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St. Patrick’s Breakfast

March 13: The St. Patrick’s Business Breakfast of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce will be held at 7:30 a.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. The event, sponsored by PeoplesBank and Holyoke Mall at Ingleside, will begin with the serving of a full Irish breakfast. Attorney Jay Driscoll of Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll will serve as greeter.  He will be introduced by Jeffrey Sullivan of United Bank, who will preside, and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse will kick off the program with a special St. Patrick’s Day welcome. The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade, to be held on Sunday, March 17, will be in the spotlight, along with the Parade Committee and all winners of committee awards. Also recognized will be the chamber’s new members: Dean Nimmer Arts, Easthampton Savings Bank, Eco-Tints Expert Window Tinting, EmbroidMe of Holyoke, Hobby Lobby, South Street Laundromagic, S. Pierce Photography Studios, VertitechIT Inc., and Victory Home Healthcare Inc.  Guests will have an opportunity to purchase The Irish Legacy, the first book in the Republican’s new Heritage series, as well as the chamber’s “Luck of the Irish” raffle tickets. Breakfast tickets are $25 and may be obtained in advance by contacting calling (413) 534-3376 or by ordering online at holyokechamber.com.

 

Business Plan Basics

March 14: The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network’s Western Regional Office will present “Business Plan Basics” from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Mass Venture Center, Room 113, 100 Venture Way, Hadley. The workshop — to be presented by Lyne Kendall, the office’s senior business analyst — will focus on management fundamentals from startup considerations through business-plan development. Topics will include financing, marketing, and business planning. The cost is $25. To register, call (413) 737-6712 or register online at www.msbdc.org/wmass/training.html.

 

Women’s Fund Celebration

March 14: The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts will celebrate its 15th anniversary by honoring 16 local women with the first-ever Standing on Her Shoulders Awards. The celebration, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, begins at 5 p.m. with a cocktail hour and photographic exhibit of the award recipients and a showcase of the Women’s Fund grantees. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. with a musical performance, presentation of the Standing on Her Shoulders Awards, and a speech by Luma Mufleh, founder and coach of a soccer team called the Fugees, short for refugees.  An immigrant from Jordan and a Smith College graduate, Mufleh has created several businesses to employ refugees and immigrants in her community. That will be followed by an after-party and dancing from 8:45 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets cost $100. RSVP by March 7 to Julie Holt at (413) 529-0087, ext. 10, or register online at www.womensfund.net. The Women’s Fund is a public foundation that has reached over 80,000 people through $2 million in grant awards. More than 100 women have participated in the Women’s Fund Leadership Institute for Political and Pubic Impact. The 16 Standing on Her Shoulders Award recipients include Elaine Barkin, Ethel Case, Claire Cox, Verda Dale, Ruth Hooke, Vera Kalm, Gail Kielson, Susan Lowenstein Kitchell, Gloria Lomax, Ruth Stewart Loving, Ruth Moore, Venessa O’Brien, Lorna Peterson, Linda Slakey, Marlene Werenski, and Angela Wright.

 

Mother/Daughter Night

March 15: Cooper’s Commons, located at 159 Main St. in Agawam, will host a Mother & Daughter Night Out from 6 to 8:30 p.m. to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network at Baystate Children’s Hospital while also highlighting local businesses. For a $10 donation, each mother-daughter duo will enjoy 10%-off shopping in Chasam Boutique, Sweet September Baby & Children’s Boutique, and Cooper’s Gifts, Curtains & Furnishings. In addition, guests will be treated to complimentary carnations from Floral Concepts by Tom, hot beverages from Squire’s Bistro, hair updos from Shear Techniques, nail-polish changes at the Skin Salon, and chair massages at Knots Kneaded. Mother-daughter duos are also invited to visit LHQ Danceforce to sign up for one free dance class for each, and mother-daughter portraits will be available from photographer Paula Tingley. “We are looking forward to a wonderful night of pampering, shopping, and fun, all for a terrific cause,” said Kate Gourde, owner of Cooper’s Commons, which was recently renovated and subdivided into many specialty shops and services. “The Children’s Miracle Network at Baystate Children’s Hospital has special meaning to all of us.” Tickets are available in advance at any business within Cooper’s Commons, or at the door the night of the event. If the weather is inclement, the event will be postponed to March 22.

 

Difference Makers 2013

March 21: The annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House starting at 5 p.m. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. This year’s honorees include Springfield’s C3 Policing program; John Downing, president of Soldier On; Bruce Landon, president and general manager of the Springfield Falcons; the Sisters of Providence; and Jim Vinick, senior vice president of investments at Moors & Cabot Inc. Their stories were told in the Feb. 11 issue of BusinessWest and may also be read online at www.businesswest.com. The March 21 gala will feature butlered hors d’oeuvres, lavish food stations, introductions of the Difference Makers, and remarks from the honorees. Tickets cost $55 per person, and tables of 10 are available. For more information or to order tickets, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit www.businesswest.com. Event sponsors include Baystate Medical Practices, First American Insurance Agency, Health New England, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, Northwestern Mutual, Royal LLP, Sarat Ford Lincoln, and Six-Point Creative Works.

 

Understanding

Financial Reports

March 29: The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network’s Western Regional Office will present “Understanding Financial Reports” from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at PeoplesBank, second-floor conference center, 330 Whitney Ave., Holyoke. The workshop will be presented by Robb Morton of Boisselle, Morton & Associates, LLP. If you are in business, financial statements are an essential tool. Knowing how to read your financial statements can help you understand what happened last year in your business and what is likely to happen this year. The cost is $40. To register, call (413) 737-6712 or register online at www.msbdc.org/wmass/training.html.

 

Not Just Business as Usual

April 4: The Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Foundation will host its fourth annual Not Just Business as Usual event at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. A cocktail and networking reception will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m., followed by the dinner program and keynote speaker from 7 to 9 p.m.
This year, in celebration of 40 years of excellence in nursing at STCC, speakers include ‘The Three Doctors’ — Drs. George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, and Sampson Davis — who are well-known for their work delivering messages of hope and inspiration. As teenagers growing up on the inner-city streets of Newark, N.J., the three friends made a pact to stick together, go to college, graduate, and achieve their dreams of becoming medical doctors. They have been lauded by Oprah Winfrey as being “bigger than rock stars” and have been featured as medical experts on the Tom Joyner Morning Radio Show and CNN. The Three Doctors received the Essence Award in 2000 for their accomplishments and leadership, and a BET Honors Award in 2009. Over the past two years alone, the Not Just Business as Usual event has provided the STCC Foundation with more than $100,000 to support college and student needs. Funds help to provide STCC students with access to opportunities — through scholarships, technology, and career direction — to be successful future employees and citizens. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available. Individual tickets cost $175 each. If your business is interested in purchasing a table, contact Robert LePage at (413) 755-4477 or [email protected].

 

 

HRU Fund Raiser

April 11: Human Resources Unlimited (HRU) will stage its annual Recognition and Fund Raiser event at Springfield Country Club in West Springfield, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. This breakfast event is by invitation only and is limited to the first 200 registrants. HRU will recognize local employers that have distinguished themselves this past year through their commitment to hire individuals with a disability. In addition, the organization annually honors a special volunteer who has given of their time and talent to help advance HRU in achieving its mission. Two employers will be honored: the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Westfield is receiving the agency’s Employer of the Year Award, and the Sturbridge Host Hotel is being recognized with the Rookie Employer Award. Jeff Lander of Appilistic will receive the Armand Tourangeau Volunteer of the Year Award for his efforts on behalf of HRU’s Westfield Service Forum House. Gold Sponsors for the event include FieldEddy Insurance and Meredith Management. The media sponsor is BusinessWest. Sponsorships for this event are still available and welcome. Annually, Human Resources Unlimited assists more than 1,200 individuals living with developmental disabilities, mental illness, or other disadvantages to increase their skills, return to work or school, and become productive, contributing members of the community. Sponsorships and donations assist the organization in advancing its mission. For further information or to make a reservation, contact Lynda at (413) 781-5359 or [email protected]. The suggested minimum donation is $100.

 

DevelopSpringfield Gala

April 12: DevelopSpringfield will be hosting its 2nd annual gala in celebration of Springfield, the many accomplishments the community has achieved over the past year, and the exciting new initiatives underway. The gala will take place at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Festivities will include a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, dancing, and more. All proceeds will support DevelopSpringfield’s redevelopment initiatives, projects, and programs. An anticipated 400 attendees — including federal, state, and city officials; leaders from the business and nonprofit communities; and local residents — will come together in support of ongoing efforts to advance development and redevelopment projects, stimulate and support economic growth, and expedite the revitalization process in the city. Sponsorship packages as well as individual ticket opportunities are available. For more information, visit www.developspringfield.com, or contact Diane Swanson at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected].

 

Bankruptcy Seminar

April 16: As part of its series of free information sessions on business-law basics, the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Western New England University will present a session on bankruptcy, featuring attorneys George Roumeliotis of Roumeliotis  Law Group, Justin Dion of Bacon Wilson, and Kara Rescia of Eaton & Rescia. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at the WNEU School of Law, in the Blake Law Center. It is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be provided. To learn more about upcoming events hosted by the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, visit www.wne.edu/cie.

 

EASTEC 2013

May 14-16: EASTEC, the premier manufacturing exposition in the Northeast will be held at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield on May 14 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on May 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will offer a variety of exhibitors, educational offerings, tours of nearby facilities, and much more. For more information and to register to attend, visit www.easteconline.com.

 

40 Under Forty

June 20: BusinessWest will present its seventh class of regional rising stars at the annual 40 Under Forty gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The event will feature music, lavish food stations, and introductions of the winners. Look for event details in upcoming issues of BusinessWest — including the must-read April 22 issue in which the class of 2013 will be profiled — or call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100 for more information.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

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Chamber Corners Departments

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

• March 20: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., MassMutual Learning & Conference Center, 350 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Cost is $20 for members, $25 for non-members.

• March 20: 19th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Presented by the Greater Chicopee, Holyoke, Northampton, and Easthampton chambers of commerce. The event will feature more than 180 exhibitors and hundreds of visitors. Cost to attend: $5 pre-registered, $10 at the door. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

FRANKLIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.franklincc.org

(413) 773-5463

 

• March 22: Breakfast Series, 7:30-9 a.m., hosted by the Hallmark Institute of Photography, Industrial Boulevard, Turners Falls. Presentation by Robert McBride, founding director of the Rockingham (Vt.) Arts and Museum Project. He will share RAMP’s five-pronged approach to integrating the arts into a community-revitalization effort and long-term sustainability strategies. Sponsored by Franklin County Community Development Corp. and HitPoint Studios. Cost is $12 for FCCC members, $15 for non-members.

