Company Notebook
Elms College Awarded $1.27 by W.K. Kellogg Foundation
CHICOPEE — Elms College has been awarded a $1.27 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to continue its program that started in 2019 to enhance healthcare education and outcomes in Haiti. This grant will support the ongoing partnership between Elms College School of Nursing and the Episcopal University of Haiti (Faculté des Sciences Infirmières de Léogâne). This partnership invests in the professional development of nursing faculty in Haiti and directly addresses that country’s pressing healthcare challenges, including low life expectancy and high infant mortality rates. For more than four years, Elms College has collaborated with the university to provide advanced training to Haitian nursing faculty, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has been there since the beginning. Elms College received an initial grant of $750,000 in 2019 and a $1.2 million grant in 2022 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to work toward its goal of improving healthcare in Haiti. Nurses are pivotal in Haiti’s healthcare system, where they, rather than doctors, deliver most medical care, and this partnership equips them with the latest healthcare knowledge. It aims to strengthen the skills of nursing educators, empowering them to better prepare their students to meet the critical healthcare needs of Haiti. This past June, the program graduated its fourth cohort of nursing faculty, who will now be able to better educate their students and improve the quality of the care for patients. The nurse educators have consistently expressed their pride in being part of this program, a growing sense of professionalism, and their strong commitment to improving healthcare in Haiti. The program is also supported by the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Haiti Nursing Continuing Program Endowment, established by the D’Amour Family.
Florence Bank Announces Financial Group Name Change
FLORENCE — Florence Bank has changed the name of its financial-services division from Florence Savings Bank Financial Group to Florence Financial Group. In addition to being shorter and less cumbersome, the new name and branding better reflect the bank’s position as a local wealth-management team that combines Florence Bank’s quality customer service with an innovative and comprehensive approach to managing and protecting assets. As part of the rebranding effort, a new website and logo have been created for the division, and team members’ email addresses have changed. No changes will be made to customers’ portfolios, account logins, or passwords.
PeoplesBank Again Named Among Top Places to Work
HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank is now a seven-time winner of the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award. Amy Roberts, executive vice president of Human Resources at PeoplesBank, suggests that the bank’s emphasis on ensuring all associates have the support they need to succeed is the key. To that end, PeoplesBank is constantly in touch with its associates through surveys and regular town meetings that encompass the whole organization. The bank also introduced the CARE (Collaboration, Accessibility, Reliability, Empathy) initiative, which enabled it to establish the structures and standards necessary to be much more deliberate about the service it provides to its customers and associates. Top Places to Work recognizes the most admired workplaces in the state as voted on by the people who know them best — their employees. The survey measures employee opinions about their company’s direction, execution, connection, management, work, pay, benefits, and engagement. Top Places to Work rankings are based on confidential survey information collected by Energage, an independent company specializing in employee engagement and retention, from nearly 68,000 employees at 323 Massachusetts organizations.
Globe Names M.L. Schmitt Among Top Places to Work
SPRINGFIELD — M.L. Schmitt Inc. has been named one of the 2024 Top Places to Work in Massachusetts in the 17th annual employee-based survey from the Boston Globe. Top Places to Work recognizes the most admired workplaces in the state voted on by the people who know them best — their employees. The survey measures employee opinions about their company’s direction, execution, connection, management, work, pay, benefits, and engagement. The employers are placed into one of four groups: small, with 50 to 99 employees; medium, with 100 to 249 workers; large, with 250 to 999 staff members; and largest, with a workforce of 1,000 or more employees. M.L. Schmitt Inc. was ranked 23rd in the small-companies category. M.L. Schmitt Inc. is an electrical contractor located at 371 Taylor St. in Springfield and 198 Pleasant St. in Ashland. Since 1923, it has provided industrial, commercial, and residential construction, working in areas including renewable energy, hospitals, transportation, education, assisted-living facilities, data centers, fuel dispensaries, dormitories, residential complexes, and more.
