and grounds. Gottsche is also responsible for all year-round event coordinators and will serve in that capacity as needed.

Steve Ferraro has been named captain of Parking & Security. He will oversee all parking for weekend events and the Big E, as well as assist Cliff Hedges, director of Public Safety & Security, with scheduling security staff for 24-hour and event coverage. Ferraro started working at ESE at age 14 when his father, the late Albert Ferraro, a long-time Big E employee, oversaw parking for the Exposition.

A graduate of Springfield Technical High School, Ferraro continued his education at Springfield Technical Community College studying metal machining before starting a career at Lenox in 1978 as a tool and die maker. During his time there, he built machines and traveled around the world as an installer. He brought machinery to Italy, set up a band-saw center in China, and trained stateside co-workers on cutter grinders that were brought back from Switzerland. Meanwhile, he also worked as a parker at ESE during his free time. He stepped into the position of Parking manager in 2015.

Terri Brown is ESE’s Creative Arts/New England Center program manager. She has been affiliated with ESE since 2011 as the building’s 4-H coordinator, served as assistant to the Creative Arts coordinator in 2017, and became co-coordinator of the department in 2018. In her new position, she will oversee the management and administration of all contests, 4-H participation, displays, and the New England Center stage.

Brown graduated from Southwick High School, Holyoke Community College, and the University of New Hampshire, where she earned a degree in zoology. She is a retired government accountant and is active in 4-H in Southwick.

EAST LONGMEADOW — Lifelong learning is an important concept to Bay Path University, and its Strategic Alliances division is moving that undertaking from the classroom to the boardroom with its upcoming Career Transition series. This series, designed for women entering the workforce or planning a career transition, contains five independent sessions that speak to various stages of career growth and development.

Presented in partnership with Johnson & Hill Staffing and the Bay Path University Advisory Council, each session of this five-part series will cover a different stage of career transition, from landing one’s first professional job to preparing for a promotion, to rebooting one’s career. Each session will be hosted by a Bay Path staff member or a Johnson & Hill staffing specialist.

The decision to partner with Bay Path for this initiative was easy for Johnson & Hill Staffing President Andrea Hill-Cataldo. A long time Bay Path supporter and a current member of its board of trustees, Hill-Cataldo has a long history of being invested in the work of furthering women’s education. Her mother was a member of the Bay Path class of 1957, and in 2000 she established the Barbara Brodeur Hill ’57 Endowed Scholarship in her memory.

“At Johnson & Hill, we are proud to partner with Bay Path University on this important series of career-transition events,” said Hill-Cataldo. “As a woman-owned business, Johnson & Hill values the opportunity to serve as a strategic career resource to the women in our community. Bay Path University has long been a leader in the field of higher education, and in educating women. It’s exciting for us to partner with them on a series that will provide concrete next steps for women who are all in different stages of their career.”

Sessions will be held at Bay Path’s Phillip H. Ryan Health Science Center in East Longmeadow. The first session, “The Foundation of Your Career: Landing Your First Professional Job,” was held on Feb. 25. Upcoming sessions include “Breaking Out: Orchestrating a Career Reboot” on Monday, March 4; “Do You Have the Executive Presence to Get That Promotion” on Monday, April 1; “The Next Chapter: Transitioning Back to Work After an Extended Absence” on Monday, May 6; and “Your Third Act: What’s Next?” on Monday, June 3. Each session is an independent offering.

To sign up for a session or to learn more, visit www.baypath.edu/careertransitionseries.

SPRINGFIELD — Throughout the month of March, American International College (AIC) will use the college’s website and social-media platforms to recognize groundbreaking and influential women who have boldly stepped forward to lead, make new discoveries, and break down barriers.

The diversity of women featured will represent a cross-section of disciplines including medicine, the sciences, humanitarianism and social justice, political and public service, athletics, and the arts and entertainment. Biographical profiles will feature historical women including Massachusetts native and women’s suffrage pioneer Susan B. Anthony to current day voices such as Tarana Burke, who gave the phrase ‘me too’ its strength, as well as young women to watch, like 14-year-old entrepreneur Alissa Chavez from Albuquerque, N.M., who proved everyone can make a difference with her creation of an alarm system that alerts parents when the temperature inside vehicles rises to unsafe levels for children.