• March 22-23: Creative Economy Summit IV, a two-day seminar for artists, art lovers, business supporters, and everyone related to the creative economy. Registration fees and program details available at www.creativeeconomysummit.com.

 

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org

(413) 527-9414

 

• March 14: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange and Chamber Open House, 5-7 p.m., Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, 33 Union St., Easthampton. Sponsored by Innovative Business Systems and TechCavalry. Door Prizes, hors d’ouevres, host beer and wine. Tickets are $5 for members, $15 for future members.

• March 20: 19th Annual Table Top Exposition and Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Presented by the Greater Easthampton, Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (must be a member). Contact the participating chambers for information. Attendee-only tickets: $5 in advance, $10 at the door.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com

(413) 534-3376

 

• March 1-29: St. Pat’s Luck of the Irish Raffle. First prize, sponsored by Fln-Mar Rubber and Plastics: Red Sox Weekend Getaway for July 20 game vs. Yankees. Includes two game tickets, overnight stay at Boston Sheraton Back Bay Hotel, Peter Pan bus transportation, and $100 spending money. Second prize, sponsored by PeoplesBank and Pioneer Valley Railroad: Apple 32GB iPad Mini and case. Third Prize, sponsored by Mountain View Lanscapes, Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, and Aubrey, Dixon &Turgeon LLC: $500 spending spree at Holyoke Mall. Drawing to be held March 20 at the Table Top Expo at the Log Cabin. Tickets are $5 each or book of three for $10. Tickets are available for purchase online, at the chamber, and at each chamber event through March 20.

• March 13: St. Pat’s Salute Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by PeoplesBank and Holyoke Mall. Tickets are $25. Call the office for reservations at (413) 534-3376 or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.

• March 20: Table Top Expo, 4:30-7 p.m., the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Presented by the Greater Holyoke, Chicopee, Easthampton, and Northampton chambers of commerce. The public is invited. Admission: $5 in advance, $10 at the door; vendors: $100 per table. Corporate sponsor: the Log Cabin-Delaney House; Platinum sponsors: Taylor Rental of Holyoke, the Republican, Westover Job Corps Center, BusinessWest, Florence Savings Bank, and the Daily Hampshire Gazette; Gold Sponsors: Holyoke Community College, United Bank, Guenther Associates, Hadley Printing, the Valley Advocate, Northampton Rental, Charter Business, First Niagara Bank, and Harrington Insurance; Silver Sponsors: Dowd Insurance, Elms College, Freedom Credit Union, Hampden Bank, Health New England, Loomis Communities, Mountainview Landscape, PeoplesBank, New England Public Radio WFCR-WNNZ, TD Bank, Reminder Publications, United Personnel, Peter Pan Bus Lines, Peoples United Bank, and Valet Park of America. Call (413) 534-3376 or the participating chambers to reserve a table or to order admission tickets. Snow date: March 27.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER

www.professionalwomenschamber.com

(413) 755-1310

 

• March 20: March 2013 Meeting, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., the Basketball Hall of Fame, MassMutual Room. Catered by Max’s Tavern. Speaker: Hope Margala Klein, executive vice president of Brand, Innovation & Merchandising, Yankee Candle. Her program is titled “My Journey Through the Glass Ceiling.” Tickets: $25 for members, $35 for non-members. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact [email protected].

 

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

 

• March 13: March WestNet, 5-7 p.m., First Niagara Bank, 664 College Highway, Southwick. Come join us for a couple of hours to socialize and network with local businesses. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. Walk-ins welcome. Cost: members, $10 in advance or cash at the door; non-members, $15 cash. To register, contact Pam Bussell at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected] by March 11.

• March 15: St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, 7:15 a.m., Westfield State University, Scanlon Hall, 577 Western Ave., Westfield. Registration is at 7:15, the breakfast begins at 7:30, and the program begins at 8. Judy Dumont, MBI director, will speak on Massachusetts 123, a project to bring high-speed broadband to every corner of the Commonwealth. Cost is $25 for members, $30 for non-members. To register, contact Pam Bussell at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected]. RSVP for this event by March 11.

 

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD

www.springfieldyps.com

 

• March  21: Third Thursday, 5-7 p.m. at Nadim’s Mediterranean Restaurant & Grill, 1390 Main St., Springfield. Go to www.cafelebanon.com for more information about the restaurant.

Company Notebook

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Company Notebook Departments

Grant from MassMutual to Facilitate Local Junior Achievement Programs

SPRINGFIELD — Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts recently announced a grant from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual) that will help deliver critical personal-finance skills to the next generation of Western Mass. youth. Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts was one of four JA Areas across the nation selected to receive a MassMutual grant. “We are thrilled to receive this gift on behalf of our local students,” said Jennifer Connolly, president of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts. “MassMutual has given tangible proof of its practical commitment to giving young people advantages through financial literacy.” The grant will provide additional elementary- and middle-school programs for students in the community. JA programs help young people gain the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Additionally, MassMutual employees will serve as JA volunteers, teaching the JA curriculum and sharing their personal and professional experiences with students. The Junior Achievement mission is a direct correlation with MassMutual’s mission to help families become more confident in their financial decisions and empower them to take control of their financial situations. According to the Council for Economic Education’s “Survey of the States 2011: The State of Economic and Personal Finance Education in our Nation’s Schools,” only 13 states require its schools to teach personal-finance skills to its students. “It is critical to teach our children the skills they need to manage their finances. Learning to make smart financial decisions early in life can help them make the transition to college and financial independence later in life,” said Nick Fyntrilakis, vice president, Community Responsibility. Indeed, college debt is a major concern for the next generation. Currently, more than 60% of all students take out loans, and the average college graduate has more than $24,000 in debt upon graduation, according to the New York Times.

 

AIC Receives Gold Award for Viewbook

SPRINGFIELD — American International College recently received the Gold Award in the print communications category from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Lynn Saunders, Janelle Holmboe, and Scott Whitney of Florence were recognized for their work on the school’s admissions viewbook. CASE District I annually bestows its Excellence Awards on individuals and schools doing innovative work in the fields of special events, fund-raising, stewardship, volunteer engagement, alumni relations, student-alumni initiatives, advancement services, and communications. Saunders, AIC’s art director and project manager, said the messaging inspired not just the viewbook’s content, but also its visual messaging and editorial tone. “We kept in mind our target demographic and repositioned our piece to be more friendly, accessible, and true to who we are. The bold copy reinforces the visual elements and makes us stand out from many of the pieces we see from other area colleges.” Holmboe, dean of Undergraduate Admissions at AIC, said one of the goals of the viewbook was to reclaim AIC’s image by articulating what the school stands for as an institution of higher education. “We intended to underscore our egalitarian ethos, our history of catering to an underserved population, and our commitment to academic support that would ensure students’ success.” Jennifer Grossman, director of Marketing and Communications at AIC, said the viewbook was a true collaboration between both Enrollment and Marketing. “It is great to see hard work pay off, and for AIC’s accomplishments to be recognized by our peers.”

 

Armbrook Village Set

for April 1 Opening

WESTFIELD — Armbrook Village, the region’s newest senior-living community, announced that it will open its doors April 1. The facility will be managed by Massachusetts-based Senior Living Residences, with a local management team headed by Executive Director Beth Cardillo. Armbrook Village will feature independent senior apartments with concierge services, service-enriched assisted living, and a state-of-the-art Compass Memory Support Neighborhood, affiliated with Boston University’s School of Medicine’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center, featuring research-based treatment for those with memory loss. Westfield Mayor Daniel Knapik, who recently toured the facility with other civic and business leaders, said the complex will be an important addition to the local landscape. “Armbrook Village will add vitality to Westfield and our surrounding communities — not just for our seniors, but for other age groups in our local community. The more than 120 residents of Armbrook Village will make use of area amenities such as the YMCA, Noble Hospital, our shopping centers, grocery stores, and restaurants. And they will be involved in the fabric of our community through volunteering and other social and cultural pursuits.”

 

MassMutual Named a FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Company

SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual) announced that it has once again been named a FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Company in 2013 in the life and health insurance industry and in the state of Massachusetts. Ranked third overall, MassMutual is the most-admired mutual company in the life and health insurance industry category this year. The 2013 FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Company survey was conducted in the fall of 2012 among top executives, directors, and securities analysts in 57 industries. To be named to the World’s Most Admired list, a company’s overall score must rank in the top half of its industry survey. The survey assessed nine reputation drivers considered to be crucial to a company’s global success: financial soundness, long-term investment value, people management, social responsibility, use of assets, quality of management, quality of products and services, innovation, and global competitiveness. “We are honored to be a FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Company again this year, and especially proud to receive a top ranking in the social-responsibility category in recognition of our important contributions in communities across the U.S.,” said Roger Crandall, chairman, president, and CEO of MassMutual. “As a leader in an industry built on trust and accountability, we are pleased to be included among this elite list of admired companies.”

 

Monson Savings Bank Announces Winners of Community-giving Vote

MONSON — For the third year in a row, Monson Savings Bank asked the community to help plan the bank’s community-giving activities by inviting people to vote for the organizations they would like the bank to support during 2013. “We received nearly 900 votes for more than 60 different organizations doing community-service work in Monson, Hampden, Wilbraham, and Ware, where we will be opening a branch later this year,” said Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. “We were pleased to hear from so many people. It really shows that we live in a community of concerned and committed citizens, and that feels great.” The top vote getters are:

1. River East School-to-Career Inc.

2. Homefront Equestrians

3. Link to Libraries

4. Replanting Monson Tree Committee

5. Monson Bellman Antique Fire Apparatus Club/Museum

6. Blue Star Equiculture

7. Scantic Valley YMCA

8. Greene Room Productions

9. Boy Scouts of Western Massachusetts

10. Two Town Trolley

The organizations have been notified of the good news and will be receiving checks from the bank in the next few weeks. According to Lowell, the list continues to change every year. “Just like last year, four of the 10 organizations were new to the list, and we learned about new groups that we didn’t even know were out there. That reinforces our decision to reach out to ask people for their input. We think that’s part of being a community bank.”

