Picture This Archives - Page 2 of 10

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff December 4, 2024

Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty, along with other bank representatives, recently presented a $2,250 donation to Shriners Children’s New England as part of the bank’s 2024 Community Giving Initiative

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Supporting Children’s Care

Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty, along with other bank representatives, recently presented a $2,250 donation to Shriners Children’s New England as part of the bank’s 2024 Community Giving Initiative, in which the public was given the opportunity to cast votes to support their favorite local charitable organizations. Shriners Children’s New England is a local clinic providing specialty orthopedic, neuromuscular, cleft lip and palate, and urologic care exclusively to children.

Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty, along with other bank representatives, recently presented a $2,250 donation to Shriners Children’s New England as part of the bank’s 2024 Community Giving Initiative

Honoring Veterans

Flash Car Wash recently held its annual Veterans Day promotion at all 19 locations across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The promotion included a free Diamond Wash at any Flash Car Wash location for all veterans and active service members on Veterans Day, while all proceeds from paid retail washes on Veterans Day were donated to Veterans Inc. That donation totaled $48,091 this year, an increase from last year’s $43,879.

Flash Car Wash recently held its annual Veterans Day promotion at all 19 locations across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

Real World Experience

AIC faculty and students joined the Springfield Thunderbirds for the team’s School Day event on Nov. 6, which welcomed more than 7,000 K-12 students from 68 area schools to enjoy a day of hockey. Led by Associate Professor Mei-Lin Yeh-Lane, students from AIC’s Event and Facility Management class provided hospitality and gained professional experience. The day included an exclusive tour of the MassMutual Center and the Thunderbirds’ office hosted by Todd McDonald, vice president of Sales and Strategy, and Laura Blanchard, senior account executive.

AIC faculty and students joined the Springfield Thunderbirds for the team’s School Day event on Nov. 6, which welcomed more than 7,000 K-12 students from 68 area schools to enjoy a day of hockey

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff November 20, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Party with 1 Purpose

Co-hosted by David Fontaine Jr. and Sarah Fontaine, along with Chris and Deb Connelly, the event raised funds to directly support ongoing research and initiatives to find a cure for T1D.

The Party with 1 Purpose fundraiser, hosted at the Basketball Hall of Fame on Oct. 26, was a resounding success, raising more than $329,000 (and counting) in support of Breakthrough T1D, surpassing the event’s fundraising goal. The event brought together a vibrant community of supporters, families, and advocates, all united in the fight against type-1 diabetes (T1D). Co-hosted by David Fontaine Jr. and Sarah Fontaine, along with Chris and Deb Connelly, the event raised funds to directly support ongoing research and initiatives to find a cure for T1D.

Round Up for Pets

14th annual Round Up for Pets fundraiser

Throughout its 14th annual Round Up for Pets fundraiser, Rocky’s Ace Hardware asked customers to round up their purchase total to the next dollar, with the difference donated to animal shelters near the store. A total of $34,561.68 was collected across all locations, with $6,050.81 raised locally going to shelters in Western Mass., including the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center and Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society in Springfield, Second Chance Animal Services in East Brookfield, and Westfield Animal Control and Shelter in Westfield.

Triple Winner

The Springfield Regional Chamber recognizes local businesses through its Super 60 awards

The Springfield Regional Chamber recognizes local businesses through its Super 60 awards. This year, Pioneer Valley Financial Group was honored in three categories: Revenue, Growth, and Give Back, recognizing total revenue within the latest fiscal year, revenue growth over three consecutive years, and a focus on giving back to the community, respectively. Partners Edward Sokolowski, Kelly Haber, and Karen Nogueira were thrilled to celebrate with the whole team at the annual Super 60 luncheon and award ceremony on Nov. 8.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff November 6, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Supportive Connections

Florence Bank recently sponsored Cancer Connection’s 2024 Harvest Dinner and Silent Auction on Oct. 17 with a $7,000 gift to support the organization, which serves as a haven for people with a cancer diagnosis and their caregivers. Offering a broad range of free services, the nonprofit will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year.

Pictured: Shelley Daughdrill (left), Retail Banking director and senior vice president of Retail Administration at Florence Bank, with Chelsea Kline, executive director of Cancer Connection.

Fore a Good Cause

PDC Inc., a leading walls and ceilings contractor with offices in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York, raised a grand total of $100,000 during its ninth annual golf tournament held on Sept. 5 at Crestview Country Club in Agawam. Of that, $50,000 was donated to the Gray House Inc. in Springfield, and the other half benefited 87 charities primarily located throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut, in addition to several national organizations.

Pictured: PDC Inc. co-owners Ron Perry (left) and Nick Shaink (right) present a check to Kristen McClintock, executive director of the Gray House.

Boosting a Community Resource

Monson Savings Bank recently presented a $1,000 donation to Monson Free Library as part of the 2024 Monson Savings Bank Community Giving Initiative, in which the public was given the opportunity to vote on which nonprofits would receive a donation from the bank in 2024. A valuable resource center for people of all ages, the library offers educational tools through diverse collections, services, technology, and programming.

Pictured: Hope Bodwell (left), Monson Free Library director, with Michael Rouette, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Monson Savings Bank.

Allied for Two Charities

Through its first annual charity golf tournament at Crestview Country Club, Allied Flooring, Paint and Design and Budget Cabinet Sales made donations to two local charities: $10,429.86 to Junior Achievement (JA) of Western Massachusetts and $10,429.86 to Gándara Center in Holyoke.

Pictured: from left, Allied President Mario Tedeschi, JA of Western Massachusetts President Amie Miarecki, JA board co-chair Tracey Alves, JA board member Joe Williams, and Allied President of Sales Jorge Morgado.

Pictured: from left, Tedeschi, Gándara Center CEO Lois Nesci, and Morgado.

Critical Donations

On Oct. 9, the Palmer Ambulance Service sponsored its fourth annual Ambulance, Police and Fire Department Blood Drive in partnership with the Baystate Health Blood Donor Team at Baystate Wing Hospital (pictured with Palmer Ambulance Service EMT Mary Lee Frydryk, center). “One donation can save up to three lives,” said Nicole VanZandt, supervisor of BRL Blood Donor Services. “We are grateful to the Palmer Ambulance Service and the Palmer Police and Fire Department team members who gave blood. As a result of their friendly competition, we received 26 blood donations.”

Baystate Health Blood Donor Team at Baystate Wing Hospital pictured with Palmer Ambulance Service EMT Mary Lee Frydryk, center.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff October 23, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Helping Families in Need

Freedom Credit Union’s annual campaign for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts extended over three months this summer, raising enough to cover the cost of more than 10,000 meals. Freedom collected donations of cash, non-perishable food, and personal-care items at all its branches, raising a total of more than $3,350. In addition, food donations weighing in at nearly 1,435 pounds were delivered to the Gray House, a member organization benefiting from the Food Bank.

Pictured, from left: Stephen Phillips, Kara Herman, Nathaniel Claudio, and Natasha Cassidy from Freedom Credit Union, and Kristen McClintock, executive director of the Gray House. (Photo courtesy of Freedom Credit Union)

Worthy Namesake

On Oct. 15, UMass Amherst celebrated former Springfield Urban League President Henry Thomas III by officially unveiling the university’s location in Tower Square as the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center at Springfield. Thomas was a leading advocate for establishing the center in his hometown and, in 2012, became the first person of color to lead the five-campus UMass board of trustees. He also chaired the board’s committee on academic and student affairs and was vice chair of the UMass Building Authority.

Pictured, from left: UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes; U.S. Rep. Richard Neal; Henry Thomas III and his wife, Devonia Thomas; UMass President Marty Meehan; and former UMass Boston Chancellor J. Keith Motley.

Symbol of Hope and Recovery

In recognition of World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, Easthampton photographer Daniel DesPlaines donated one of his large, framed photographs to MiraVista Behavioral Health Center in recognition of the center’s work. Kimberley Lee, chief of Creative Strategy and Development at MiraVista (pictured with DesPlaines) noted that the image of a boat “holds profound meaning, symbolizing the journeys our patients embark on when seeking mental-health and substance-use treatment. Just as the boat navigates through rough waters, many who come to MiraVista face challenges on their path to recovery. But with the compassionate care and support they receive, those turbulent waters eventually become calm.”

Kimberley Lee, chief of Creative Strategy and Development at MiraVista (pictured with DesPlaines)

Kimberley Lee, chief of Creative Strategy and Development at MiraVista (pictured with Daniel DesPlaines)

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff October 9, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Back to Square One

On Sept. 27, MassMutual Foundation President Dennis Duquette announced a $1 million gift to the “Back to Square One” capital campaign to support the construction of a $15.5 million center at the location where Square One’s building was destroyed by a tornado in 2011. Slated to open next spring, the 26,000-square-foot facility will include four preschool classrooms, an outdoor learning and play area, a full-service family-support center, and administrative offices.

Pictured, from left: Duquette, Square One CEO Dawn DiStefano, and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.

Growing Challenges for Cannabis

Attorney Elaine Reall, chief legal officer at the Royal Law Firm, spoke at the annual meeting of the National Assoc. of Women & Minority Owned Law Firms in Atlanta on Sept. 15-18. Reall (right), along with Radhi Shah of Zuber Lawler LLP and Lucia de Vernai of Trulieve Inc., discussed the ethics and legalities surrounding the growing cannabis industry. Reall provided insight into product liability and consumer misrepresentation in the industry, as well as strategies for mitigating risks related to evolving state laws, the FDA’s stance, CBD uncertainties, vaping concerns, and guidelines for how business stakeholders should navigate legal risks effectively.

Reall (right), along with Radhi Shah of Zuber Lawler LLP and Lucia de Vernai of Trulieve Inc.

Getting a Head Start

On Sept. 23, Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) and Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start announced the opening of an HCS early-childhood program on the STCC campus. The opening of the facility will provide affordable childcare for qualifying families in the region, as well as learning and training opportunities for STCC students.

Pictured: Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and HCS Head Start CEO Nicole Blais cut a ribbon to mark the opening of program, alongside elected officials and leaders from STCC and HCS Head Start.