D.A. Sullivan & Sons Named to Best Contractors to Work For
NORTHAMPTON — D.A. Sullivan & Sons Inc. (DAS) was recently named one of the 2024 Best Contractors to Work for in Construction. The annual list, created by Concrete Contractor, Equipment Today, Asphalt Contractor, Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction, and Best Companies Group, includes only 29 companies nationwide this year. Companies from across the country entered the two-step survey process to determine the Best Contractors to Work for in Construction. The first part (25%) consisted of evaluating each company’s workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems, and demographics. The second part (75%) consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience and overall satisfaction. The combined scores were used to determine and rank the top companies. D.A. Sullivan & Sons Inc. is honored to be recognized as one of the 2024 Best Contractors to Work for in Construction, a testament to its 127-year legacy of prioritizing employees and fostering a culture of engagement and satisfaction. Based in Northampton, DAS has built its reputation as an exceptional employer by investing in professional development, promoting open communication, and ensuring employee well-being through comprehensive benefits and work-life balance initiatives. The company celebrates its team’s achievements and strives to create an environment where individuals feel valued, heard, and empowered to grow.
Mass Cultural Council Supports Susan B. Anthony Museum
ADAMS — The Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum has received a grant of $9,000 from the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, through its Operating Grants for Organizations program. This grant signifies that the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum provides significant public value through its programs and services. Last year alone, the museum brought Susan B. Anthony’s inspiring story to more than 300 students. With a 59% increase in programming and museum attendance, the museum intends to continue to grow and expand its immersive and experiential learning capacity. In the coming year, the museum will welcome six college interns, hold numerous free public programs, and continue to draw tourists to the Berkshires with its events and guided house tours. The Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum, located on 67 East Road in Adams, is open Thursdays through Mondays during the summer from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call the museum at (413) 743-7121 or visit www.susanbanthonybirthplace.com.
Florence Bank Donates $10,000 to Mass Humanities
FLORENCE — Florence Bank has provided a gift of $10,000 to Mass Humanities to help the organization make history and culture more accessible to residents across the state. The private foundation is in its 50th year, serves all of Massachusetts, and is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Launched on the campus of UMass Amherst in 1994, Mass Humanities has been in Northampton for 20 years and recently announced a move to Holyoke. The bank’s gift will be used to help fund two of four key initiatives, the Clemente Course in the Humanities and Reading Frederick Douglass Together. The Clemente Course is an adult-education program offered in partnership with Bard College in six cities across the state, including at the Holyoke Care Center and Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services in Springfield. The program provides access to those in economically disadvantaged households so they can study history, philosophy, literature, critical thinking, writing, and public speaking. Reading Frederick Douglass Together is offered annually in 60 towns across the Commonwealth, where Douglass’ Fourth of July address is read aloud publicly. Mass Humanities also offers Expand Massachusetts Stories, which helps local people reckoning with history by encouraging them to visit museums and libraries and launch storytelling projects in their communities. A fourth initiative, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institute, is called Museum on Main Street. This traveling exhibition is brought to six small towns each year, each time offering a different focus on rural life. Florence Bank is the financial partner for Mass Humanities.
Mayflower Marathon Raises Record Amount for Open Pantry
SPRINGFIELD — On Nov. 25-27, Rock 102 hosted its 31st annual Mayflower Marathon food drive to benefit Open Pantry of Springfield. This year, the tradition returned to MGM Springfield for the three days leading up to Thanksgiving. Bax & Nagle broadcast for 52 hours while collecting non-perishable food donations for Open Pantry. As the Open Pantry continues to see growing demand for its services, the need for donations of non-perishable food items is constant.
The outpouring of support from local residents and businesses (Springfield Thunderbirds, Capitol Relocation and Logistics, Xfinity, Camping World of West Hatfield, Arment Trucking, and many more) was unprecedented this year and helped to fill multiple trailers to raise more than $236,000 in food and cash donations, a new record for the event.
Springfield Pics to Join NCDC in 2025-26
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) announced that the Springfield Pics will join the tuition-free National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) beginning in the 2025-26 season under General Manager and Head Coach Rob Bonneau. The Pics will be the 10th team joining the New England Division of the NCDC. A founding member of the USPHL, the Pics play at Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield. In addition to the NCDC team, the Pics will field an Elite team in 2025-26.