 

Development Proposals Sought for Allis House

SPRINGFIELD — The Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS) has issued a formal request for development proposals involving the W.H. Allis House on the Mercy Medical Center campus. The request was initiated with the hope of creating a new use for the landmark, which was slated to be demolished to make way for construction of a $20 million medical office building at the northwest corner of the Mercy campus, near the intersection of Chestnut and Carew streets. Ground was broken for the project last October. The initiative is being developed by Carew Chestnut Partners, and under terms of a construction and land-lease agreement, Carew Chestnut Street Partners will develop and own the building. In recent weeks, discussions between SPHS and members of both public and private historicalpreservation groups have been conducted to gain input about methods for preserving the history of the building. “We remain mindful of the history of the W.H. Allis House and appreciative of the importance of effectively preserving that history, particularly as it relates to the legacy of care provided by the Sisters of Providence,” said Daniel Moen, president and CEO of SPHS. “At the same time, our ongoing role as stewards of our limited resources calls us to continue the transformation of the Mercy campus, ensuring our ability to continue to serve the needs of our community while furthering our mission.” A spokesperson for SPHS said that initial plans for this construction project called for the removal of four structures on the Mercy campus: the maintenance garage, the Mercy Hearing Center building, the St. Mary’s building, and the W.H. Allis House.  Three of these buildings are located within the footprint of the medical office building project, while the W.H. Allis House is contiguous to it. “The decision to include the W.H. Allis House in the removal plan came after lengthy discussions and careful consideration,” the spokesperson said. “This difficult decision followed an internal evaluation that determined that the structure was unsafe and unusable, could not be renovated in a financially responsible way, and could not be used for patient care nor be adequately renovated for administrative functions. These findings were further validated by an outside engineering firm that SPHS engaged to assess the structural condition of the building. Steiger Engineering Inc. also determined that the renovation of the structure would be cost-prohibitive at $6 million to $7 million and would not result in a viable medical use. However, after discussions with Springfield city officials and members of the local historical-preservation community, SPHS has agreed to re-evaluate its position on demolition of the W.H. Allis House until such time as it can be reasonably determined if restoration is not only a workable option, but will not impede ongoing transformation of the Mercy campus.” To that end, SPHS was involved in the creation of a task force comprised of SPHS leaders, Springfield city officials, and private citizens who are members of the Springfield Preservation Trust and Preservation Massachusetts, and engaged the services of Greg Farmer, a leading expert on historical preservation, to advise SPHS and the task force on appropriate methods to preserve the history of the Allis House. The Task Force began its work on Jan. 23 and is investigating alternatives to the removal of the building, primarily focused on efforts to secure the involvement of an outside party who would be willing to invest in and oversee its restoration, the spokesperson explained.

 

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

Business-law Basics

March 12, April 16: Get the business-law basics that every small-business owner and entrepreneur needs to know from the legal experts at the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Western New England University. This series of free information sessions is focused on key topics to help plan and grow a small business. Sessions will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at Western New England University School of Law, in the Blake Law Center. The events are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. The dates, topics, and presenters are: March 12, “Intellectual Property Law Basics,” with attorneys Peter Irvine of Peter Irvine Law Offices, Leah Kunkel of the Law Offices of Leah Kunkel, and Michelle Bugbee of Solutia Inc.; and April 16, “Bankruptcy,” with attorneys George Roumeliotis of Roumeliotis  Law Group, Justin Dion of Bacon Wilson, and Kara Rescia of Eaton & Rescia. To learn more about upcoming events, visit www.wne.edu/cie.

 

Women’s Fund Celebration

March 14: The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts will celebrate its 15th anniversary by honoring 16 local women with the first-ever Standing on Her Shoulders Awards. The celebration, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, begins at 5 p.m. with a cocktail hour and photographic exhibit of the award recipients and a showcase of the Women’s Fund grantees. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. with a musical performance, presentation of the Standing on Her Shoulders Awards, and a speech by Luma Mufleh, founder and coach of a soccer team called the Fugees, short for refugees.  An immigrant from Jordan and a Smith College graduate, Mufleh has created several businesses to employ refugees and immigrants in her community. That will be followed by an after-party and dancing from 8:45 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets cost $100. RSVP by March 7 to Julie Holt at (413) 529-0087, ext. 10, or register online at www.womensfund.net. The Women’s Fund is a public foundation that has reached over 80,000 people through $2 million in grant awards. More than 100 women have participated in the Women’s Fund Leadership Institute for Political and Pubic Impact. The 16 Standing on Her Shoulders Award recipients include Elaine Barkin, Ethel Case, Claire Cox, Verda Dale, Ruth Hooke, Vera Kalm, Gail Kielson, Susan Lowenstein Kitchell, Gloria Lomax, Ruth Stewart Loving, Ruth Moore, Venessa O’Brien, Lorna Peterson, Linda Slakey, Marlene Werenski, and Angela Wright.

 

Mother/Daughter Night

March 15: Cooper’s Commons, located at 159 Main St. in Agawam, will host a Mother & Daughter Night Out from 6 to 8:30 p.m. to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network at Baystate Children’s Hospital while also highlighting local businesses. For a $10 donation, each mother-daughter duo will enjoy 10%-off shopping in Chasam Boutique, Sweet September Baby & Children’s Boutique, and Cooper’s Gifts, Curtains & Furnishings. In addition, guests will be treated to complimentary carnations from Floral Concepts by Tom, hot beverages from Squire’s Bistro, hair updos from Shear Techniques, nail-polish changes at the Skin Salon, and chair massages at Knots Kneaded. Mother-daughter duos are also invited to visit LHQ Danceforce to sign up for one free dance class for each, and mother-daughter portraits will be available from photographer Paula Tingley. “We are looking forward to a wonderful night of pampering, shopping, and fun, all for a terrific cause,” said Kate Gourde, owner of Cooper’s Commons, which was recently renovated and subdivided into many specialty shops and services. “The Children’s Miracle Network at Baystate Children’s Hospital has special meaning to all of us.” Tickets are available in advance at any business within Cooper’s Commons, or at the door the night of the event. If the weather is inclement, the event will be postponed to March 22.

 

Difference Makers 2013

March 21: The annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House starting at 5 p.m. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. This year’s honorees include Springfield’s C3 Policing program; John Downing, president of Soldier On; Bruce Landon, president and general manager of the Springfield Falcons; the Sisters of Providence; and Jim Vinick, senior vice president of investments at Moors & Cabot Inc. Their stories were told in the Feb. 11 issue of BusinessWest and may also be read online at www.businesswest.com. The March 21 gala will feature butlered hors d’oeuvres, lavish food stations, introductions of the Difference Makers, and remarks from the honorees. Tickets cost $55 per person, and tables of 10 are available. For more information or to order tickets, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit www.businesswest.com. Event sponsors include Baystate Medical Practices, First American Insurance Agency, Health New England, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, Northwestern Mutual, Royal LLP, Sarat Ford Lincoln, and Six-Point Creative Works.

 

Not Just Business as Usual

April 4: The Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Foundation will host its fourth annual Not Just Business as Usual event at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. A cocktail and networking reception will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m., followed by the dinner program and keynote speaker from 7 to 9 p.m.
This year, in celebration of 40 years of excellence in nursing at STCC, speakers include ‘The Three Doctors’ — Drs. George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, and Sampson Davis — who are well-known for their work delivering messages of hope and inspiration. As teenagers growing up on the inner-city streets of Newark, N.J., the three friends made a pact to stick together, go to college, graduate, and achieve their dreams of becoming medical doctors. They have been lauded by Oprah Winfrey and been featured as medical experts on the Tom Joyner Morning Radio Show and CNN. The Three Doctors received the Essence Award in 2000 for their accomplishments and leadership, and a BET Honors Award in 2009. Over the past two years alone, the Not Just Business as Usual event has provided the STCC Foundation with more than $100,000 to support college and student needs. Funds help to provide STCC students with access to opportunities — through scholarships, technology, and career direction — to be successful future employees and citizens. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available. Individual tickets cost $175 each. Businesses interested in purchasing a table may contact Robert LePage at (413) 755-4477 or [email protected].

 

Live Comedy Night to

Help Children’s Charities

April 6: Smith & Wesson will host a live comedy night to benefit to support two local children’s charities, the Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Ronald McDonald House. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at the Cedars Banquet Hall, 419 Island Pond Road, Springfield, and includes a cash bar, raffles, games, music, and hot and cold hors d’oeuvres prior to the show. The laughs begin at 7:15 p.m. with Teddie Barrett of Teddie B Comedy emceeing the show and introducing comedians Mark Scalia, Chance Langton, and Mike Whitman. Scalia began his stand-up career in Boston in the early 1990s and is now an international headliner. Langton is a nationally known comedian, musician, actor, writer, and basketball player who has been entertaining in comedy clubs for more than 20 years. Whitman was voted Boston’s Best New Comedian in 2008. Tickets cost $30 and may be purchased in advance by contacting Elaine Stellato at Smith & Wesson, (413) 747-3371; Karen Motyka at Shriners Hospital, (413) 787-2032; or Jennifer Putnam at Ronald McDonald House, (413) 794-5683.

 

DevelopSpringfield Gala

April 12: DevelopSpringfield will host its 2nd annual gala in celebration of Springfield, the community’s recent accomplishments, and the exciting new initiatives underway. The gala will take place at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Festivities will include a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, dancing, and more. All proceeds will support DevelopSpringfield’s redevelopment initiatives, projects, and programs. An anticipated 400 attendees — including federal, state, and city officials; leaders from the business and nonprofit communities; and local residents — will come together in support of ongoing efforts to advance development and redevelopment projects, stimulate and support economic growth, and expedite the revitalization process in the city. Sponsorship packages as well as individual ticket opportunities are available. For more information on the event, visit www.developspringfield.com, or contact Diane Swanson at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected].

EASTEC 2013

May 14-16: EASTEC, the premier manufacturing exposition in the Northeast will be held at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield on May 14 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on May 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will offer a variety of exhibitors, educational offerings, tours of nearby facilities, and much more. For more information and to register to attend, visit www.easteconline.com.

 

40 Under Forty

June 20: BusinessWest will present its seventh class of regional rising stars at the annual 40 Under Forty gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The event will feature music, lavish food stations, and introductions of the winners. Look for event details in upcoming issues of BusinessWest — including the must-read April 22 issue in which the class of 2013 will be profiled — or call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100 for more information.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

 

• March 5: ERC5 March 2013 “High Five” Five-year Anniversary Event, 5-7 p.m., Spoleto Restaurant, 84 Center Square, East Longmeadow. For more information and to purchase tickets, contact [email protected]

• March 6: ACCGS Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., the Cedars, 375 Island Pond Road, Springfield. Guest speaker: Suzanne Bump, Massachusetts state auditor. The event will feature a salute to the YMCA of Greater Springfield on its 145th anniversary. For more information and to purchase tickets, contact [email protected].

 

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com

(413) 253-0700

 

• Feb.  27: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m., Hampshire Athletic Club, 90 Gatehouse Road, Amherst. Admission is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. For more information, visit www.amherstarea.com.