Class Act

Country Bank President and CEO Mary McGovern recently announced that the bank donated its 191 Sykes St. location in Palmer to Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School. The property, valued at $500,000, will facilitate Pathfinder Tech’s expansion of adult evening education programs and provide additional office space, as well as hosting classes.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 13 was attended by local dignitaries, including state Sen. Jacob Oliveira, state Reps. Todd Smola and Aaron Saunders, and others.

Recognizing Quick Response

Mercy Medical Center has been recognized for the delivery of quality stroke care by the Massachusetts Paul Coverdell Stroke Systems of Care Collaborative at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Thanks to the diligent work of the Mercy Stroke Team, Mercy Medical Center has received Coverdell awards for the quick administration of a CT for suspected stroke patients and for dysphagia screening protocols. Data from January 2023 through December 2023 were analyzed for these awards.

the Mercy Stroke Team

Igniting Workforce Success

Holyoke Community College (HCC) recently received the Igniting Workforce Success award from the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) for a cybersecurity training program it runs in partnership with the agency, which recently changed its name to MassAbility.

Pictured: Kermit Dunkelberg (center), HCC vice president for Adult Basic Education and Workforce Development, accepts the award from MassAbility Commissioner Toni Walsh (right), alongside Salvador Pina, dean of Workforce and Business Development at Roxbury Community College.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff September 25, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Age of Excellence

More than 150 gathered on Sept. 4 at the Carriage House at the Barney Estate in Springfield for Glenmeadow’s inaugural Age of Excellence awards celebration.

Pictured, from left: emcee Brenda Garton-Sjoberg; honorees James Lagodich (Game-Changing Mentor), Ethel Griffin (Dynamic Difference Maker), Patrick Sullivan (Honorary Age of Excellence Award Recipient), Maria Roy (Inspiring Changemaker), Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers (Dedicated Leader – Beyond the Badge), Karen Tetreault (Dedicated Community Connector), Debbie Gardner (Champion of Community Voices), and Jeffrey Greim (Impactful Entrepreneur); and event host Kathy Martin, Glenmeadow’s president and CEO.

Promoting a Plan

SA International Sports Group was invited to attend a recent Latinos in Sports event to talk with the NBA, MLB, and top investors on its plans to build a major sports complex in Western Mass. The Latinos in Sports event highlighted impactful contributions Latinos have had across the sporting world. Pedro Martinez was honored as an Impact Hero for his work after his career with the Boston Red Sox.

Pictured: Cesar Ruiz (left), CEO of USA International Sports Group, is promoting the historic project with Latinos in Sports and ImpactX Sports Group founder Xavier Gutierrez, the first and only Latino NHL president and CEO of the Arizona Coyotes before the team’s recent billion-dollar sale.

Back to School

Just before the start of the new school year, teachers from Ware Public Schools, Palmer Public Schools, and Quaboag Regional High School were gifted with hundreds of back-to-school items donated by employees across departments at Baystate Wing Hospital, including folders, spiral notebooks, pens, pencils, glue sticks, Post-it Notes, calculators, disinfectant wipes, crayons, and more. The supplies were the results of the employees’ annual adopt-a-classroom initiative.

Just before the start of the new school year, teachers from Ware Public Schools, Palmer Public Schools, and Quaboag Regional High School were gifted with hundreds of back-to-school items donated by employees across departments at Baystate Wing Hospital, including folders, spiral notebooks, pens, pencils, glue sticks, Post-it Notes, calculators, disinfectant wipes, crayons, and more

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff September 11, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Sprucing Up the Zoo

A group of Health New England employees helped out on Aug. 23 at the Zoo in Forest Park as part of Health New England’s summer volunteer efforts with United Way of Pioneer Valley. They helped stain around the fox exhibit and lemur stage and cleaned out and organized a shed. This summer, Health New England employees also helped stuff backpacks, manned a thrift store, served lunch to people without homes, and helped the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

Pictured, from left: Robin Wysicki, Joani Arroyo, Tracy Dowd, Jimmy Kopie, and Kim Cooney in front of a fennec fox enclosure at Forest Park Zoo.

Back to School in Style

On Aug. 20, a team of Marcotte Ford employees and board members visited the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke to surprise the children with a gift of 300 new pairs of Adidas sneakers. The gift was extra resonant for the management team, as the basketball court at the Boys & Girls Club is named for the late Bryan Marcotte, the dealership’s second-generation owner.

On Aug. 20, a team of Marcotte Ford employees and board members visited the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke to surprise the children with a gift of 300 new pairs of Adidas sneakers.

Driving Innovation

Kayla Sheridan, Marketing director at TommyCar Auto Group, was honored as a finalist and presented at the Reynolds and Reynolds Automotive Amplifier Contest on Aug. 20 in Leesburg, Va. This event, known for highlighting the most innovative minds and ideas in the automotive industry, provided a platform for leaders to share insights and advancements that are shaping the future of the field. Sheridan’s presentation showcased her dedication to driving innovation and excellence in automotive retail, particularly at TommyCar. Although not selected as one of the overall winners, her work was highly regarded by industry experts.

Kayla Sheridan, Marketing director at TommyCar Auto Group, was honored as a finalist and presented at the Reynolds and Reynolds Automotive Amplifier Contest on Aug. 20 in Leesburg, Va

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff August 28, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Serving the Community

AXiA Insurance Services, through its AXiA Charitable Fund, recently supported two local nonprofit organizations in the Pioneer Valley, with a combined donation total of $32,500. The recipients included Look Memorial Park, based in Florence, and Hope for Youth and Families Foundation, based in Springfield. Since its establishment in 2022, the AXiA Charitable Fund has supported 15 nonprofits in the communities it serves.

Pictured: from left, Marie Brazeau, Look Park Development director, AXiA CEO Michael Long, and Look Park Executive Director Justin Pelis.

Pictured: Long and AXiA staff with Bob Bolduc and Hope for Youth and Families staff

Advanced Technology

Baystate Noble Hospital recently announced the addition of a new CT (computed tomography) imaging scanner, enhancing its commitment to providing advanced healthcare technologies for the greater Westfield community. The new scanner is a GE Revolution Ascend CT, and the scanner is expected to be operational this month. The additional scanner is centralized on the first floor of Baystate Noble, adjacent to the current CT scanner and equal distance from the hospital’s main entrance and Emergency Department, creating a CT hub.

Baystate Noble Hospital recently announced the addition of a new CT (computed tomography) imaging scanner, enhancing its commitment to providing advanced healthcare technologies for the greater Westfield community

Honoring Excellence

On July 31, the Massachusetts Assisted Living Assoc. honored Andrea Bates, Sales and Marketing director at Ruth’s House Assisted Living, at its annual Excellence Awards Dinner with the 2024 Sales and Marketing Award. Each year’s honoree is a person who excels at promoting their assisted-living community; uses innovative, creative sales and marketing techniques; and grows relationships with residents, families, and key referral sources. In her 13 years at Ruth’s House, Bates has focused on personalized care, built strong relationships, created a supportive and welcoming environment, and enhanced the resident experience.

On July 31, the Massachusetts Assisted Living Assoc. honored Andrea Bates, Sales and Marketing director at Ruth’s House Assisted Living, at its annual Excellence Awards Dinner with the 2024 Sales and Marketing Award

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff August 14, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Down on the Farm

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. partnered with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts’ Hadley Farm on July 19.

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. partnered with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts’ Hadley Farm on July 19. MBK helped construct greenhouses on the farmland, which are now filled with flourishing tomato plants. Tasks included filling sandbags that are used to hold tarps down to prevent weed growth, as well as shoveling compost to spread over cardboard, creating two 30-foot-long plant beds.

Cool Promotion

On July 23, to celebrate National Ice Cream Month, 250 customers at Smokin’ Scoops in West Springfield

On July 23, to celebrate National Ice Cream Month, 250 customers at Smokin’ Scoops in West Springfield got a free medium-sized ice cream courtesy of Verizon. Smokin’ Scoops customers also snagged a coupon for a $50 bill credit toward a new smartphone line activation on select plans at the Verizon store at 1123 Riverdale St. in West Springfield. (Photo courtesy of Verizon)

Community Support

Monson Savings Bank (MSB) recently presented a $7,000 donation to Spirit of Springfield and announced it will be a Golden Circle sponsor of this year’s City of Bright Nights Ball. The bank also donated $3,500 to Spirit of Springfield in support of the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, which took place in May.

Pictured at left, from left: Michael Rouette, executive vice president and chief operating officer of MSB; bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty; Judy Matt, president of Spirit of Springfield; and Kylie LaPlante, assistant vice president and Business Development officer at MSB. Monson Savings Bank also recently provided a $1,750 donation to the Women’s Empowerment Scholarship as a part of its 2024 Community Giving Initiative.

Pictured at right, from left: Rouette; Bailey Medeiros, president and founder of the Women’s Empowerment Scholarship; and Moriarty.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff July 31, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Be Love Day

The city of Springfield officially proclaimed Friday, July 12, 2024 “Be Love Day,” aligning with the national Be Love campaign led by the King Center in Atlanta. The Be Love campaign in the 413 features regionwide public engagement in a social-justice collaborative art project.

Pictured: participating in the campaign launch at MLK Jr. Family Services are, from left, state Sen. Adam Gomez, Jean Canosa Albano of Springfield City Library, state Rep. Bud Williams, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Shannon Rudder of MLK Jr. Family Services, and Karen Finn from the Springfield Public Partnership.

Drink Up

MountainOne recently hosted Mo’s Watering Hole at Berkshire Health Systems’ 4th of July 5K. The annual race occurs right before the Independence Day parade on North Street in Pittsfield, and MountainOne team members handed out water to more than 1,200 runners.

Pictured: Mountaineer volunteers, including Donna Bishop, Julie Nichols, Jennifer Smith, Ethan Coe, Thomas Nowlan, Sharon Coe, Jennifer Jones, Samantha Rue, Julie Rider, Amanda Sobon, John Mead, Ellen Huth, Jonathan Denmark, and their families, await the runners.