Beginning March 1 and each day throughout the month, AIC will celebrate outstanding women who have helped shape their world, often overcoming significant challenges to forge a path and inspire future generations. 

To join AIC in this month-long tribute, visit AIC at www.aic.edu, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmericanInternationalCollege, or on Twitter at @aiconcampus.

SPRINGFIELD — Aerosmith will bring “Deuces Are Wild — East Coast Run,” a special edition of its Las Vegas residency show, to three MGM Resorts properties: MGM National Harbor in Maryland on Aug. 8, 10, and 13; Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City on Aug. 16 and 18, and MGM Springfield on Aug. 21, 24, 26, and 29.

Along with never-before-seen visuals and audio from Aerosmith recording sessions, the performances will be presented in L-ISA Hyperreal sound, allowing fans to feel a deeper connection to the band. The MGM Springfield shows will take place at the MassMutual Center.

To take the “Deuces Are Wild” spectacle on the road, Aerosmith has partnered with Fireplay, who provided veteran show director Amy Tinkham (Paul McCartney, James Taylor) and show producer Steve Dixon (Guns N’ Roses, Justin Timberlake) to bring a custom-designed version of this show to each of these three unique venues. Joining the Aerosmith creative team is Grammy-winning producer Giles Martin, known for creating the soundscape the Beatles’ “Love” by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas; production and lighting designers Josh Zangen and Nick Whitehouse, also of Fireplay (Justin Timberlake, Coldplay), and the groundbreaking visual and special-effects studio Pixomondo, known for its work on Game of Thrones.

M life Rewards loyalty members as well as SiriusXM, Live Nation, and Ticketmaster customers will receive access to a presale beginning Thursday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. To join the M life Rewards program, or for more information, visit mlife.com. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 1 at 10 a.m.

HOLYOKE — Raúl Gutiérrez, assistant professor of Spanish at Holyoke Community College (HCC), has been selected as an Engaged Scholar for 2019-20 by the Eastern Region Campus Compact, a regional partnership of colleges and universities dedicated to promoting civic engagement.

Gutierrez was one of 12 scholars picked for the inaugural, 18-month program that includes academics from 11 other institutions from Maine to Washington D.C., including Lehigh, Ithaca, Swarthmore, Dartmouth, Georgetown, and Yale. Scholars were selected from a highly competitive pool of candidates nominated by college and university presidents and chief academic officers.

“Campus Compact is thrilled to welcome the first cohort of the Eastern Region Engaged Scholars Initiative,” said Marisol Morales, vice president for Network Leadership at Campus Compact, the national network. “The interest in the program and the caliber and diversity of all the applicants was extraordinary. The goal of this program is to develop and support equity-minded, community-engaged scholars and practitioners who can shape the future of this field.”

Gutiérrez, who lives in Holyoke, is coordinator of HCC’s Foreign Language program, coordinator of the Center for Public Humanities at HCC, and adviser to the HCC LISA (Latino International Students Assoc.) Club. He also spearheaded the creation of a new Latinx Studies program at the college that will begin in the fall 2019 semester, and he teaches Spanish literacy to migrant farm workers through Head Start in Springfield.

“The idea behind the Engaged Scholars program is create a cohort of scholars focused on working in the community,” said Gutierrez.

His specific projects will focus on two areas: building a civic-engagement/service-learning component into the new Latinx Studies program and continue to work with migrant farm workers.

“I want to work with them to create an oral history around their experiences as immigrants and as farm workers, with the end goal of establishing a repository for their stories,” he said.

Gutiérrez was born in Mexico and holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a master’s degree in Hispanic Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The 12 Engaged Scholars will participate in an 18-month ongoing learning and leadership process that includes professional development, collaboration, and scholarship to help the individual participants and the cohort strengthen their scholarship, research, and impact. Scholars will participate in in-person and online learning opportunities, including retreats, regular meetings, and the national Campus Compact Conference to be held March 25-27 in Providence, R.I.