 

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

• Feb. 27: February Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at NUVO Bank & Trust Co. Admission is $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

• March 1: Shining Stars Banquet, Castle of Knights, Memorial Drive, Chicopee. The event will recognize the Business of the Year — Birch Manor Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing; Citizen of the Year — Lorraine Houle of Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen & Pantry; and Chamber Volunteer of the Year — Earl LaFlamme III of Marcus Printing. Diamond Sponsor is Chicopee Savings Bank; Gold Sponsors are Dave’s Truck Repair Inc., Hampden Bank, NUVO Bank & Trust Co., Pioneer Packaging Inc., Teddy Bear Pools Inc., the Gaudreau Group Inc., and Valley Opportunity Council. Silver Sponsor is MicroTek Inc. Tickets are $60 per person.

• March 20: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., MassMutual Learning & Conference Center, 350 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Cost is $20 for members, $25 for non-members.

• March 20: 19th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Presented by the Greater Chicopee, Holyoke, Northampton, and Easthampton chambers of commerce. The event will feature more than 180 exhibitors and hundreds of visitors. Cost to attend: $5 pre-registered, $10 at the door. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

FRANKLIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.franklincc.org

(413) 773-5463

 

• March 22: Breakfast Series, 7:30-9 a.m., hosted by the Hallmark Institute of Photography, Industrial Boulevard, Turners Falls. Presentation by Robert McBride, founding director of the Rockingham (Vt.) Arts and Museum Project. He will share RAMP’s five-pronged approach to integrating the arts into a community-revitalization effort and long-term sustainability strategies. Sponsored by Franklin County Community Development Corp. and HitPoint Studios. Cost is $12 for FCCC members, $15 for non-members.

• March 22-23: Creative Economy Summit IV, a two-day seminar for artists, art lovers, business supporters, and everyone related to the creative economy. Registration fees and program details available at www.creativeeconomysummit.com.

 

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org

(413) 527-9414

 

• March 8: St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon, noon-2 p.m., Southampton Country Club, 329 College Highway, Southampton. Guest speaker: U.S. Rep. Richard Neal. Honored guest: Rachel Connell, Distinguished Young Woman of Greater Easthampton. Sponsored by the Easthampton Learning Foundation and Finck & Perras Insurance Agency. Tickets are $21.95 for members, $23.95 for non-members.

• March 14: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange and Chamber Open House, 5-7 p.m., Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, 33 Union St., Easthampton. Sponsored by Innovative Business Systems and TechCavalry. Door Prizes, hors d’ouevres, host beer and wine. Tickets are $5 for members, $15 for future members.

• March 20: 19th Annual Table Top Exposition and Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Presented by the Greater Easthampton, Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (must be a member). Contact the participating chambers for information. Attendee-only tickets: $5 in advance, $10 at the door.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com

(413) 534-3376

 

• March 1-29: St. Pat’s Luck of the Irish Raffle. First prize, sponsored by Fln-Mar Rubber and Plastics: Red Sox Weekend Getaway for July 20 game vs. Yankees. Includes two game tickets, overnight stay at Boston Sheraton Back Bay Hotel, Peter Pan bus transportation, and $100 spending money. Second prize, sponsored by PeoplesBank and Pioneer Valley Railroad: Apple 32GB iPad Mini and case. Third Prize, sponsored by Mountain View Lanscapes, Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, and Aubrey, Dixon &Turgeon LLC: $500 spending spree at Holyoke Mall. Drawing to be held March 20 at the Table Top Expo at the Log Cabin. Tickets are $5 each or book of three for $10. Tickets are available for purchase online, at the chamber, and at each chamber event through March 20.

• March 7: Leadership Holyoke Program, sponsored by PeoplesBank. Presented by the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Holyoke Community College. Speakers, discussions, classroom time, and field trips are included in this 11-week session. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 for details or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.

• March 13: St. Pat’s Salute Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by PeoplesBank and Holyoke Mall. Tickets are $25. Call the office for reservations at (413) 534-3376 or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.

• March 20: Table Top Expo, 4:30-7 p.m., the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Presented by the Greater Holyoke, Chicopee, Easthampton, and Northampton chambers of commerce. The public is invited. Admission: $5 in advance, $10 at the door; vendors: $100 per table. Corporate sponsor: the Log Cabin-Delaney House; Platinum sponsors: Taylor Rental of Holyoke, the Republican, Westover Job Corps Center, BusinessWest, Florence Savings Bank, and the Daily Hampshire Gazette; Gold Sponsors: Holyoke Community College, United Bank, Guenther Associates, Hadley Printing, the Valley Advocate, Northampton Rental, Charter Business, First Niagara Bank, and Harrington Insurance; Silver Sponsors: Dowd Insurance, Elms College, Freedom Credit Union, Hampden Bank, Health New England, Loomis Communities, Mountainview Landscape, PeoplesBank, New England Public Radio WFCR-WNNZ, TD Bank, Reminder Publications, United Personnel, Peter Pan Bus Lines, Peoples United Bank, and Valet Park of America. Call (413) 534-3376 or the participating chambers to reserve a table or to order admission tickets. Snow date: March 27.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER

www.professionalwomenschamber.com

(413) 755-1310

 

• March 20: March 2013 Meeting, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., the Basketball Hall of Fame, MassMutual Room. Catered by Max’s Tavern. Speaker: Hope Margala Klein, executive vice president of Brand, Innovation & Merchandising, Yankee Candle. Her program is titled “My Journey Through the Glass Ceiling.” Tickets: $25 for members, $35 for non-members. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact [email protected].

 

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com

(413) 426-3880

 

• Feb.  28: Legislative Breakfast presented by the West of the River Chamber of Commerce, 7-9 a.m., Springfield Country Club. The breakfast will have a panel of various legislatures: state Sen. Michael Knapik, state Sen. James Welch, state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga, state Rep. Michael Finn, Agawam Mayor Richard Cohen, and West Springfield Mayor Greg Neffinger. Tickets are $25 for members, $30 for non-members. For more information on ticket sales, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].

• March 6: Wicked Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., Raymour & Flanigan, 895 Riverdale St., West Springfield. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events hosted by various businesses and restaurants. These events bring members and non-members together to network socially in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected]. Free for chamber members, $10 for non-members. Event is open to the public, but non-members must pay at the door.

 

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

 

• March 4: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., East Mountain Country Club, 1458 East Mountain Road, Westfield. Free and open to the public. To register, contact Pam Bussell at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected].

• March 13: March WestNet, 5-7 p.m., First Niagara Bank, 664 College Highway, Southwick. Come join us for a couple of hours to socialize and network with local businesses. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. Walk-ins welcome. Cost: members, $10 in advance or cash at the door; non-members, $15 cash. To register, contact Pam Bussell at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected] by March 11.

• March 15: St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, 7:15 a.m., Westfield State University, Scanlon Hall, 577 Western Ave., Westfield. Registration is at 7:15, the breakfast begins at 7:30, and the program begins at 8. Judy Dumont, MBI director, will speak on Massachusetts 123, a project to bring high-speed broadband to every corner of the Commonwealth. Cost is $25 for members, $30 for non-members. To register, contact Pam Bussell at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected]. RSVP for this event by March 11.

 

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield

www.springfieldyps.com

 

• March  21: Third Thursday, 5-7 p.m. at Nadim’s Mediterranean Restaurant & Grill, 1390 Main St., Springfield. Go to www.cafelebanon.com for more information about the restaurant.

Community Profile

By
Bonnie Galant
Features
Pittsfield Remakes Itself as Center for Arts, Sciences
Daniel Bianchi

Daniel Bianchi says young people are moving to Pittsfield from metropolitan areas and opening businesses that utilize cutting-edge technology.

Mayor Daniel Bianchi has a vision for the future.

It’s decidedly ambitious, but coupled with a strategic plan designed to make Pittsfield the center for life sciences in Western Mass.

“Gov. Deval Patrick is adamant about making Massachusetts the life-science capital of the world, and I want Pittsfield and Berkshire County to be the western end of that,” Bianchi told BusinessWest.

The cornerstone of his plan is the proposed Berkshire Life Sciences Center, which has a $6.5 million earmark from the state and will be situated in the new William Stanley Business Park, on 50 acres of ground once occupied by General Electric’s large transformer-manufacturing complex.

“We like to think that ideas can be brainstormed in Boston but can be built here in the Berkshires, and we plan to leverage the $6.5 million with private investments. We know we won’t attract research companies, but once they are ready to commercialize a product, they can come to the beautiful Berkshires and rent space at $50 a square foot,” Bianchi said, adding that agriculture plays a significant role in the area and is related to the life sciences and green energy.

Another part of the park will be utilized for traditional manufacturing, but Bianchi noted that Pittsfield is a great place for any business to position itself, due to its geographic location and comparatively low cost of living. “Synergy is a key word here, and we are examining that as part of our business plan, because clustering is so important, especially in the life sciences.”

The plastics industry is already flourishing in Pittsfield, as are small companies that make innovative medical devices. And some of the most sophisticated work being done for the armed forces is taking place at General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems.

In addition, the city’s Economic Revitalization Corp. was selected as one of four communities in the state to receive a $150,000 grant to help small businesses increase their Internet use.

Bianchi has also started a fund for small companies that are successful, but need help to expand their operations. “We are hoping to grow from within, and the money we set aside for these businesses is pegged for job creation,” he said. “But our strength isn’t only in our community, but the entire region. Pittsfield is the largest city in Berkshire County, but we are fostering collaborative economic development.”

Meanwhile, the city has undergone a real renaissance, especially in the cultural arena. Year-round events staged by the Office of Cultural Development have spawned a number of new restaurants and retail shops, as well as new apartment complexes created within the shells of historic buildings that are rented as quickly as they are built.

In fact, young people are flocking to the city from New York and other metropolitan areas and opening businesses that utilize cutting-edge technology. As Bianchi sees it, they are moving to Pittsfield for a reason.

“There is a lot to be said about the great lifestyle here. People who live here can leave work at 5 p.m. and be on a ski lift at 5:30,” he said. “We have state forests, beautiful lakes, and very competitively priced land and real estate, along with a solid educational system that includes both a four-year and two-year college. And one of my goals is to build a technical vocational high school, which will be a great boon to economic development.”

Bonnie Galant, acting director of the department of Community Development, is working collaboratively with Bianchi and others to fuel the city’s progress. “There is so much going on here that it is hard to keep track of, and it’s incredible to see how much Pittsfield has changed,” she said. “People who haven’t been here for years wouldn’t even recognize the city. There is an amazing difference in the skyline, and we are trying to encourage the life sciences because it is an up-and-coming industry for the future, especially here in the Berkshires where the cost of living and doing business is significantly less than in Boston.”