Food for Thought

Current estimates indicate there are more than 27,000 food-insecure children in the Western Mass. region. “Voices in Food Equity: Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders” focused on this issue with a panel discussion on June 12 at Springfield College. Panelists included Joesiah Gonzalez from Home City Development, Jose Lopez-Figureroa from Springfield Technical Community College, Abby Getman Skillicorn from Massachusetts Farm to School, Catalina Lopez Ospina from Project Bread, and Shannon Rudder from Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services.

Pictured: Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, welcomes guests and panelists.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff July 17, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Fighting Fire with Faith

Monson Savings Bank recently donated $2,500 to the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church Fire Fund. In December 2020, the historically black Springfield church, established in 1897, was set ablaze by an arsonist, causing an estimated $2.5 million in damages. The church’s members have been forced to worship elsewhere during the campaign to rebuild.

Pictured: Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty (center) and Kylie LaPlante, assistant vice president and Business Development officer (far left), present the donation to the Rev. Terrlyn Curry Avery (center right) and church board members.

Let’s Talk Mental Health

MiraVista Behavioral Health Center and the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (PHIWM) recently announced a partnership highlighting young people’s emotional wellness during the summer months and launched a public education campaign titled “Adolescent Mental Health Doesn’t Take a Vacation.”

Pictured, from left: Kimberley Lee, chief of Creative Strategy and Development at MiraVista; Kathleen Szegda, senior director of Community Research and Evaluation at PHIWM; and Jessica Collins, PHIWM executive director.

Mobile Methadone Program

Behavioral Health Network Inc. recently launched a mobile methadone program to help those struggling with opioid-use disorder. The program is the first of its kind in Western Mass., providing access to methadone from a 35-foot mobile treatment unit, which will be parked at 75 Main St. in Ware, with dosing hours Monday to Friday from 7 to 10 a.m. Intakes for new clients take place Tuesdays and Thursdays during regular operating hours.

Pictured, from left: Yazmin Ayala, medical assistant; Jessica Plescia, clinician; Michael Navedo, driver; Alison TellierFox, senior program manager; and Laura Maceyka, program director.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff July 3, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Open for Business

Pullman & Comley, one of the largest full-service law firms based in Connecticut, celebrated the opening of its new Springfield office on June 11 with a ribbon cutting and reception welcoming local business and government leaders, clients, and friends, including Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and Diana Szynal, president of the Springfield Regional Chamber. The new space is on the ninth floor of Tower Square at 1500 Main St. downtown. Pullman & Comley opened its original Springfield office, the firm’s first in Massachusetts, in 2019. It has Connecticut offices in Bridgeport, Hartford, and Westport, as well as in White Plains, N.Y. and Wakefield, R.I.

Pullman & Comley, one of the largest full-service law firms based in Connecticut, celebrated the opening of its new Springfield office on June 11

Community Day

On June 14, Whittlesey, one of New England’s largest regional CPA and consulting firms, continued its annual day of volunteerism with various projects across Connecticut and Western Mass. For more than a decade, Whittlesey team members have stepped away from their desks to engage in activities that directly impact the communities where they live and work. This year, Whittlesey mobilized team members throughout the region to collaborate with the Bushnell Park Conservancy, the Diaper Bank of Connecticut, and the Zoo in Forest Park (pictured). Volunteers engaged in a variety of activities, including park cleanup efforts, mulching, planting flower beds, and repairing and painting fences.

This year, Whittlesey mobilized team members throughout the region to collaborate with projects like the Zoo in Forest Park.

Food for Thought

bankESB recently announced a commitment of $20,000 to Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture’s (CISA) Growing Resilience Campaign, an effort focused on building a stronger, more resilient local food system in Western Mass. This campaign is in line with bankESB’s commitment to supporting the communities it serves through its charitable-giving program, the Giving Tree.

Pictured: CISA Development Director Wendy Ferris (center) flanked by, from left, bankESB’s George Michelakis, Amherst branch officer; Lauren Tabin, assistant vice president and Northampton branch officer; Olivia Falcone, social media specialist; and Gary Turku, senior vice president, Retail Banking.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Critical Funding

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services recently awarded Mercy Medical Center a grant totaling $1,171,322 million to support the hospital’s consult services for substance-use disorder.

Pictured, from left: state Rep. Orlando Ramos; Dan Keenan, regional vice president, Advocacy and Government Relations, Trinity Health Of New England; Maria Mead, Behavioral Health clinical supervisor at Mercy; Edna Rodríguez, Mercy’s director of Behavioral Health; Mercy President Dr. Robert Roose; state Rep. Shirley Arriaga and her daughter; state Rep. Carlos González; and state Sen. John Velis.

Supporting the Vision

Leaders from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation recently visited Square One to celebrate the foundation’s $500,000 gift toward the construction of Square One’s new home. The Davis Foundation was among the first funders to support the project, awarding Square One $50,000 in 2022 to complete a feasibility study to gauge support.

Pictured, from left: Dawn DiStefano, president and CEO of Square One; Kiley O’Meara, Laurel Ferretti, and Drew Davis from the Davis Foundation; Kris Allard and Maria Bedard from Square One; and Paul Belsito, executive director of the Davis Foundation.

Community Grants

In a celebration on May 14 at the Garden House at Look Park, Florence Bank awarded $150,000 to 40 area nonprofits through its annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program. Through this annual program, launched in 2002, customers are invited to vote for their favorite local nonprofit in hopes it will receive a share of grant funding. In 2023, roughly 7,168 votes were cast.

Grand Opening

Fill-It Self Storage, located at 575 North Road in Westfield, recently celebrated its grand opening. The 34,500-square-foot facility, consisting of six buildings and 232 units, offers climate-controlled and drive-up units. The grand opening was attended by Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe, state Sen. John Velis, and state Rep. Kelly Pease. Peter Houser of Wilbraham and Philip Houser of Pittsfield are the owners; Peter also owns 109 Apremont Way in Westfield, where Bright Ideas Brewing recently opened.

Celebrating 35 Years

Fill-It Self Storage, located at 575 North Road in Westfield, recently celebrated its grand opening. The gathering was attended by approximately 125 residents, community members, board members, and staff members and included the distribution of the 2023 annual report, which highlights the community’s achievements and future plans. The event also included the official adoption of SPICES (simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship) as part of Lathrop’s values.

Open Wide

The second-floor clinic of Building 20 at Springfield Technical Community College was transformed into a bustling hub of oral healthcare on April 27 as STCC hosted its sixth annual Community Dental Day. The event, a partnership between STCC, the Valley District Dental Society, and the Massachusetts Dental Society Foundation, included over 75 volunteers, including general dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists, a pediatric dentist, and an orthodontist.

Pictured, from left: STCC President John Cook; Dr. Andrea Fallon, who has a dental practice in Southampton; and Dr. Michael Nardi from the Valley District Dental Society.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff June 5, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Centennial Celebration

In honor of turning 100, Berkshire United Way invited the community to its centennial celebration on April 10 at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. The featured speaker was Frances Jones-Sneed (pictured at left), professor emeritus of History and Political Science at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. The celebration included celebratory messages from Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti, U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, and United Way Worldwide CEO Angela Williams.

Frances Jones-Sneed professor emeritus of History and Political Science at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Pictured at right: Berkshire United Way team members (from left) Gretchen Weber, Emily Daunis, Pam Knisley, Tom Bernard, Karrie Buratto, Chloe Rychcik, Brenda Petell, Katherine von Haefen, and Gretchen Fairfield.

Honoring a Legacy

On May 17, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno dedicated a street in honor of John H. Murphy, the late founder of Eastern General Contractors Inc., at the corner of Berkshire Avenue and Eastland Street, a short distance from the location where Murphy housed his business for more than 50 years. This tribute recognizes Murphy’s significant impact on Springfield’s construction landscape, with numerous landmark projects attributed to his company.

Pictured, from left: Murphy’s grandson Trey Cavaan, wife Lucille Murphy, son-in-law Desmond Cavaan, and daughters Azell Cavaan and Wonderlyn Murphy.

Breaking Ground

Caolo & Bieniek Architects recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new public-safety complex in Lenox, attended by town officials, key stakeholders, and residents. With an overall budget of $25 million, this complex will house the Lenox Police, Fire, and EMS headquarters. The single-story, 21,000-square-foot facility provides much-needed space for each department’s operational needs and allows for future growth, all within a new facility designed with the architectural character of the town of Lenox.

Caolo & Bieniek Architects recently held a groundbreaking ceremony

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff May 22, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Education and Fun

Square One’s school-age childcare program recently received a $5,000 boost from Liberty Bank. The funds will be used to enhance the experiences of Square One’s children, kindergarten through grade 5, who attend after-school and summer programming. Enhancements will include a partnership with Mass Audubon and educational and recreational field trips. “Exposure to engaged learning opportunities and fun, recreational experiences in a community-based setting is key to further advancing our future leaders,” Liberty Bank president and CEO Dave Glidden said.

Square One’s school-age childcare program

Bringing Back the Music

Florence Bank recently announced it has donated $100,000 to the Iron Horse Music Hall, supporting a $750,000 capital campaign for renovations and updates to the well-loved music venue in downtown Northampton, which its new owner, the Parlor Room Collective, reopened on May 15.

Pictured, from left: Randy Krotowski, president of the Parlor Room Collective board of directors; Chris Freeman, executive director of the Parlor Room Collective; and Matt Garrity, president and CEO, Florence Bank. (Photo by Jim Gipe, Pivot Media)

A Nursing Career Awaits

American International College celebrated National Student Nurses Day on May 8 as its nursing students gathered for the annual class photo on the steps of the college’s Esther B. Griswold Theatre. With campus therapy dog Woody adding to the excitement, these soon-to-be nurses were eager for their pinning ceremony on May 10 and graduation at the MassMutual Center on May 11.

American International College nursing students. (Photo by Leon Nguyen)

Lifetime Achievement Award

On May 3, state Sen. John Velis joined community members at Hope for Holyoke’s eighth annual Hopey Awards. During this event, which recognized individuals, businesses, staff, peer leaders, and volunteers, Velis received Hope for Holyoke’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his work to support those in recovery. Throughout Velis’s career, he has championed legislation and support for programs focused on supporting those with substance-use disorders.

