Company Notebook September 7, 2015
CPA Firms Whittlesey & Hadley and Weinstein & Anastasio Join Forces
HARTFORD, Conn. — Whittlesey & Hadley, P.C., a regional CPA firm headquartered in Hartford, Conn., announced that Weinstein & Anastasio, P.C., a regional CPA firm located in Hamden, Conn., will join the firm effective Sept. 1. Weinstein & Anastasio provides a broad range of accounting, audit, tax and business-consulting services to closely held businesses in a variety of industries, as well as to high-net-worth individuals throughout New England and New York. This merger represents Whittlesey & Hadley’s growth plan to expand services, diversify geographically, and continue to grow in size, services, and staff. The combined three offices will employ 155 people, including 21 partners located in Hartford and Hamden, Conn., and locally in Holyoke. Weinstein & Anastasio, with roots back to 1927, will continue to serve clients and function in key leadership roles in Southern Conn. communities from its Hamden office, while acquiring the Whittlesey & Hadley brand. Founded in 1961, Whittlesey & Hadley provides accounting, audit, tax, technology, and business-consulting services to clients primarily throughout the Northeast, with access to a worldwide network of resources through PKF North America. For more than 50 years, the firm has served closely held businesses, including manufacturing, construction, distribution, real estate, financial, healthcare, government, and technology industries, as well as the nonprofit sector, the firm’s largest niche focus.
Valley Vodka Celebrates 10 Years in Business
HADLEY — Valley Vodka Inc. the owner of luxury brand V-One Vodka, will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its first sale on Sept. 1. “Over the past 10 years, V-One sales have consistently grown, with 2014 being the company’s best financial year,” said founder Paul Kozub, adding that, this year, Valley Vodka is poised to significantly improve on last year’s performance. Since its inception, V-One Vodka has won numerous international awards, said Kozub, including nine medals at the World Spirit Competition, including its highest honor, the unanimous Double Gold. V-One Vodka has also expanded its distribution from just 50 locations in the first year to now well over 1,400, in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. For the first time, this year, he noted, V-One will enter the European vodka market with sales in both Denmark and Poland. V-One has successfully launched four successful flavors over the past few years, including its two most recent, V-One Triple Berry and V-One Grapefruit. The company is also in discussions with several companies about expanding its distribution in 2016 to additional New England states with eventual distribution to all 50 states.
HMC to Open Satellite Location for PT Services
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center will open a satellite location for physical-therapy and rehabilitation services at Healthtrax Fitness & Wellness, 155 Ashley Ave., West Springfield, on Monday, Aug. 31. The location is part of HMC’s newly named Centers of Rehabilitation Excellence (CORE). The satellite location is part of HMC’s ongoing commitment to physical therapy and rehabilitation services, which includes a full renovation and expansion of its in-house physical and occupational therapy and pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation services. The West Springfield CORE location reflects a key strategic priority of HMC in offering community-based services at locations throughout the Pioneer Valley. Noted Marina Lebo, executive director at Healthtrax, “the Healthtrax Fitness Center offers a wide variety of fitness options for the Holyoke Medical Center and CORE patients as they progress in their health goals and recovery. We have amenities for all ages and fitness levels, including a new functional-fitness training area, personal and group training programs, over 60 motivating group classes weekly, from gentle yoga to cycling, and more.”
Amherst Copy & Designworks Acquires Ferguson Signs
AMHERST — Amherst Copy and Designworks (ACDW) announced that it has acquired Ferguson Signs of Hadley.
Sean Cleary, owner of Amherst Copy & Designworks, said the addition of Ferguson Signs — which will now be known as Ferguson Signworks, a division of Amherst Copy & Designworks — enables his company to better serve customer needs. AC&DW can now offer all manner of banners and signs — from business, yard, parking, and directional signs to wall treatments, floor decals, magnetic signs, stickers, and vehicle lettering — as well as specialty items such as printing on granite, ceiling tiles, cell phones, and more. Additionally, Duncan Ferguson will continue to manage Ferguson Signworks, bringing his more than 30 years of sign expertise to the new shop. Cleary purchased the former CopyCat Print Shop in Amherst approximately four years ago. In March 2014, he changed the name to Amherst Copy & Designworks.