 

Cultural Leader

Bonnie Galant

Bonnie Galant says people are amazed at the amount of money being invested in Pittsfield.

Pittsfield’s new Upstreet Cultural District was the first area west of Boston to be designated as a cultural district by the state, and director of Cultural Development Megan Whilden has been named a Gateway Cities Innovation Institute senior fellow.

“We are one of only five communities in Massachusetts with this designation; the rest are in the eastern part of the state, and we are seen as a leader in cultural revitalization, especially among Gateway Cities,” she told BusinessWest.

The Upstreet District encompasses most of the downtown area, and the name is a throwback to yesteryear. “Upstreet was what the old-timers called downtown. We have tried to integrate the old with the new so everyone feels included when it comes to the arts,” Whilden added.

Their efforts have been successful, and thousands of people visit Pittsfield each year to take part in cultural offerings, which range from First Friday Art Walks to Third Thursday events, an annual Jazz Festival, the Latino-American Family Fiesta de Pittsfield, and a popular Ethnic Fair.

In addition, the Office of Cultural Development manages the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, a year-round community-arts center owned by the city, which features monthly exhibitions, performances and classes, as well as working artist studios.

Its most recent event was the 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival, held Feb. 14-24, which was an enormous success. “It’s a contemporary arts festival held downtown that we started last year,” Whilden said, noting that there were more than 75 offerings this year, ranging from comedies and theater performances to dance, music, film, art shows, and other offerings.

“We had more than 20 programming partners, which is an example of how we work collaboratively to create new events and initiatives that will benefit residents and attract visitors,” Whilden said. “The festival was a hallmark of what we do and will continue to do.”

Another celebration held last summer was named “Call Me Melville” to pay tribute to author Herman Melville, who wrote Moby-Dick when he lived in the city. “We had new plays written for the celebration and brought in a rock band from Brooklyn that wrote a song for each of the 135 chapters in the book,” Whilden said. “We also had an online book club which posted a chapter from the book each day.”

The event included youth initiatives, and high-school students formed a giant white whale on their football field in a flash mob. “We like to be creative, collaborative, and inclusive so everyone is part of the cultural life in Pittsfield,” Whilden explained.

Other cultural attractions include the Berkshire Museum, which has undergone a $9 million addition; Berkshire Community College; Berkshire Athenaeum; Wahconah Park; Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary; and Bousquet Ski Area and Summer Resort.

There is also the historic Colonial Theater and the Tony Award-winning Barrington Stage Company. The two joined forces over the past two years and formed the Berkshire Theater Group, which stages a full roster of performances.

Galant says the Common, a park within walking distance of downtown, is being restored, and new housing continues to be built. “The Amsterdam Apartments are a block west of downtown, and last year a $15 million historic renovation was completed on the former Rice Silk Mill, which turned it into 45 apartments. It’s a really interesting building, and they kept the beams, bricks, and large windows as well as a lot of other architectural features.”

In addition, the Onota Building has been purchased and will be renovated into 25 apartments with commercial space on the ground floor, while the Howard Building, which sits a block from downtown near City Hall, has also been purchased with plans to create 39 high-end apartments, along with a roof terrace, workout room, and other amenities.

“People are astounded at the change and the amount of money that has been invested in the city,” Galant said. “Berkshire Regional Transit runs an $11 million intermodal station that opened in 2004, and $100 million has been invested downtown in the past 10 years. The McKay Street parking garage is undergoing a $7.6 million renovation, $14 million has been put into streetscapes so far in an improvement project that is expected to exceed $20 million, the Colonial Theater underwent at $19.3 million renovation, the Barrington Stage project cost $6 million, and the multiplex Beacon Cinema Center cost $23 million.”

In addition, a $40 million expansion of the municipal airport was completed last fall, which will make it accessible for larger jets.

Plus, the healthcare sector continues to expand, led by Berkshire Health Systems. Berkshire Medical Center boasts a new surgical wing and emergency room, which cost approximately $43 million, and a new, state-of-the-art, $32 million cancer-treatment center is in the works. “They will break ground for it this summer,” Bianchi said, adding that these projects, combined with the city’s proximity to UMass Amherst and the fact that the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is building its own life-science center, makes it an ideal place to establish the Berkshire Life Science Center.

“We will have a strong case to make in Boston because we can build on our existing strengths,” he said.

 

Winning Combination

Overll, Pittsfield’s future holds great promise on many levels, from the arts to the life sciences to its attractiveness as a home to young professionals.

“Our collaborations with successful businesses and government, combined with civic support, will accelerate innovation and success,” Bianchi said. “We are engaging young people on our boards, have an old-fashioned marketing and recruitment effort planned, and are very confident we will be successful.”

Hire Anxiety

By
Peter Rosskothen
Features
Employers Brace for a Possible Casino-fueled Talent Flight
Keith Makarowsky

Keith Makarowsky says that staffing is already tight, and he is concerned that it will only get tougher with a casino in the area.

When New York Times bestselling author Erma Bombeck wrote her book The Grass Is Always Greener over the Septic Tank in 1976, Vogue called it “the exposé to end all exposés — the truth about the suburbs.”

It offered humorous stories, based on real research, enlightening readers as to why so many long for what the Joneses have.

Today, the ‘grass is always greener’ attitude is one that’s being used by many employers with regard to the eventual arrival of a casino in Western Mass. and the likely response from many currently in the workforce. It’s a mindset they’ll be looking to prevent, or least keep under reasonable control.

That’s because the inevitability of a casino somewhere in the 413 area code — be it in Springfield, West Springfield, or Palmer — and the 2,000 to 3,000 jobs that will come with it, have many, both employed and unemployed, thinking and dreaming about a situation better than the one they’re in.

Keith Makarowsky, partner and owner of JT’s Sports Bar, Theodore’s, and Smith’s Billiards in downtown Springfield, which together employ close to 90 people, is one of the many concerned employers.

“I’m already having a hard time staffing,” he said. “And it’s only going to get worse — much worse.”

If U.S. Department of Labor statistics are any indicator, Makarowsky, whose businesses are located just a few blocks from the dueling Springfield casino proposals, may see talent flight from all three venues. In 2010, the commercial casino and gaming-equipment-manufacturing industry employed nearly 370,000 — more direct employees than the U.S. automobile industry. The thriving gaming-entertainment industry expects that number to rise to more than 470,000 over the next 10 years.

And those jobs come across a number of fields and professions. Most think about blackjack dealers, pit bosses, waitstaff in restaurants, and other hospitality-related positions, but there are also myriad money-handling and backroom operations that should have employers in the broad financial-services realm concerned.

“There will be many levels of educated professionals that will be needed, as well as a big customer-service element behind the scenes, and these people will come from the banks, the professional-service firms, and local hotels,” said Kristina Drzal Houghton, partner and director of Taxation Services at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.

Peter Rosskothen, owner and president of Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, the Delaney House, and catering through Log Rolling and at Wyckoff Country Club, takes a generally positive approach to the situation while focusing on what he believes is the primary challenge for the region — supplying a trained, talented workforce for the casino without necessarily impacting existing employers.

“Of course I have fears, but I’m focusing on the positive side,” said Rosskothen, who manages a staff of 200. He believes there’s enough unemployment in this market to supply current and future workforce needs. “But we need to get them to a level that they’re hireable, and my biggest concern now is, how do we plan … how do I keep my good employees while the casino gets its good employees?”

This is, in many ways, the unofficial assignment for a recently established consortium called the Community College Casino Careers Training Institute. The unique initiative, developed by leaders at Holyoke Community College (HCC) and Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), is a collaboration among the Commonwealth’s community colleges, one that gives casino developers a single point of contact in the three different regions across the state where casinos will be constructed to help develop their workforce.

Peter Rosskothen

Peter Rosskothen knows that educational programs that target skills for casino jobs will benefit many who are unemployed in the region.

While HCC and STCC currently offer programs in many of the professional skill sets casinos will require, neither offer dealer- and entertainment-related courses, which prompted the consortium to consult and contract with Atlantic Cape Community College in Atlantic City (more on this later).

For this issue and its focus on the casino era, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at how an $800 million gaming facility, such as those being proposed for Western Mass., could and likely will impact the region’s employment situation, and also what employers can do to improve their odds of minimizing the impact on their businesses.

 

Sure Bet

The question of ‘if’ a casino is coming to Western Mass. has long since given way to other queries about ‘when’ and ‘where.’ And this inevitability has business owners thinking about many things, from opportunities to partner with the casino operator of choice (see related story, page 17) to what will happen with their current staff when the 800-pound gorilla sets up shop.

John Thomas, general manager of Max’s Tavern at the Basketball Hall of Fame, believes a casino — wherever it lands — will be a positive development for Springfield simply in terms of bringing more people into the area. “It’s more competition for us because we’re going to have a casino with restaurants, and it’s going to make me step up my game a little bit more.”

From a staffing standpoint, though, Thomas, who not only oversees Max’s Tavern, but catering for events in the MassMutual Room, at center court, and in the Hall concourse, believes retention will be an even greater challenge in his sector.

“A casino is definitely one of those things that could steal away a couple of my servers and chefs,” he said, “and I don’t want to have to hire new employees because it takes six months to train them, and turnover is not the best thing for guest services.”

If surveys by the American Gaming Assoc. (AGA) are to be believed, turnover may prove inevitable for local employers.

A 2007 AGA Survey of Attitudes of Casino Industry Employees by Peter D. Hart Research Associates Inc. found that more than 85% of the nation’s gaming employees find their job satisfying. Another 2007 AGA study with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Gaming Industry Diversity Snapshot, found that participating casinos hired a greater percentage of black, Hispanic, and Asian workers than the U.S. workforce — overall, employing more minorities than the national workforce by 20.6%.

“I think small businesses might be the loser on that,” said Thomas, referring to local businesses that rely on a non-professional, minority workforce. “The grass looks greener at the casino.”

To retain his employees, Thomas told BusinessWest that his strategy is to treat them like guests. The Max Restaurant Group, he said, pays its employees well, covers half their health insurance, and holds frequent reviews. These steps have facilitated retention to the point where some of Thomas’s employees have been with Max’s for 10 years, and the majority for at least five years.

Rosskothen said he feels that he offers a fair wage and a pleasant, comfortable work environment to keep his staff satisfied with their jobs. “It’s the best shot I have at keeping them here,” he said, adding that all employers will have to sharpen their focus on retention strategies if they are to minimize the impact from a casino.

Houghton agreed.