On May 3, state Sen. John Velis joined community members at Hope for Holyoke’s eighth annual Hopey Awards.

Learning with a Purpose

On April 30, students in the Communication department at Westfield State University presentation a $915 check to Shannon Rudder (second from right), president and CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services of Springfield. The students had built an awareness and fundraising campaign for the organization during the spring semester. To date, this Advanced Public Relations class taught by Professor Suzanne Boniface has raised more than $18,000 for nonprofit organizations.

Students in the Communication department at Westfield State University presentation a $915 check to Shannon Rudder (second from right), president and CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services of Springfield

Team Spirit

Members of Mercy Medical Center’s Family Life Center team (pictured) recently celebrated the hospital’s recognition as a TeamBirth site. Mercy implemented TeamBirth in 2023 to optimize teamwork and communication before, during, and after labor and delivery. Through structured huddles and a shared planning board, TeamBirth empowers patients, their support people, and their clinicians to reach care decisions together. The result is more dignified, respectful care that gives patients the role that they want.

Members of Mercy Medical Center’s Family Life Center team

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff May 8, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

A New Era at HCC

Hundreds of Holyoke Community College (HCC) friends, former colleagues, relatives, students, dignitaries, and supporters filled HCC’s Leslie Phillips Theater to capacity on April 19 to celebrate the official installation of George Timmons as the fifth president of HCC, and the first African-American man to hold that position.

Pictured: Timmons embraces Student Senate President Alicia Beaton after she placed the HCC presidential medallion around his neck as Vanessa Smith, interim chair of the HCC board of trustees, and student trustee Barney Garcia look on.

Something to Build On

PeoplesBank is supporting Square One’s capital campaign to build a new, state-of-the-art facility. With early support from the city of Springfield and the Commonwealth, Square One has reacquired the land of its original South End location, which was destroyed by the 2011 tornado, and is looking to build a 26,000-square-foot child and family center.

Square One President and CEO Dawn DiStefano (pictured, second from left) received a check for the first installment of a multi-year, $175,000 pledge from (from left) PeoplesBank CEO Tom Senecal, Cindy Wszolek, and Xiaolei Hua.

Helping Around the House

The senior leadership team at Greenfield Cooperative Bank recently traded their suits for paintbrushes and joined forces with Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity to help put some finishing touches on a new home being built by dozens of community volunteers alongside the future homeowners. This hands-on effort followed a previous commitment of $10,000 from Greenfield Co-op toward the project.

Pictured, from left: Jackie Charron, Jeremy Payson, Kevin Bowler, Lisa Kmetz, Mary Rawls, Jane Wolfe, and Michael Turley.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff April 24, 2024

WFD members simulate bringing a student into the decontamination tent

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Practice Makes Perfect

On April 13, a mass-casualty drill was held at Baystate Noble Hospital, a group collaboration between the Westfield Fire Department (WFD) and the hospital’s Emergency Department. In attendance were team members of the Nursing Flex team, Security, and more than 40 students from Elms College, Westfield State University, and Holyoke Community College.

Southwick High School student Abigail Grazia uses her moulage skills on herself and a dummy to add some striking realism.

WFD members simulate bringing a student into the decontamination tent

Home Stretch

At a festive reception on April 2, the Irish Cultural Center (ICC) of Western New England announced the formal launch of its capstone capital campaign to raise the final $2 million needed to complete its facility at 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield. Funds raised will be used to complete the Community Performance Center.

From left: Frank Quigley, ICC co-Vice President Kevin O’Connor, West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt, ICC co-Vice President Ed Sullivan, and ICC President Sean Cahillane

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, honorary campaign chair, speaks at the reception

Career Exploration

Every other Saturday this spring, 16 area high-school students get a hands-on experience working with talking patient simulators at Springfield Technical Community College as part of the STCC Career Connections Academy, a state-funded program designed to expose high-school students to high-demand industry options such as business administration, healthcare, and social assistance.

Daniel O’Neill, patient simulation information coordinator at STCC, talks to the students

West Springfield High School student Nahla Williams works with a patient simulator

Wesley Carter, director of the STCC Career Connections Academy

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff April 10, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Driving Support

Balise Auto recently presented a check for $40,000 to Square One, combining Balise’s generosity with matching gifts from Balise’s corporate partners at Lexus and Toyota. Square One currently provides early learning services to more than 500 infants, toddlers, and school-age children each day, as well as family support services to 1,500 families each year, as they work to overcome the significant challenges in their lives.

Pictured, from left: Ken Maffia of Balise; Kristine Allard and Dawn DiStefano of Square One; and Alex Balise and Tim Cardillo of Balise.

Progress, Promise, and a Name

On March 26, regional leaders unveiled a name for the cybersecurity center at Union Station: the Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. U.S. Rep. Neal, who provided a tour of the center currently under construction, led a funding effort in 2023 that resulted in $3 million of congressionally directed spending to establish the center, which is also is supported by a $1.46 million state grant and $500,000 from the city of Springfield.

Pictured, from left: STCC President John Cook, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Neal, Springfield Redevelopment Authority Chair Armando Feliciano; and CyberTrust Massachusetts CEO Peter Sherlock.

Beyond Frames

Mechanics Hall in Worcester unveiled three commissioned portraits of 19th-century Black Americans at an event called “Beyond Frames” on March 14, as part of its Portraits Project. Westfield State University Associate Art Professor Imo Nse Imeh contributed with his portrait of formerly enslaved civil-rights leader, orator, and writer Frederick Douglass. The Mechanics Hall Portrait Gallery is an installation honoring 19th-century Worcester innovators, social reformers, Civil War heroes, and political leaders.

Pictured: Imeh in his studio with his Douglass portrait.

Student Art at the Mill District

On April 6, the Mill District General Store & Local Art Gallery unveiled an installation called “Pieces of Us,” a mosaic by more than 120 students at Pelham Elementary School. The front-window exhibit, which runs through April 27, was “inspired by classroom dialogues around identity and the many characteristics that shape our school community,” art teacher Emily Stewart (pictured) said. “Each student had full control over their creative expression within Pelham’s choice-based art studio. The selections they made in subject, media, style, and design invite us to embrace the beauty of their collective diversity and the mosaic of their varied experiences.”

The Mill District General Store & Local Art Gallery unveiled an installation called “Pieces of Us,” a mosaic by more than 120 students at Pelham Elementary School

Community Effort

Monson Savings Bank’s annual donation and pledge drive to benefit the United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) recently raised a total of $5,184. Employees also raised an additional $1,063 through a bank-wide bingo game and $695 through a TGIF dress-down program. The bank also provided a corporate donation of $1,000, bringing the total United Way donation to $7,942.

Pictured, from left: Dodie Carpentier and President Dan Moriarty of Monson Savings, Tracy Trial and Megan Moynihan of UWPV, and Michael Rouette and Kylie LaPlante of Monson Savings.

Learning Opportunity

Five Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) students — Travis Canary, Bradley DeJesus, Samuel Frechette, Jessica Phillips, and Hong Zhang — joined their peers for the Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience in Seattle on Feb. 18-21. The five STCC students in the STEM Starter Academy embarked on a transformative experience, embracing opportunities for growth, connection, and learning.

Pictured, from left: Canary; Zhang; Jason Phillips, academic counselor; DeJesus; Zahi Haddad, professor of Engineering and Physical Sciences; Frechette; and Samar Ghrear, director of the STEM Starter Academy.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff March 27, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Healthy Support for a Good Cause

The annual 94.7 WMAS Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon, held on March 5-6, raised $289,355 in support of Baystate Children’s Hospital. Throughout the two-day event, WMAS personalities spearheaded fundraising efforts, rallying listeners and supporters to contribute to the cause and make a difference in the lives of children facing medical challenges.

Pictured: the Kellogg Krew’s Chris Kellogg (left) and Dina McMahon (third from left) with one of the families that received treatment at Baystate Children’s Hospital. (Photo courtesy of Baystate Health and Audacy Springfield)

Empowerment and Inspiration

Springfield Technical Community College capped off its celebration of Black History Month on Feb. 29 with an inspiring talk by Ilyasah Shabazz, an award-winning author, educator, and producer, and daughter of the late activists Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. She spoke about historical injustices and offered a message of empowerment and social change. She also shared engaging personal stories about her parents and addressed larger themes of social justice, love, and human rights.

Pictured: Shabazz (second from left) with STCC students and Karolyn Burgos-Toribio, STCC’s Community Outreach counselor (far right). (Photo by Ed Cohen)

Positive Steps in Mental Health

During his Feb. 27 tour of the newly renovated adolescent unit at MiraVista Behavioral Health Center, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal called this age group a population that can be treated successfully, and the recently reopened unit “clearly a step in the right direction.” He was joined on the tour by Holyoke City Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos and some of the psychiatric hospital’s executives.

Pictured, from left: Joel Doolin, executive vice president of MiraVista and TaraVista Behavioral Health Centers; Dr. Negar Beheshti, chief medical officer of MiraVista and TaraVista; Shelley Zimmerman, hospital administrator at MiraVista; and Neal.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff March 13, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Brrrrrr

The polar plunge and draft horse wagon rides were just two highlights of Winterfest 2024, a series of events, culminating on Feb. 11, presented by the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee as a fundraiser for the committee’s cleanup and preservation efforts in and around the pond in Easthampton. The committee’s annual maintenance and operating costs are approximately $10,000, which is why Winterfest is so important.

Photo by Colin McGahan

Special Experience

American International College (AIC) hosted the 2024 Western Massachusetts Basketball League Tournament for Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA) at AIC’s Butova Gym on Jan. 21, Feb. 4, and Feb. 17. The campus community supported three weekends of games, with student volunteers assisting with scoring and timing, student-athletes interacting with players, and others cheering from the stands, creating an uplifting experience for the 79 SOMA participants.