Carr Hardware Customers Support Thanksgiving Angels
PITTSFIELD — Carr Hardware announced that its customers in Lenox and Pittsfield raised a total of $1,856.35 through the company’s round-up initiative, directly benefiting the local Thanksgiving Angels program. This generosity helped provide Thanksgiving meals for more than 2,000 families in Berkshire County who signed up to receive a traditional holiday dinner through the program. Throughout the month of October, Carr Hardware hosted a round-up campaign at its Lenox and Pittsfield locations, encouraging customers to round up their in-store purchases to the nearest dollar. The funds collected through this initiative were donated to the South Congregational Church’s Thanksgiving Angels program, which has been serving local families for years. The program works to ensure that families in need across Berkshire County can enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal, complete with all the traditional trimmings.
Westfield State University Launches Paramedic Program
WESTFIELD — Westfield State University announced the launch of its new Paramedic Program, beginning in January 2025. Developed in collaboration with key healthcare providers and emergency-management organizations — including Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Holyoke Medical Center, and Mercy Medical Center; fire departments from East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Southwick, and Westfield; and EMS providers from Chapin Ambulance, Northern Berkshire EMS, and Cataldo Ambulance — this program addresses the critical regional demand for highly skilled emergency medical professionals. The program is designed to support workforce development by establishing a direct career pathway for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to advance to paramedics. Through strong partnerships with employers in the field, Westfield State will ensure the curriculum reflects industry standards, equipping students with the skills and expertise needed for immediate employment in emergency medical services. Students will benefit from a comprehensive curriculum, expert faculty, and state-of-the-art training facilities. The program includes one year of classroom instruction followed by clinical, field, and capstone internships, and can be completed in two years or through an accelerated 12- to 18-month track. To meet the diverse needs of working students, the program offers hybrid, live lectures enabling remote participation with the in-person classes. Hands-on skills labs are held in person. Applications are now open for the inaugural class starting Jan. 7, 2025. Prospective students can visit www.westfield.ma.edu/paramedic for detailed admission requirements and program specifics.
WestMass ElderCare to Become Access Care Partners
HOLYOKE — As WestMass ElderCare (WMEC) celebrates its 50th anniversary, the organization is announcing a new chapter in its history. Beginning in early 2025, WestMass ElderCare will be known as Access Care Partners, reflecting a broader mission that extends beyond serving just the elderly population. The decision to rebrand came after extensive research and community engagement. Partnering with Davis Advertising of Worcester, WMEC conducted one-on-one interviews, online surveys, and focus groups involving around 200 community members, as well as internal staff, to gather input on how the organization is perceived and how it can continue to meet the needs of the community. The findings indicated that, while the organization is respected for its work, the name WestMass ElderCare does not fully capture the scope of services offered, which includes support for individuals with disabilities and younger populations. The name Access Care Partners better reflects the organization’s mission of providing care and support to people of all ages and abilities, ensuring they have access to the services they need to live independently.
Rachel’s Table Food Drive at Big E Generates Donations
SPRINGFIELD — The Big E facilitated a food drive among its concessionaires this year, which generated more than 3,000 pounds in donations to Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts (RTWM), a Springfield-based food rescue service that distributes donated and specially purchased foods, without charge, to agencies that feed hungry families and individuals in the Western Mass. region. Rachel’s Table also provides training programs on food safety and information on efficient distribution, and has established a network of community support systems that work collaboratively to counter hunger and advocate, when appropriate, for food-insecure people. Now in its second year, this partnership is an extension of the Eastern States Exposition’s (ESE) commitment to improving lives in this region. ESE donates to RTWM outside of fair time, too, providing food from year-round events. Through its connection with ESE, Rachel’s Table was able to secure a relationship with Performance Food Group (PFG) within the last year. PFG is also a Springfield-based business, catering to many food-service and food-delivery needs, including stocking restaurants, national chains, vending, convenience, concessions, and more.