“A casino is more than two years away,” she continued. “There is plenty of time for companies to access what their policies are and where their biggest areas of exposure are with their employees … because two years from now it’ll be too late, and the employees then are going to say, ‘too little, too late.’”

She said Meyers Brothers strives to be the proverbial ‘employer of choice’ with competitive pay, attractive perks, and flex hours, even during tax season. Despite all that, the company remains at risk of losing auditors and accountants to a casino, and its challenge moving forward is to minimize that risk while also perhaps trying to educate employees that the grass isn’t necessarily greener at a very large employer like a casino operator.

“I often hear that the honeymoon period does not last long,” she said. “And it’s probably a lot better to work for the local management companies than the bigger companies.”

 

Schools of Thought

While employers brace for the potential fallout from the onset of the casino era, area community colleges and workforce-related agencies are taking up the challenge of making sure this region has a large, talented workforce in place for not only the casino, but existing employers as well.

Holyoke Community College Presi-dent William Messner told BusinessWest that the consortium is an opportunity for the community colleges to demonstrate the ability to respond effectively, efficiently, and collaboratively to a significant statewide workforce need. To do so, they’ll need to cooperate with one another and with other workforce-related entities, such as the regional employment boards, FutureWorks, CareerPoint, and other agencies, all of which can play a role in meeting the opportunity and challenge of casino job placement.

Messner, who also leads the statewide Presidents Council of Massachusetts Community Colleges, and Ira Rubenzahl, president of STCC, convened the state’s community colleges, created three regions that will each host casinos (each with a lead college), and joined forces with the aforementioned workforce entities. The concept was met with enthusiasm from all those involved, said Messner, including the casino developers, who face the daunting task of filling 2,000 to 3,000 positions.

Rosskothen’s take on the consortium idea: “a brilliant concept.”

“We want people to look at this opportunity and say, ‘OK, I can work as a dealer, a receptionist, a housekeeping person, make good money, and make it a career,’” he said. “We need more of this in Western Mass.”

And it would appear the consortium is something gaming developers would like to see more of, too.

“My sense was that there is a varied pattern of experience from state to state, but as best as I could assess, no one had put together quite the same sort of organized effort that we are intending,” said Messner. “More often, it was a fairly disorganized effort with a variety of institutions and organizations sort of knocking on the door of the casino developer, leaving the developer trying to sort out who they were going to work with.”

Messner added that the final step included discussions with the Gaming Commission, which cautioned that the colleges could not be the exclusive parties working with developers, while expressing overall support for the concept.

Messner further explained that HCC programs in information technology, business, security, and hospitality could all be useful at a local casino, but gaming-related jobs that involve the gaming function and handling of money will require a great deal of scrutiny and a license from the state, so specific help was needed.

The consortium contracted with an institution that certainly knows the business of gambling: Atlantic Cape Community College in Atlantic City. In cooperation for more than 30 years with the gaming industry, its consulting services and tested curriculum have been used throughout the world, said Messner.

He added that some classes that provide employees with needed skills might be only a few weeks or a few months in length and at staggered hours, a schedule that should prove attractive to existing employers, many of whom will want to take advantage of additional training for employees as a retention tool when the casinos come knocking.

“I cannot send them to a one- or two-year kind of curriculum,” said Rosskothen, “but if they need to improve a specific skill, they’ll make money for my business and for themselves … it’s a win-win, and I keep them.”

 

Double or Nothing

Many area employers would be reluctant to use that phrase ‘win-win’ when it comes to a Western Mass. casino, especially when it comes to workforce issues and the prospects for a talent flight.

But with at least a few years to go before a casino opens its doors, there is the potential for a scenario in which, as Rosskothen suggests, casinos can have good help and area employers can retain theirs.

That is the job at hand — both literally and figuratively.

 

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

Real-estate Power Play

By
Sean Provost
Commercial Real Estate Sections
Unique Sports Facility May Become a Game Winner for Agawam Site

Sean Provost

Sean Provost says the Stick Time Sports training facility will meet a recognized need in the region.

A little more than two years ago, Sean Provost, a local software salesman, was sitting in his car having lunch on the road between sales stops when he looked over at a ‘for-lease’ sign on a building in the Agawam Towne Center complex.

He remembers thinking to himself, “hmm … I wonder if that could work?”

‘That’ was a 20,000-square-foot space adjacent to the Dave’s Soda & Pet Food City facility in the former Ames department store location. When Provost saw it, it was being used as warehouse space for dog food and other products, but he immediately saw the potential it presented as the home for a dream he’d been trying to make reality for roughly a decade.

This dream involved creating what he called a “sports training center,” focused on hockey, which he’s played and coached, but also other sports. The concept calls for a facility where young people can learn a sport and develop their skills through practice. This vision required a large amount of open space, a good deal of flexibility, and an affordable price — three things he couldn’t find at dozens of other sites he considered, but a combination he encountered at the Agawam location.

Fast-forward those two years, and Provost, recently laid off from that sales job, is set to take a dramatic career turn as president of something called Stick Time Sports (STS), which will feature two mini-ice rinks — both 45 feet by 82 feet — as well as two 45-by-85-foot synthetic turf fields that can be used for a variety of sports, including lacrosse and field hockey. There is also an area for strength training and conditioning with machines and weights; a facility for conferences, birthday parties, and other events; locker  rooms; and space for additional expansion.

All this fulfills one of Provost’s ambitions, but also creates some needed momentum in a large retail center that has struggled to reinvent itself since a FoodMart supermarket closed after its roof collapsed more than a decade ago. There are some new tenants moving into the complex, including a satellite facility for the YMCA of Greater Springfield, and it is hoped that those initiatives and Stick Time Sports can create greater vibrancy in that location.

Those were some of the sentiments expressed by Dave Ratner, owner of the former Ames building and Dave’s Soda & Pet City.

“I had to get some new warehouse space,” he said with a laugh in reference to the new development, “but this [venture] increases the value of the building, it will bring more potential customers to my store, and it will make the center more viable so new people might want to move in to the other side of the center. So all in all, it’s a win-win.

“Traffic gets traffic,” Ratner added. “The more places we get there, the more people will say, ‘I want to be there.’”

Meanwhile, STS is one of many sports-related business ventures taking shape in Agawam. In addition to STS and the Y’s facility, there are plans for something called the Plex Sports Park, a $7 million, indoor-outdoor complex to be built at the former Crowley’s Sales Barn and Stables site off Shoemaker Lane.

For this issue and its focus on commercial real estate, BusinessWest takes a look at the STS project and how it may help bring more life to a once thriving retail section of Agawam.

 

Goal-oriented Venture

Using some of his trademark humor, Ratner described his efforts over the past several years to lease out the 20,000 square feet next to his retail operation.

“The fact of the matter is, we had a lot of interest, but because the real-estate market isn’t real strong, people thought they were going to come in and we were going to pay them to take the space,” he told BusinessWest, adding that, while he wanted to find a tenant, he also liked having the space as a warehouse facility, so he wasn’t going to pull the trigger on a deal unless it really worked for both sides.

And in many ways, STS fits that description.

Ratner said it won’t be a huge revenue source, but it will potentially drive more traffic to his store while creating more momentum in the still-struggling retail plaza. “This is a huge deal,” he noted. “I think his business is going to explode more than he thinks it’s going to explode, and I think he’s going to need every bit of space over there.”

And that’s why he worked with Provost to not only ink a lease, but get his venture off the ground.

“I sat down with him and I said, ‘I think it’s a home run, but you have to get your business plan together,’” said Ratner, adding that he ran though the lengthy process of taking a concept from the drawing board to reality, essentially becoming Provost’s ‘Mr. Murphy,’ a reference to Murphy’s Law.

“Whenever you do anything in business, Murphy’s Law — Mr. Murphy — moves in right next to you,” said Ratner.

Having been a partner years ago in a group that owned and operated the Mushie’s Driving Range on Main Street in Agawam, Provost said he learned a good bit about what not to do in business, and eventually got out of that relationship (that property is now being turned into a solar farm).

And for his second foray into commercial real estate, Provost began working with the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network in Springfield, where he received assistance to finalize his business plan, along with help to secure two business partners: Daryl Devillier, associate vice president with Raymond James, and partner Sal LaBella. The partners eventually secured bank financing for the estimated $1 million buildout of the property.

Provost said STS is going to be dedicated to providing athletes of all ages from Western Mass. and Northern Conn. the opportunity to practice, train, improve their skills, and just have fun in a positive atmosphere.

Provost explained that there’s really no facility in the region where parents or coaches can rent some ice and enable young people to get some invaluable practice time and hone their skills. “For instance, baseball players can warm up anywhere, but hockey is different, and now, two kids can share a half-hour to shoot a few hundred pucks at $15 apiece.”

He added that the site will also fill a void in the region for full-year, under-14 and under-16 boys hockey, and its location, just a few miles from both the Connecticut line and several Western Mass. population centers, enables it to tap into both markets.

Richard Cohen, Agawam’s mayor and also an avid former hockey player and coach, is a strong supporter of the STS concept, and told BusinessWest it’s a perfect fit for the town’s growing inventory of sports-related businesses.

“It goes along with what we’re trying to put together … a sports complex that was originally going to go in Chicopee” but couldn’t get special permit approval for a site there, said Cohen, referring to the Plex Sports Park, an indoor-outdoor facility with an 80-foot-high, inflatable dome.

Cohen also noted that one of the other Agawam Towne Center building owners is looking into indoor karting as an addition to the retail area that now includes Dave’s and STS, Slot Car Speedway, Friendly’s Restaurant, and the soon-to-open, 8,500-square-foot Y Express Wellness & Program Center.

And just a few hundred feet from Agawam Towne Center, the long-vacant Games and Lanes building is in the subject of a $50,000 site assessment, funded by MassDevelopment, to determine the scope of needed environmental remediation, an important first step in putting the property back in use.

“There is a developer who wants to do business retail there,” said Cohen, “so my goal is to help get that project finalized for that entire area.”

 

Winning Approach

Looking to the future, Provost and his partners purchased a ‘chiller,’ the compressor that makes and maintains the ice, which is larger than they actually need and will allow them to build a third mini-rink on a portion of the turf area.

Meanwhile, the idea of expansion elsewhere is also being discussed.

“There’s no room to physically expand, but we think if this works here, it can certainly work in other places,” he said, adding that there is still a sizeable inventory of former warehouse and retail facilities that could become home to such ventures.

For now, though, he’s focused on making STS the win-win proposition that he, Ratner, Cohen, and others believe it can become. And he believes there will be net results in many forms.