Photo by AIC student Swastik Chuke

Welcome Home

Bluebird Estates, a Holiday by Atria independent-living community in East Longmeadow, recently completed a renovation project for capital upgrades in design and amenities. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Feb. 22 with state Sen. Jacob Oliveira, state Rep. Brian Ashe, East Longmeadow Town Manager Thomas Christensen, Deputy Town Manager Rebecca Lisi, and others, followed by refreshments, live entertainment, and community tours.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Feb. 22 with state Sen. Jacob Oliveira, state Rep. Brian Ashe, East Longmeadow Town Manager Thomas Christensen, Deputy Town Manager Rebecca Lisi, and others, followed by refreshments, live entertainment, and community tours.

Shining Stars

The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce hosted its 39th annual Shining Stars Awards Gala, themed “The Greatest Show in Chicopee,” on March 1 at the Castle of Knights in Chicopee. Presented by Westfield Bank, this year’s event featured performers from SHOW Circus Studio in Easthampton roaming about the event. (Photos by Michael Epaul Photography)

The evening’s hosts, Hayley Procon (left) and Jeremy Procon (right), present the Business of the Year honor to Michelle and Peter Wirth of Mercedes-Benz of Springfield

Citizen of the Year Ashley Kohl with her “ohana,” which is Hawaiian for family

a group of attendees, including Amie Miarecki and Tracey Alves-Lear from Nonprofit of the Year Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, along with Volunteer of the Year Daryl Grabowski, pose for a selfie with a stilt walker

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff February 28, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Building Community

Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) announced a $10,000 sponsorship of Habitat for Humanity’s Victoria Bismark Farm project, which will include the construction of three single-family homes on Burts Pit Road in Northampton, to be built by hundreds of community volunteers alongside three future homebuyers with low income.

Pictured, from left: GCB President and CEO Tony Worden, GCB Executive Vice President of Residential Lending Jane Wolfe, and Megan McDonough, executive director of Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Welcoming Committee

With a cutting of the ribbon, the Saremi Center for Career Development officially opened at American International College (AIC) on Feb. 5.

Pictured, from left: Frank Colaccino, AIC board of trustees chair; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno; K. Kevin Saremi, AIC board of trustees vice chair and the center’s namesake; Tyler Saremi; and AIC President Hubert Benitez. K. Kevin Saremi and his wife, Deborah, have been longtime financial supporters of AIC.

Clothing Drive

Through the collaborative efforts of Berkshire United Way, Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Lenox parent Brianne Lamke, and Lenox teacher Heather McNeice, a community clothing drive was held on Jan. 13. Thousands of donations of adult and children’s clothing and shoes were dropped off and sorted, and on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the community was invited to shop for free.

Community clothing drive was held on Jan. 13

Realizing a Dream

Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start named Mayra Felix (center), a teacher director with the organization, the recipient of its Janis Santos Scholarship. This $2,000 scholarship will allow Felix the chance to realize her dream of completing her bachelor’s degree. Pictured with Felix are Nicole Blais (left), CEO of HCS Head Start, and Janis Santos, former HCS Head Start CEO and scholarship namesake.

Mayra Felix (center), Nicole Blais (left), CEO of HCS Head Start, and Janis Santos, former HCS Head Start CEO and scholarship namesake.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff February 14, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Trees of Hope

On Feb. 1, Gary Rome Hyundai and Ronald McDonald House of Springfield announced that together they raised $180,333.05 for the Springfield nonprofit at the third annual Trees of Hope event in November. The organizations will partner again in 2024 to host Trees of Hope at the dealership.

Pictured, from left: Brittany Zabielski of Gary Rome Hyundai; Emily Brady and Rosemarie Zello of Ronald McDonald House; Gary Rome, president and CEO of Gary Rome Hyundai; Michelle D’Amore, executive director of Ronald McDonald House; and Dara Davignon, Lori Chatel, Cathy Riley, and Brianna Zemrock of Gary Rome Hyundai.

Helping Students Succeed

On Jan. 31, Holyoke Community College (HCC) opened its new Scholarship Resource Center, the first of its kind among community colleges in Massachusetts. Its purpose is to make it easier for students to apply for scholarships available through the HCC Foundation. Located on the first floor of the Donahue Building, the center is open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each year, the HCC Foundation awards about $350,000 in scholarships.

Pictured: Laura Freeman, HCC manager of Stewardship and Donor Relations, and HCC President George Timmons join students in cutting the ribbon for the new center.

Fighting Food Insecurity

bankESB announced that its third annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising drive raised $35,000 for local food pantries, bringing the program’s three-year total to nearly $110,000. Fourteen participating food pantries received $2,500 each. The appeal is part of bankESB’s charitable giving program, the Giving Tree, which reflects the bank’s commitment to making a difference in the neighborhoods it serves.

Pictured: Tenaya Reade, assistant branch manager of bankESB’s Sargeant Street, Holyoke office, presents a $2,500 check to Brenda Lamagdeleine, manager of Margaret’s Pantry in Holyoke.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff January 31, 2024

Pictured: United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region Director of Development Holly Martineau (center) flanked by, from left, bankESB’s Gary Turku, Marge Prendergast, President and CEO Matthew Sosik, Jessica West, Dena Hall, and Bozena Dabek.

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

United in Support

bankESB and its employees recently donated $50,000 to the United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region. Employees pledged nearly $23,000 of their own funds in the United Way workplace campaign, which was combined with the bank’s dollar-for-dollar match and additional corporate contribution.

Pictured: United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region Director of Development Holly Martineau (center) flanked by, from left, bankESB’s Gary Turku, Marge Prendergast, President and CEO Matthew Sosik, Jessica West, Dena Hall, and Bozena Dabek.

International Partnerships

Hubert Benitez, president of American International College (AIC), took center stage at the sixth annual International Conference of the Occupational Therapy Assoc. of Morocco on Jan. 6 in Kenitra, Morocco. The conference recognized Benitez with the 2024 Leadership Excellence Award. In his keynote speech, titled “The Role of Higher Education Leadership in Creating Innovative, Entrepreneurial, Diverse, and Interdisciplinary Environments,” Benitez emphasized how international partnerships in higher education play a crucial role in bringing people from different countries and cultures together.

Hubert Benitez, president of American International College

Distinctive Performance

Mercy Medical Center’s Family Life Center has been recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts with a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. To earn this designation, a facility must deliver quality care safely and cost-effectively. Designated facilities demonstrate higher-quality care compared to non-Blue Distinction Center facilities, with overall average rates of 26% fewer episiotomies, 60% fewer elective deliveries, and 17% fewer cesarean births, as well as an average savings of 21% for maternity care.

Mercy Medical Center’s Family Life Center has been recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts with a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff January 17, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

No Shave November

During their annual No Shave November initiative, TommyCar Auto Group and the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office raised a record-breaking total of $9,826.90 for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Throughout November, members of the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office embraced No Shave November, setting aside their razors to symbolize solidarity in the fight against cancer. Each participant made a $20 donation, with all proceeds directly benefiting the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament, a key supporter of Dana-Farber.

Pictured: TommyCar President Carla Cosenzi and Sheriff Patrick Cahillane.

Supporting Military Families

Throughout the month of November, Freedom Credit Union collected cash donations at all its branches on behalf of the Westover Galaxy Community Council to support military service members and their families at Westover Air Reserve Base (ARB) in Chicopee. A total of $2,032.83 was collected from members, staff, and the community, which Freedom matched for a total donation of $4,065.66.

Pictured: John Beaulieu (left), president of Westover Galaxy Community Council, and Glenn Welch, President and CEO of Freedom Credit Union. (Photo by Market Mentors)

A Merrier Christmas for Kids

Westfield Bank invited its customers and community members across Western Mass. and Northern Conn. to help provide new toys and books to children in local communities as part of its 2023 toy drive. From Nov. 23 through Dec. 13, all Westfield Bank branches collected new, unwrapped toys, books, and monetary donations. Each branch donated to an organization or charity local to its service area.

Pictured, from left: Mike Mirski, Matt Valliere, Stephanie Morales, Marc Massey, and Laurie Mathews at Westfield Bank’s main office.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff January 3, 2024

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Giving Tree

Members of the Holyoke Community College community delivered piles of donated, wrapped gifts to representatives from three local charities at the closing reception for the college’s 22nd annual Giving Tree campaign. This year, the campaign fulfilled the holiday wishes of more than 300 clients from Homework House, WestMass ElderCare, and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Pictured, from left: Giving Tree committee members Laura Freeman, Mary Starzyk, Michelle Vigneault, Denise Roy, Erin O’Brien, and Lindsey Pare.

Rolling Along

For every set of four tires sold in the months of October and November, Balise made a donation to Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts. As a result, Balise was able to present a donation of $4,510 to the organization to assist in its mission of inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy.

Balise was able to present a donation of $4,510 to the organization to assist in its mission of inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy

Fill the Fiat

Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni (center) visited the United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) last month, bringing with him a large donation of toys. The donation from the District Attorney’s Office capped off UWPV’s annual Hope for the Holidays campaign, a holiday gift drive for children in the region. A vintage Fiat sat inside the TD Bank building in Springfield for several weeks, and donors helped “Fill the Fiat” with toys, games, trucks, dolls, sports equipment, books, puzzles, and more.

Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni (center) visited the United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) last month

Homerun 4 the Hungry

On Dec. 11, the American International College baseball team delivered 4,000 pounds of food and $500 worth of diapers, collected through their annual Homerun 4 the Hungry food drive, to Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen in Chicopee and Square One in Springfield. The team is grateful for Springfield Symphony Orchestra for hosting a donation table at its Holiday Pops concert, and for Peter Pan Bus Lines for providing transportation for the food deliveries.

On Dec. 11, the American International College baseball team delivered 4,000 pounds of food and $500 worth of diapers

Thrilled to Donate

The Chicopee Chamber of Commerce presented a $4,011 donation to Valley Opportunity Council’s (VOC) Continuing Education & Career Center at a Dec. 6 event at Masse’s American Bistro in Chicopee. The donation was generated by the chamber’s annual Thriller 5K in October.

Pictured, from left: 5K committee member Amanda Sarrasin of Westfield Bank; Melissa White of the VOC; Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Melissa Breor, and Jeanne Almanzar, Hayley Nelson, and Dr. Nadeem Sikandar of the VOC.

Supporting Veterans

On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, Flash Car Wash extended thanks to veterans and active service members by giving them a total of 1,067 complimentary diamond washes. This initiative, offered at all 19 Flash Car Wash locations, aimed to express gratitude for the dedication and sacrifice of those who have served their country. The promotion also resulted in a donation of $43,879 from Flash Car Wash to Veterans Inc., which assists veterans in areas such as housing, employment, and counseling.

Flash Car Wash extended thanks to veterans and active service members by giving them a total of 1,067 complimentary diamond washes

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff December 20, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Elite Company

The Springfield Museums recently celebrated reaccredition by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition for museums. Only 3% of the nation’s 33,000 museums can claim this distinction.

Pictured, from left: state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez; U.S. Rep. Richard Neal; Springfield Museums President Kay Simpson; Cynthia Campbell, chair of the Museums’ board of trustees; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno; and state Sen. Adam Gomez. (Photo by Ed Cohen)

Brighter Future

Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) recently donated $5,000 to Girls Inc. of the Valley, a gift that will help support the youth-development organization’s teen center renovation as part of its “Her Future, Our Future” campaign.

Pictured: after a tour of the new Holyoke location for Girls Inc., STCC administrators, staff, and faculty, including President John Cook (second from right), join representatives from Girls Inc. of the Valley, including Dee Ward and Ruth Roy.

Ice Out Hunger

Florence Bank has partnered with UMass Sports Properties and the UMass Amherst hockey team to Ice Out Hunger in the Valley. Through this innovative new program, the bank will provide $9,500 in $500 grants to each of 19 food pantries across the region.

Pictured: Robin Bialecki, executive director of the Easthampton Community Center, one of the 19 recipients, attends a UMass hockey game on Oct. 14 and accepts the $500 check on the ice at intermission.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff December 6, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Wonderful Partnership

Country Bank recently announced its partnership and $20,000 in support of the Wonderfund of Massachusetts. The Wonderfund helps kids and teens served by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to enjoy the holiday season. Donations of new, unwrapped gifts are still being accepted at any Country’s branch until Dec. 15.

Pictured, from left: Jodie Gerulaitis, vice president of Community Relations at Country Bank; Lauren Baker, former first lady of Massachusetts and founder and CEO of the Wonderfund; and Shelley Regin, senior vice president of Marketing at Country Bank.

Taking Stock of Things

Monson Savings Bank was a silver sponsor of this year’s Junior Achievement (JA) of Western Massachusetts Stock Market Competition, the largest single-day student stock-market competition in North America. The bank donated $1,500, which supported five teams of five students in the competition, as well as the overall event.

Pictured, from left: Tracy Alves-Lear, JA board member; Lena Buteau, vice president, Retail Branch Administration at Monson Savings Bank and JA board member; Amy Alaimo, JA of Western Massachusetts Operations manager; and Mark Laurenzano, JA board member.

Born to Run

Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts held its annual fall 5K on Nov. 19 at Western New England University. Girls on the Run is a positive, physical-activity-based, youth-development program that uses running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in grades 3-8. During the 10-week program each semester, girls participate in lessons that foster confidence, build peer connections, and encourage community service while they prepare for a celebratory, end-of-season 5K event. The fall and spring 5K events draw thousands of participants and supporters.

Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts held its annual fall 5K on Nov. 19 at Western New England University

Girls on the Run is a positive, physical-activity-based, youth-development program that uses running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in grades 3-8.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff November 22, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Super 60

The Springfield Regional Chamber’s Super 60 Luncheon drew nearly 500 attendees to the MassMutual Center on Nov. 9. This year, the traditional Revenue and Growth categories were expanded to five with the addition of Start-Up, Give Back, and Non-Profit categories.

chamber President Diana Szynal with Lenny Underwood of Upscale Socks, honored in the Start-Up category

Griffin, Vanessa Cofer, and Esther Hudson of Revitalize Community Development Corp., which was honored in the Non-Profit category

the team at Appleton Corp., honored in the Give Back category

keynote speaker Ashley Kohl, owner of Ohana School of Performing Arts

Jessica Hansen and Boomer from the Springfield Thunderbirds, honored in the Growth and Give Back categories

Bikes Fight Cancer

In its inaugural year, Bikes Fight Cancer raised more than $190,000 for cancer research and services by engaging cyclists to fundraise and participate in various cycling events, including the Bikes Fight Cancer Charity Ride in June. On Nov. 5, Bikes Fight Cancer donated $36,500 to the Center for Human Development’s (CHD) Cancer House of Hope, which participated in the charity ride.

Pictured. from left: Ben Craft of CHD; Avery McAvoy, Becky McAvoy, and Johnny Morin of Bikes Fight Cancer; Margaret Toomey of the Cancer House of Hope; and Meghan Morin of Bikes Fight Cancer.

Campaign Kickoff

Berkshire United Way (BUW) launched its 2023-24 campaign with a kickoff celebration on Sept. 20 at the Country Club of Pittsfield, recognizing companies and organizations that went above and beyond and individuals who raised awareness and encouraged giving.

BUW President and CEO Tom Bernard with guest speaker Natalia DeRuzzio from Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires, one of the agencies BUW supports through donor contributions

Beverly Gans from Taconic High School is honored as Employee Campaign Coordinator of the Year

attendees wave pom-poms during a celebratory moment. (Photo by Autumn Phoenix Photography)

Gone to the Dog

Baystate Children’s Hospital recently welcomed Isabela — Isa for short — as its first-ever facility dog, thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. The golden retriever goes to work every day to provide animal-assisted therapy to pediatric patients, their families, and staff members. Facility dogs are used exclusively for clinical work; they can physically interact with patients to provide comfort and are trained to help with tasks like teaching kids how to take medication, keeping a child calm during medical intervention, and providing incentives for kids to get out of bed for a walk.

Baystate Children’s Hospital recently welcomed Isabela — Isa for short — as its first-ever facility dog

Honoring Service

JGS Lifecare held its 2023 annual meeting on Oct. 10. Highlights of the meeting included remarks from Robert Whitten, president of JGS Lifecare; Dr. Margaret Calkins, president of Innovative Designs in Environments for an Aging Society and recipient of the 2022 Changemaker Award from the Center for Health Design; and Adam Berman, CEO of JGS Lifecare (pictured, right, with Rudy D’Agostino, partner at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. and treasurer of JGS Lifecare, who received the Chair’s Service Award at the meeting).

Adam Berman, CEO of JGS Lifecare (pictured, right, with Rudy D’Agostino, partner at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. and treasurer of JGS Lifecare, who received the Chair’s Service Award at the meeting).

Pipeline to Nursing

State officials visited Holyoke Community College (HCC) on Oct. 17 to celebrate a statewide nursing scholarship program that pays 100% of costs for community-college nursing students. Pictured: HCC nursing student Katelynn Richard, center, practices under the supervision of Instructor Dorothy Shannon as Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, state Sen. Jo Comerford, and HCC President George Timmons look on. Also in attendance were Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones, Commissioner of Public Health Robbie Goldstein, state Sen. Adam Gomez, state Rep. Pat Duffy, and Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia.

Pictured: HCC nursing student Katelynn Richard, center, practices under the supervision of Instructor Dorothy Shannon as Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, state Sen. Jo Comerford, and HCC President George Timmons look on

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff November 8, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Two Key Donations

The KeyBank Foundation recently awarded the Springfield Boys & Girls Club (SBGC) a $10,000 grant to support the club’s Brain Gain program, an after-school program designed to bolster grade-level reading skills for inner-city, at-risk youth. .

Pictured at top, from left: SBGC board member Aleana Laster; KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Officer Analisha Michanczyk, KeyBank Branch Manager Vanity Bryant, SBGC Director of Development Karen Natsios, KeyBank Area Retail Leader Sarah Germini, and SBGC Executive Director Vinnie Borello with students in the Brain Gain program

KeyBank also recently awarded Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) a $39,000 charitable grant during the bank’s Volunteer Build Day on Chestnut Street in Holyoke. The donation will assist Habitat’s environmental-stewardship program.

Pictured above, from left: KeyBank employees Janis Deynes, Sharia Coley, Josh Flores, Norbert Grant III, Priya Tater, Tom Morace, Jeff Guyott, Kendle Taylor, and Tito Ramon with Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Aimee Giroux.

Honoring Social Responsibility

UMassFive College Federal Credit Union received the first-place Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award for 2023 in Massachusetts. This annual award is given out by the Cooperative Credit Union Assoc. and the Credit Union National Assoc. to honor a credit union for its social-responsibility projects within the community. UMassFive earned this award in recognition of its participation and fundraising for the UMass Cancer Walk and Run and Will Bike 4 Food.

Pictured, from left: UMassFive’s Ruth Yanka, Craig Boivin, Taylor Robbins, CEO Rich Kump, Cait Murray, Lauren Duffy, Sarissa Markowitz, Jacqui Watrous, and Robert Harrison.

Supporting the Community

Monson Savings Bank recently donated $1,750 to Friends of Wilbraham Recreation as part of the bank’s annual Community Giving Initiative. The community organization received this donation by obtaining enough votes by community members to place in the top 10 vote recipients of the Community Giving Initiative. The donation will support work to improve and maintain the Spec Pond recreational area and the town’s sports programs.

Pictured, from left: Mark Manolakis, Friends of Wilbraham Recreation president; Dan Moriarty, Monson Savings Bank president and CEO; and Bryan Litz, Wilbraham Parks & Recreation director.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff October 25, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Fore a Good Cause

On Oct. 2, M.L. Schmitt Inc. raised $44,000 at a charity golf tournament at Springfield Country Club in celebration of its 100th anniversary in business. The proceeds were split evenly between the Greater Holyoke YMCA and Baystate Children’s Hospital, which each received a $22,000 donation.