 

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at  [email protected]

Jim Vinick

By
Class of 2013 Difference Makers

Managing Director of Investments for Moors & Cabot Inc.

Jim Vinick

Jim Vinick
Photo by Denise Smith Photography

As he talked about one of his latest — and most intriguing — endeavors, Jim Vinick’s passion, perseverance, and dedication to those causes that are special to him came across quickly and clearly.

And so did his no-nonsense approach to getting things done.

This particular project involves a statue he’s commissioned that will honor the late Einer Gustafson — the individual identified fairly late in his life as the young boy who became the ‘Jimmy’ in the Jimmy Fund — and the man who treated him, Dr. Sidney Farber, founder of the Children’s Cancer Research Foundation (eventually renamed the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) and the father of modern chemotherapy.

The initiative is the latest manifestation of a 35-year commitment Vinick has made to the Jimmy Fund, service that escalated, and took on a far more personal character, after his son, Jeffrey, was treated at Dana-Farber but eventually lost his battle against rare form of testicular cancer in 1982, and his daughter, Beth, became a cancer survivor.

Originally, the plan was to have the statue also include Red Sox slugger Ted Williams, long known for his devotion to the Jimmy Fund. But Vinick knows his Jimmy Fund history. So he also knows that, when the then-12-year-old Gustafson was selected to speak on Ralph Edwards’ national radio program Truth or Consequences from his hospital bed in 1948, he was surrounded by members of the Boston Braves, the National League franchise that actually started the Jimmy Fund (the Red Sox picked up the mantle after the Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1953).

Thus, Vinick decided to remove Williams from his plans, even though he was his close friend for many years and actually still owns the rights to produce his life’s story on screen (more on that later).

But there’s much more to this saga.

Originally, officials wanted the statue placed in what Vinick considered to be a remote corner of a huge facility cluttered with more than 19,000 pieces of art. “I said to them, ‘if we’re going to hide this, I’m not going to do it — not for this price [$150,000],” he told BusinessWest, adding that he then secured a far more prominent location where the statue would be virtually impossible to miss. Meanwhile, Farber’s son wanted some specific wording on the accompanying plaque.

“He wanted it certain ways, and I wanted it certain ways, and finally, I got it may way — and it was going to be my way or the highway,” said Vinick. “I told them, ‘this is my project, and I’m not doing this for Dr. Farber, I’m doing it for the original Jimmy.’ Dr.’s Farber’s obviously a massive part of it, but this all germinated with Jimmy.”

“My Way” is the title to a song made famous by Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, among others, but those two words constitute Vinick’s MO as well.

His way has been to be an ardent, nearly life-long supporter of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, a commitment described by the Hall’s president, John Doleva, this way: “he is unequivocally one of the most passionate and involved board members in the history of Basketball Hall of Fame, and can be seen supporting our important events across the U.S., sharing the pride of the birthplace of basketball.”

His way has been to get deeply involved with the Western Mass. Jimmy Fund Council and stay involved for more than 35 years. His passion has been the Jeffrey Vinick Jimmy Fund Golf Tournament, which has raised more than $9 million in the 34 years it has existed.

His way has been to lend his time, energy, and imagination to groups ranging from the Jewish Community Center to the Willie Ross School for the Deaf; from Temple Beth El to the Springfield Armor basketball team (he’s a partner in that venture).

And his way has been to right some things that he sees as wrong — like the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute not having a memorial to either Farber or the young man who inspired a charitable institution that has raised hundreds of millions of dollars to find cures for a killer.

Because he’s always done things his way, and because that approach has greatly impacted so many lives, Jim Vinick has been chosen as a Difference Maker for 2013.

Star Power

The walls and shelves in Vinick’s office on the 15th floor of One Financial Plaza in Springfield are crowded with photographs, news clippings, and other assorted memorabilia that do a decent job of summing up his life, career, and philanthropic exploits.

The collection includes everything from photos of family members, including his son Jeff, to news reports involving Friendly’s — he controlled a large amount of stock in the Wilbraham-based corporation and was often quoted in recent years on the many developments that have shaped the company — to a snapshot from his early days doing The Vinick Report, the region’s first business-news segment, on Channel 40.

And then, there’s a photo that captures the moment in February 1986 when Ted Williams signed the contract giving Vinick exclusive rights to his life’s story.

“The check was for $125,000 — that was a down payment — and that was the biggest check he’d ever seen in his life,” Vinick recalled, adding that the Splendid Splinter, as he was called, never surpassed $100,000 as a ballplayer, and that figure represented the annual amount paid to him by Sears Roebuck for 20 years to be one of its top pitchmen.

“Ted was under the gun — in 1980, he dropped Sears Roebuck,” Vinick recalled. At the time, the two were close friends who had worked together on many Jimmy Fund initiatives, including the annual Western Mass. sports banquet, at which Williams spoke on several occasions.

Vinick has never been able to get the Williams project off the ground, although it’s not from lack of effort, and he says he’s not through trying. He had a screenwriter interested, fielded inquiries from several actors looking to play the part (including Treat Williams and David Hasselhoff), shopped the project at various Hollywood studios, and spent a lot of money trying to pull a script together. But the pieces never fell into place.

However, frustration with the Williams project has been one of the very few real setbacks for Vinick, who has historically seen his persistence and passion take him — and the organizations he’s supported — to where he wants to go.

Perhaps the best example of this is the Jimmy Fund, which he has served for more than 35 years as a member of the Western Mass. Council, work that could best be described as a mix of personal tragedy, triumph over extreme adversity, and true inspiration.

Most in the region know the story of how Vinick’s son Jeffrey succumbed to cancer after a long fight, and they probably know also how his daughter, Beth, won her battle against the disease, but not before her mother (Vinick’s wife, Harriet) took her own life just days after Beth’s cancer was diagnosed.

“Those are my daughter’s twins there,” said Vinick, pointing at a photo on his wall, adding that his work with the Jimmy Fund takes many forms. The golf tournament is the most visible, but there are many other fund-raising events, including the recent Chef’s Night at Chez Josef.

“For the past several years, the Western Mass. Jimmy Fund Council has raised over $1 million,” he said, “and my family’s been an integral part of that.”

And for his efforts on behalf of the Jimmy Fund, Vinick has receieved one of the highest awards bestowed by the organization, the Bob Cheyne Lifetime Achievement Award.

Far from satisfied, he’s pushing ahead with the statue of ‘Jimmy’ and Dr. Farber. He’s commissioned Brian Hanlon, who he met through the Hall of Fame (he’s the shrine’s official sculptor), who will add this project to a portfolio that includes a statue of Shaquille O’Neal on the LSU campus, one of Bob Cousy at Holy Cross, and planned works on Chuck Bednarik and Yogi Berra.

Court of Opinion

Beyond the Jimmy Fund, Vinick is best noted for his work with the Basketball Hall of Fame, an institution he’s been involved with for about as long as he can remember. Actually, it started with his father. He ran a dry-cleaning business and eventually became involved in the building of the first Hall of Fame on the campus of Springfield College, a project that started in 1959, but was often delayed by funding problems and wasn’t completed until 1968.

Jim Vinick was intricately involved in both the building of the second Hall (the first on Springfield’s riverfront), which opened in 1983, and the current structure, which opened nearly a decade ago.

“I guess that’s my legacy to the city of Springfield,” he said of the current Hall complex. “Obviously, we’ve had a tremendous amount of help everywhere, and I’m just a cog in the wheel … but I’m devoted to it, and I’ve been involved since day one.”

One of his signature projects was the creation of the Jeffrey Vinick Memorial Locker Room in the first Hall on the riverfront.

“He was always in the locker room, so I thought this was the most appropriate way to honor him,” Vinick said of his son, who starred in three sports at Longmeadow High School.

Over the years, Vinick has held a number of positions and titles with the Hall, including board member, governor, treasurer, member of the Audit & Finance Committee, and chairman of the Endowment Fund. For his efforts, he was recognized with the Chairman’s Cup Award in 2010.

Doleva told BusinessWest that it’s not only what Vinick has accomplished, but also how, that stands out.

“He’s a very intense individual, let me put it that way,” he explained. “When I first met him, I kind of felt that he was a little over the top. But you have to take time to understand what Jim is all about, especially when he’s passionate about an organization you’re involved with.

“And it does take time to completely understand where he’s coming from,” he continued. “But there is no one more impassioned, more connected to this organization, than he is.

“We have events all over the country, and very few of my Board of Governors members, who live throughout the country, attend them,” Doleva went on. “Jim’s at almost every one of them, and he’s a local governor. He’ll go to the Final Four, he’ll go to a statue unveiling, he’ll be at various basketball tournaments around the country staged to support the Hall of Fame. And he doesn’t just go to be there and enjoy a good basketball game and a few social events; he’s there, and the switch never goes off — he’s talking about Springfield and the Hall of Fame and the birthplace of basketball. He just never stops.”

This ‘never stops’ quality equates to always looking for new and different ways to give back to the community — such as with another of his more recent endeavors, restoration of Robert Lewis Reid’s historic mural, titled “The Light of Education,” which hung in the auditorium of his alma mater, Classical High School, for more than 70 years.

When the school was converted into condominiums in the late ’80s, the mural was removed and subsequently damaged, said Vinick, adding that he and other members of the class of 1958 are working in conjunction with the Springfield Council for Cultural and Community Affairs to restore the piece and then hang it in the Springfield Library.

“We’re up to about $109,000, and we’re still collecting money,” he said, adding that the efforts recently received a boost in the form of a $23,000 check from Audrey Geisel, widow of Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss). “This is a piece of Springfield’s history, and it should be there for citizens and visitors to enjoy.”

Art of the Deal

Work on the Jimmy statue had been delayed somewhat — Vinick said it took several months to get permission to use the 1948 Boston Braves uniform given to Gustafson by the team’s manager, Jimmy Southworth, in the statue’s design — but everything now appears on track for a spring unveiling.

There have been several challenges to overcome and many logistical hurdles to clear, but they are now all in the past tense.

That’s because Vinick is doing things his way, and also because, as Doleva said, the switch never goes off when it comes to something he’s passionate about.

George O’Brien can be reached at  [email protected]

Community Profile

By
Tony Maroulis
Features
Amherst’s College Collaborations Fuel Innovation

Amherst mapTony Maroulis says Amherst offers the cultural sophistication of a big city with the charm of a small town.

“It’s a pretty unique place where you can walk past a rock star and a Nobel laureate in one day — and that really does happen here,” said the executive director of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce.

The town is home to UMass Amherst, Amherst College, Hampshire College, and eight museums, which attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, in addition to its 38,000 residents. There are also three parks and a plethora of community and cultural events.