Mia Goreck of Baystate Children’s Hospital (center) with, from left, M.L. Schmitt’s Peter Coppez, Jean Pierre Crevier, Tucker Schmitt, and Elizabeth Coppez

Kathy Viens of the YMCA with Crevier (left) and Peter Coppez.

Mission Accomplished

As the organization celebrates its 40th anniversary, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island was presented with a donation of $38,000 from Friends on a Mission, which was started by three friends — Bob Perry, Jenn Schimmel, and Walt Tomala Jr. — who wanted to bring together their networks to support good work done in their community.

Pictured, from left, at Friends on a Mission’s Party for a Purpose fundraiser on Oct. 11: George Deveney of Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island; Howard Cheney of Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., one of the event’s hero sponsors; Tomala, Schimmel, and Perry; Mariama Sano and Amy Carroll of Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island; and Matt Bannister of PeoplesBank, also a hero sponsor of the party.

Cheers for Children

Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty recently presented a $1,000 donation to Stacey Perlmutter, director of Development for Shriners Children’s New England, in support of the Cheers for Children event. Held on Oct. 20 at MGM Springfield, the event featured food, live entertainment, games, a cash bar, and a silent auction, and directly benefited Shriners Children’s New England, which provides specialty orthopedic, neuromuscular, cleft lip and palate, and urologic care exclusively to children.

Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty recently presented a $1,000 donation to Stacey Perlmutter

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff October 11, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Open for Business

On Sept. 27, Liberty Bank cut the ribbon to its new loan production office on the 22nd floor of One Monarch Place in downtown Springfield. During the event, the Liberty Bank Foundation granted donations totaling $20,000 to three area nonprofits: the Boys & Girls Club of West Springfield (pictured below), Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

Pictured, from left: Liberty Bank Market President Tony Liberopoulos and Senior Relationship Manager Jeff Sattler, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Liberty Bank President and CEO Dave Glidden, and Monarch Enterprises President Paul Picknelly.

Liberty Bank’s Springfield loan-production team.

The Boys & Girls Club of West Springfield check

Foliage and Fairytales

The 67th annual Northern Berkshire Fall Foliage Parade, presented by 1Berkshire and the city of North Adams, took place on Oct. 1. This year’s theme was “Once Upon a Time in North Berkshire,” a celebration of children’s books and fairytales. More than 90 participants took part in this annual event, and the parade was attended by thousands of spectators. Very Good Properties won the Harry S. Orr Award for best overall float for “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

The 67th annual Northern Berkshire Fall Foliage Parade

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

North Brookfield Savings Bank is holding a food drive and fundraiser from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31 to help local families in need. For every item collected, the bank will contribute $1, for a total of up to $3,000, to help fund the pantries’ operations. The bank’s goal is to collect at least 3,500 items in total, but it will also contribute monetarily. Community members are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items, paper goods, toiletries, or monetary donations at any of the bank’s branches in North Brookfield, East Brookfield, West Brookfield, Ware, Belchertown, or Three Rivers.

North Brookfield Savings Bank is holding a food drive and fundraiser from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31

Marketing, Management, and Mascots

On Sep. 20, undergraduate students from the American International College marketing and sport and recreation management programs met Wally, Tessie, and other New England professional sports mascots at the Take the Lead Boston Career Summit held at Fenway Park. The students engaged and networked with leaders from the Patriots, Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics, and Revolution, gaining insight from these industry leaders on fostering equity and inclusivity within the world of sports.

Undergraduate students from the American International College marketing and sport and recreation management programs at the Take the Lead Boston Career Summit held at Fenway Park

Stuff the Bus

Following weeks of sorting donated school supplies and working with volunteers to pack hundreds of colorful backpacks, delivery day finally arrived on Aug. 22 for the United Way of Pioneer Valley’s Stuff the Bus program. With the Peter Pan bus fully packed, United Way staff and volunteers climbed aboard and trekked through 10 school districts to drop off more than 600 backpacks for students experiencing homelessness. School supplies and monetary donations are accepted throughout throughout the year. More information can be found at uwpv.org, and donations can be made at uwpv.org/donate.

With the Peter Pan bus fully packed, United Way staff and volunteers climbed aboard and trekked through 10 school districts to drop off more than 600 backpacks for students experiencing homelessness

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff September 27, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Warm Welcome

Holyoke Community College (HCC) President George Timmons received a warm community welcome during a reception on Sept. 12 at Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke. It was the first public reception for Timmons, who began his tenure as HCC’s fifth president on July 13. The reception included the presentation of a $5,000 check from the dealership to the HCC Foundation to benefit the college’s Thrive Student Resource Center.

Gary Rome (right) presents the check to Timmons (center) and HCC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Amanda Sbriscia (left).

Timmons shakes hands with Robert Gilbert, chair of the HCC board of trustees.

Collaborative Effort

TommyCar Collision Center announced a collaboration with Hampshire County TRIAD seniors and law enforcement to provide a customized Jeep Wrangler for the organization’s community-outreach efforts. TRIAD is dedicated to improving quality of life for seniors in Hampshire County by fostering collaboration between law-enforcement agencies and senior organizations. TommyCar Collision Center performed bodywork and applied graphics to transform the Jeep Wrangler into a visually striking vehicle that embodies the TRIAD mission.

Pictured, from left: Hampshire County Sheriff Patrick Cahillane, Carla Cosenzi and Brice Herrick of TommyCar Collision, and Deputy Dave Fenton of the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office.

What’s on Tap

More than 70 Franklin County business and nonprofit leaders gathered at Cameron’s Winery and the Back Room Brewing Company in Northfield on Sept. 14 network and celebrate the unveiling of the winery’s new outdoor beer and wine gardens. Owned by Leslie and Paul Cameron (pictured, center, with Jessye Deane, executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce & Regional Tourism Council), Cameron’s Winery and the Back Room Brewing Company features nine families of wine, beer, hard cider, and a charcuterie and cheese shop.

Leslie and Paul Cameron (pictured, center, with Jessye Deane, executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce & Regional Tourism Council),

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff September 13, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Pulling Up to a New Home

Last week, Balise Auto Group detailed plans to move its corporate headquarters from West Springfield to the third floor of the TD Bank building at 1441 Main St. in Springfield. The move is expected to bring more than 50 jobs to downtown Springfield at first, with more to come.

Pictured, from left: Balise Auto Group President Jeb Balise, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Balise Auto Group Chief Operating Officer Ben Sullivan, and Jack Dill, president and CEO of Colebrook Realty Services, which owns the TD Bank tower.

Community Support

Last month, Monson Savings Bank made a $1,000 donation to Springfield’s Hispanic-American Library in support of its newly established event, the New England Latino Festival, which took place at Riverfront Park in Springfield on Aug. 25-26. The first-time festival celebrated New England’s vibrant Latino community through food, music, and more, bringing together thousands of individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Pictured: Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty (left) and Hispanic-American Library Executive Director Juan Falcon.

Helping to Meet a Need

J. Jay Anderson (left), president and CEO of Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, recently presented a $1,000 donation from the bank to the People’s Pantry in Great Barrington. The People’s Pantry, located at Saint James Place, is a local nonprofit offering locally sourced food and other resources to clients experiencing food insecurity. “We are extremely grateful and appreciative,” said Beth Moser (second from left), president of the People’s Pantry. “We rely on our donors’ generous support to help reduce food-supply costs so that we can keep serving our community.”

J. Jay Anderson (left), president and CEO of Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, recently presented a $1,000 donation from the bank to the People’s Pantry in Great Barrington

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff August 30, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Patriot Awards

Four providers from the Emergency Department (ED) at Mercy Medical Center were recognized for providing medical care to visitors at the 2023 International Air Show at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield. Dr. Matthew Cauchon, EMS medical director and associate director of Emergency Medicine at Mercy; along with Jillian Hevey, PA-C; Erica Nader, PA-C; and Mike Stevens, PA-C (not pictured), were given ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) Patriot Awards by Earl Bonett, ESGR area chair.

Pictured, from left: Air Force Lt. Col. Patrick LaFond, Mercy Director of Emergency Services Kelly Chevalier, Hevey, Cauchon, Nader, Mercy ED Nurse Manager Lisa Tyndall, Bonett, and Air Force Lt. Col. Peter Carr.

Fore a Good Cause

Feed the Kids raised $75,000 through its sixth annual online auction and golf tournament, held on Aug. 7 at Springfield Country Club, bringing the six-year total raised to more than $370,000. Proceeds benefit local organizations that work to ensure children do not go hungry, including Square One, the Holyoke School Backpack Program, Pioneer Valley Powerpacks, and No Kid Hungry. For the first time in the event’s history, a golfer achieved a hole in one.

Scott Trevethan (pictured) scored an ace on the ninth hole, winning a vacation from Curry Honda. (Photo by Jonathan Polep-Saffer)

Building a Reputation

Carr Hardware in Pittsfield was honored with the industry’s Retailer Beacon Award during the Hardware Conference Awards banquet on Aug. 18 in Marco Island, Fla. The hardware industry recognizes the best independent home-improvement retailers with the Beacon Awards. Carr was one of two Beacon Award winners across the U.S. this year, along with RP Lumber, which operates seven stores in five states.

Carr, led by President Bart Raser (pictured, second from left) was chosen based on its highly rated customer service, innovative marketing, and a strong commitment to the communities it serves.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff August 16, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Matching Grant

bankESB is supporting an effort by the Amherst Hurricanes Athletics Boosters to replace and reorient a condemned 23-year-old track and field with an eight-lane track and year-round playing fields. Parents, families, and community members will be able to purchase a seat or row in the new stands that will receive a named plaque, and bankESB will match donations dollar for dollar up to $25,000.

Pictured: bankESB Assistant Vice President and Amherst Branch Officer Jessica West and Senior Vice President of Retail Banking Gary Turku (far right) with members of the board of the Amherst Hurricanes Athletic Boosters. Photo by Sophia Lynne Photography.

Driving Hope

Hyundai Hope donated $15,000 to Baystate Health Foundation (pictured). It also donated $10,000 to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and $5,000 to the Thrive Center of Holyoke Community College (HCC), two local food sources combating food insecurity in the Greater Holyoke area. All donations were made as part of the car-seat safety event held at Gary Rome Hyundai on July 30.

Baystate Health Foundation

Pathway to College

Springfield K-9 Officer Tom Horne and his K-9 partner, Alcatraz, recently demonstrated obedience training on the campus of American International College (AIC). The presentation, designed to showcase a potential career path for those interested in a degree in criminal justice, was part of an on-campus experience for visiting students and teachers from Duggan Academy in Springfield. Starting this fall, the AIC Pathway to College Program will provide Duggan’s high-school students with credit-bearing college classes.

Springfield K-9 Officer Tom Horne and his K-9 partner, Alcatraz, recently demonstrated obedience training on the campus of American International College

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff August 2, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Helping Students Achieve

Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM) recently received a $10,000 donation from the Joseph & Anna C. Dias Jr. Family Foundation, in partnership with LUSO Federal Credit Union, to fund age-appropriate financial-literacy programs for students in Ludlow. JAWM programs are offered at no cost to schools and community groups throughout the four counties of Western Mass.

Pictured: Joseph & Anna C. Dias Jr. Family Foundation trustee Maria Gomes (far right) presents the $10,000 check to JAWM President Jennifer Connolly (second from right) alongside a group of LUSO employees.

Community Support

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty recently presented a $2,250 donation to Stacey Perlmutter, director of Development for Shriners Children’s New England. The donation was made as a part of the 2023 Monson Savings Bank Community Giving Initiative, in which the public was given the opportunity to cast their votes to support their favorite local charitable organizations. Shriners Children’s New England is a local clinic providing specialty orthopedic, neuromuscular, cleft lip and palate, and urologic care exclusively to children.

Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty recently presented a $2,250 donation to Stacey Perlmutter, director of Development for Shriners Children’s New England

Having a Ball

bankESB recently awarded $5,000 to the Belchertown Pickleball Community and the Belchertown Orioles Athletic Assoc. to support the initiative of building two new community pickleball courts at 59 State St. in Belchertown. The Belchertown Pickleball Community is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization created to better the pickleball experience in Belchertown.

Pictured, from left: Debbie Wood, Belchertown Pickleball Community leadership committee; David Gadouas, Alicia Austin, Gary Turku, and Andrew Inglot, bankESB; and Larry Davis, Belchertown Pickleball Community leadership committee.

Celebrating Success

Executives from Hyundai Motor America visited Gary Rome Hyundai on July 27 to present several awards, including the 2022 Hyundai Board of Excellence Award and the Global Dealer Award. Pictured on top: from left, Bob Kim, Hyundai’s vice president of National Sales, presents the Global Dealer Award to Gary Rome, president and CEO of Gary Rome Auto Group, and Kevin Schechterle, general manager of Gary Rome Hyundai. Pictured below: the team at Gary Rome Hyundai and visiting Hyundai executives celebrate the awards.

From left, Bob Kim, Hyundai’s vice president of National Sales, presents the Global Dealer Award to Gary Rome, president and CEO of Gary Rome Auto Group, and Kevin Schechterle, general manager of Gary Rome Hyundai

The team at Gary Rome Hyundai and visiting Hyundai executives celebrate the awards.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff July 19, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Planting Seeds

Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) recently announced a $25,000 donation to the Franklin County Community Development Corp. (FCCDC). GCB President and CEO Tony Worden called the donation “a way of expressing our gratitude and appreciation for their work, and our commitment to the local economy and community.” FCCDC Executive Director John Waite said the funds will be directed to giving all types of businesses, at all stages, assistance and resources to start or grow their ventures.

Pictured, from left: FCCDC Communications Director Kate Lawless, Waite, and Worden.

Inspiring Artwork

On June 29, Baystate Health dedicated a massive mosaic to its employees across the health system as a recognition of their courage and compassion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Made of hand-carved sculptural tiles by New England artist Natalie Blake, the artwork hangs in the Daly Lobby of Baystate Medical Center. The mosaic incorporates the seven chakras, or energy centers, of the human body and uses the earth’s elements to draw parallels between the chakras and the many teams that collaborate to deliver care. A smaller rendering of “Seven Chakra Earth Mandala” will be installed at other Baystate Health sites.

Jennifer Faulkner, Baystate’s vice president of Team Member Experience and Talent Management, led the ceremony.

Common Knowledge

Located in the heart of downtown Greenfield, a newly installed business directory and community-information kiosk will serve as a year-round hub for Greenfield residents and visitors to discover the breadth of businesses, restaurants, and events featured throughout the city. The kiosk debuted on June 23, at the Greenfield City Common. The kiosk project was initiated last year when the city received a $47,500 grant from the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council.

Located in the heart of downtown Greenfield, a newly installed business directory and community-information kiosk

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff July 5, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Hooplandia Scores Big

The inaugural edition of Hooplandia saw thousands of basketball enthusiasts of all ages tip off on dozens of courts at the Eastern States Exposition — with featured games at the Basketball Hall of Fame — on June 23-25. The Northeast’s premier 3-on-3 tournament featured a visit from local legend Rebecca Lobo (top right); plenty of food, entertainment, and fun activities; and, of course, the tournament games, after which the champions in each division (like the girls team from Enfield pictured above) celebrated their victory. Pictured at right: Gene Cassidy (left), president and CEO of the Eastern States Exposition, shares a moment during the festivities with Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi.

The Northeast’s premier 3-on-3 tournament featured a visit from local legend Rebecca Lobo

The girls team from Enfield

Gene Cassidy (left), president and CEO of the Eastern States Exposition with Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi.

Gene Cassidy (left), president and CEO of the Eastern States Exposition, shares a moment during the festivities with Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi.

Executive Leadership Breakfast

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll was the keynote speaker at the college’s sixth annual Executive Leadership Breakfast on June 27. More than 150 people attended the event and heard Driscoll speak about the administration’s vision for the Commonwealth and for Western Mass. “Governor Healey and I are committed to making Massachusetts more affordable, competitive, and equitable,” Driscoll said. “Together, we will move Massachusetts forward and deliver results for every region of our state, including Western Mass.”

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll pictured with Elms College President Harry Dumay

Running with a Purpose

Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts held its annual spring 5K on June 3 at Western New England University. More than 1,000 girls participated in the event, along with their families, coaches, running buddies, and community members. Girls on the Run is a positive, physical-activity-based, youth-development program that uses running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls grades 3-8. During two 10-week programs each year, girls participate in lessons that foster confidence, build peer connections, and encourage community service while they prepare for an end-of-season, celebratory 5K event.

Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts

Commemorating Juneteenth

Juneteenth was recognized in numerous ways around Western Mass. this year. (Photos by Old Sturbridge Village and Silver Photography)

Old Sturbridge Village presented activities geared toward helping visitors better understand the day’s significance, including musical and poetry performances, an “Uncomfortable Truths” walking tour, storytelling, soul food, and more.

The Springfield community came together for a flag raising at Court Square and then filled Symphony Hall to enjoy the first annual Juneteenth Concert Celebrating Freedom, featuring guest conductor Kevin Scott, Avery Sharpe and his quartet, the Extended Family Choir, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and the orchestra’s musicians

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff June 21, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Back to School

Community leaders, educators, architects, and stakeholders recently gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Franklin Avenue Elementary School in Westfield. The event marked the official start of construction for this state-of-the-art educational facility.

Pictured, from left: Michael Delvecchio and Daniel Pallotta, project managers at P3 Inc.; Bert Gardner, vice president of Caolo & Bieniek Architects; David Fontaine, CEO of Fontaine Bros. Inc.; and Caolo & Bieniek President Curtis Edgin and Vice President James Hanifan.

Max on Monday

More than 200 people were on hand for the third monthly Max on Monday event, hosted by Max Tavern on June 5 at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Each month introduces several featured companies and one nonprofit for cocktails, connections, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres with the goal of reconnecting businesses and community. This month’s featured companies were Liberty Bank; the Dowd Agencies; Burgess, Robb & Grassetti; and Bacon Wilson.

Pictured, from left: Amanda Moulton of Naples Realty, Bob Borawski of Borawski Insurance, and Joe Premont of Liberty Bank.

Local Impact

Living Local 413, a nonprofit business community organization dedicated to helping the Western Mass. business community become stronger and more self-sustaining, hosted its first annual meeting on May 31 at Center Square Grill in East Longmeadow. The event introduced Robert Barkett as the newly appointed executive director and featured a ceremonial presentation to thank state Rep. Brian Ashe for securing a $100,000 grant for Living Local 413.

Pictured, from left: Barkett, Ashe, and Living Local 413 President Bill Cole.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff June 7, 2023

Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Supporting the Arts

Monson Savings Bank recently made a $4,000 donation to the Monson Arts Council in support of the local arts. “The Monson Arts Council does so much to bring the town of Monson and the surrounding communities together through the arts,” Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty said. “As a lifelong resident of Monson, I am always so impressed by the events and workshops the council puts together.”

Pictured: Moriarty (right) presents the $4,000 donation to Susan James and David Dupuis of the Monson Arts Council.

Learning and Growing

The West Springfield Boys & Girls Club announced to renovations have been completed for its Little Futures Preschool classrooms at its Main Street facility. The new classrooms are the result of a collaborative effort between the club’s early-childhood education professionals and Caolo & Bieniek Architects. The goal was to create a stimulating and nurturing environment for young children to learn, grow, and thrive. The project was partial funded through the Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant program administered by the Town of West Springfield.

West Springfield Boys & Girls Club Little Futures Preschool classroom

Raise a Glass

Glendale Ridge Vineyard recently hosted about 30 wine enthusiasts for the latest event in its Vintner’s Tasting Series: Pétillant Naturel. Because every bottle tells a story, the tasting included an educational presentation by vintner Tim Beaudry, whose wine career has taken him to New Zealand, Napa, and Bordeaux, France. He shared his expertise, discussing how the wines taste as well as the story behind the four different styles of Pétillant Naturel and why he paired specific small bites with each of the wines.

Glendale Ridge Vineyard wine tasting included an educational presentation by vintner Tim Beaudry