“Higher education is our smokestack industry, and there is innovation, research, and an economic spinoff from it as we are bringing world-class researchers and students together,” said Town Manager John Musante. “Plus, UMass is in the midst of a building boom and growth strategy.”

This results in jobs — UMass Amherst is the second-largest employer in Western Mass. — and benefits to the town. “There are three individuals on our water-supply protection committee who are leading researchers,” said Musante. “The ability to engage a talent pool and their willingness to help the town is a real strength that makes Amherst a great place to live and work. People get involved here, and the economic and cultural vitality is largely driven by an active engagement of citizens and people who work at the colleges.”

Maroulis concurs, and says the town has something for people of every age. “Amherst offers cultural opportunities, a wonderful intellectual community, and a good school system. It’s a great place to raise a family and a pretty place to look at,” he said. “You can see the Pelham hills in the distance, and there is lots of open space downtown.”

But the bucolic setting belies the 21st-century progress that makes Amherst a leader in technology and green energy. Many changes have occurred over the past few years, and town officials make it easy for solopreneurs, partnerships, and developers to succeed.

John Musante

John Musante says Amherst’s strong network of colleges and universities has driven the town’s economic and cultural vitality.

Last month, the town completed work on the largest and fastest open municipal wi-fi network in Massachusetts. “Amherst is well-positioned in the ongoing technological revolution as the state and college fiber network also runs through town, which makes downtown an even more attractive place to live, work, and grow a business,” Musante said. “We have the cultural amenities of a college town with the infrastructure of research and a skilled workforce. And the cost of living is very competitive.”

The wi-fi network also gives Amherst a competitive advantage and has spurred growth of the café culture downtown. “You can find people writing code for a website or writing a freelance article for a New York magazine in our coffee shops,” Maroulis said.

 

New Life

The town has continued to grow over the past few years in spite of a still-sluggish economy. A number of new restaurants have opened, with several geared toward students and others designed to attract adults and families.

“But they have really created a restaurant buzz,” Maroulis said. “Amherst is becoming a foodie paradise.”

In addition, renovations to the historic Lord Jeffery Inn were completed in November 2011. “It reopened after being closed for several years. It has filled a void, and there has been a lot of energy and excitement at that end of the common. The inn brings in hundreds of people each week who stay there and attend local functions,” Maroulis told BusinessWest.

The renovation included the addition of nine new rooms, a new ballroom that holds 200 people, and a new restaurant. “They are ramping up their wedding business as well as small conventions from the college and university community,” he added, noting that collaboration is evident on all fronts, including in the town’s new Business Improvement District (BID). It was launched early last year and is funded in part by Amherst College and UMass, whose property borders the edges of the downtown perimeter.

Its president is Larry Archey, who is director of facilities and grounds at Hampshire College. In addition, several representatives from UMass Amherst and Amherst College are on the board of directors at the Chamber of Commerce.

“Our BID is unique because there is both money and in-kind contributions,” Musante said, adding that he is a board member. “We all have a vested interest in the success of our downtown and want to strengthen it so it enhances the quality of life and increases partnerships and relationships with the two campuses.”

Beautification, marketing, and special events are on the agenda, and the first event the BID staged was an Amherst Block Party. It attracted about 6,000 people who mingled as they enjoyed food, live music, shopping, and street performers. “It was festive, a lot of fun, and a terrific win for the colleges, university, and businesses,” Maroulis said.

Other popular events include the annual Taste of Amherst, which draws more than 20,000 people during its four-day run in June, and a Winterfest, staged Feb. 9, which brought people out during the cold weather to enjoy cardboard-box sledding, fireworks, live music, and a chili cookoff between local restaurants. The chamber purchased a small snow-making machine several years ago, so lack of the white stuff is never a problem.

Tony Maroulis

Tony Maroulis says Amherst offers both the cultural sophistication of a big city and the charm of a small town.

5Developers are also investing in the downtown area, and last spring, construction was completed on a new, luxury, $3.5 million apartment building known as Boltwood Place. “It’s full. People want to live downtown and be able to walk to work,” Musante said, adding that a growing number of seniors are retiring in Amherst due to its cultural offerings.

There has also been a significant investment in road reconstruction on Route 116 in the Atkins Corner, which runs from the village center to South Amherst. “We think it will foster additional private investments in the area,” he said. Road improvements are also being undertaken in the Notch.

 

Economic Development

UMass trustees have approved nearly $900 million in new projects for Amherst, which include a new campus master plan, a $144 million science building slated to open April 13, a new classroom building now under construction, and new dormitories which will hold 1,500 students from Commonwealth College. It is expected to open Sept. 13.

“They want to grow by 3,000 students over the next 10 years,” Musante said, adding that the university opened another new, state-of-the art science building about three years ago.

He explained that Commonwealth College is for honors students from across the state, so the new dorms will help to attract a top-tier-caliber student body. “It makes the university even more attractive, which is important because our economy is linked with their success,” Musante continued. “They are a center economically and culturally, and as research grows, the demand for off-campus space is a direct spinoff. We are working with the university to explore possibilities for private investment for research and development and wet-lab space.”

Amherst College, which owns the Lord Jeffery Inn, launched its $425 million “Lives of Consequence” Capital Campaign in October 2009, and installed a new president in 2011. In addition, the college is adding its own new, $200 million science building, which is in the design phase.

Hampshire College, situated a few miles away, is a leader in environmental education. Amherst is also a leader in its own right and was designated a green community by the state this year. In addition to the town’s new sustainability coordinator, it has embarked upon a five-year plan to reduce energy consumption by 20%, and is using a $300,000 state grant to install energy-efficient LED streetlights. “There will be a big payback in the tens of thousands of dollars each year,” Musante said.

Town officials are also in the midst of a permitting process to install a solar farm at its old landfill, via a collaboration with Blue Wave Capital, which would supply the majority of the municipal buildings and schools with renewable energy. And a third project, which is in the feasibility stage and will involve private investments, is the installation of an anaerobic digester which would convert organic material (including food; fats, oils, and grease; wastewater biosolids; and manure) into a methane-rich biogas that can be used for heat and electricity.

“UMass has an active interest in it from an operational and research standpoint,” Musante said, adding that it is a major Department of Environmental Protection initiative, and there are plans to install three facilities in the state.

Hampshire College is also erecting a new building with a master plan of relocating Amherst’s nonprofit Hitchcock Center for the Environment to their campus. “It’s a new partnership which will strengthen them both,” he added.

 

Continuing Prosperity

Amherst has been largely insulated from the economic downturn that began in 2008 because it is a college town. “Although we did have a modest decline, our housing prices have remained more stable than the rest of the nation, which is another real strength. And our population is growing,” Musante added.

So are the number of partnerships and projects in the planning stage. Which means the economic spinoff will continue to make Amherst a place where innovation, research, and cutting-edge technology are a mainstay, with the added attraction of culture that attracts people of all ages and all stages of life.

The Upside-down Education

By
L. Alexandra Hogan
Law Sections
Is Bankruptcy an Alternative for Relief from Student Loans?

L. Alexandra Hogan

L. Alexandra Hogan

A college education should increase a person’s earning capacity over a lifetime.  Unfortunately, many graduates are finding that the value of their education is outweighed by heavy student-loan debt. This may be the reason that the delinquency rate on student loans has surpassed that of other types of consumer loans, such as credit cards and car loans.

The New York Fed reports that student-loan debt has exceeded $956 billion and estimates that 21% of these loans are in default.

Financial blows caused by events like loss of employment, medical issues, or divorce are catalysts for personal bankruptcy filings. Bankruptcy is meant to give a fresh start to honest debtors by providing a mechanism of relief from most types of debt, such as credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, and foreclosure deficiencies. Although it is not impossible to discharge student loans in bankruptcy, it is difficult to do, and just recently got even harder. Although seemingly harsh, this law is meant to protect the solvency of the educational-loan system and to prevent people from abusing the system by receiving a free education.

Relief from student-loan debt is not generally available in bankruptcy, unless failure to discharge the debt would lead to an “undue hardship” on the debtor, under §523(a)(8) of the Bankruptcy Code. Courts use different tests to determine what constitutes an undue hardship. In Massachusetts, bankruptcy courts generally evaluate undue hardship on a case-by-case basis by considering (1) a debtor’s past, present, and reasonably reliable future financial resources; (2) a calculation of the debtor’s and their dependents’ reasonable necessary living expenses; and (3) any other relevant facts and circumstances.

Some examples of debtors’ circumstances that led to findings of undue hardship include the following: student loans exacerbated by the debtor’s mental illness; the debtors reaching their maximum earning capacity in worthwhile, but low-paying, teaching jobs; the debtor being homeless and unemployed; the debtor being unable to complete her doctorate degree program and suffering from depression; and the debtor suffering from a variety of medical illnesses, making employment almost impossible. The takeaway is that circumstances must be dire to obtain relief.

A recent court case closed a loophole in the law, making discharge even more unlikely. Typically, a general unsecured loan like a line of credit is dischargeable in bankruptcy. The case of In re Belforte, decided on Oct. 1, 2012 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, Eastern Division, held that the debtor’s line of credit could not be discharged. The debtor made a handwritten note seeking an increase in her line of credit to pay for her children’s tuition and expenses. Liberty Bay Credit Union increased and rewrote the debtor’s line of credit under a new unsecured loan agreement — not through Liberty Bay’s educational-lending program.

Liberty Bay neither inquired from the debtor what the loan would be used for, nor did it exercise oversight as to how the debtor utilized the loan proceeds, as a traditional student lender would. Notwithstanding this, the court construed the bankruptcy statute broadly and ruled that, since the loan was used for an ‘educational benefit,’ it was not dischargeable. Under this ruling, it is now clear that an individual with a regular personal loan used for an educational benefit must establish undue hardship as well.

Those with unusually difficult situations should consult with a bankruptcy attorney to determine whether their circumstances would qualify as an undue hardship. But otherwise, where does this leave the average person struggling with high student-loan debt and low or non-existent income?

Avoid the potentially harsh consequences of defaulting on student loans, including wage garnishment, tarnished credit, and offset tax refunds. There are options to avoid defaulting on federal student loans. Deferment, forbearance, and repayment plans may be available. The U.S. Department of Education has announced a new option that may greatly benefit newer graduates, called “Pay as You Earn.”

This plan may apply to those with partial financial hardship who have certain types of federal direct student loans. Under this plan, 10% of a person’s annual discretionary income is paid, and after 20 years of participation, the loan is forgiven. To learn more about Pay as You Earn, visit www.studentaid.ed.gov.

L. Alexandra (Alex) Hogan is an associate with the Springfield-based form Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., and concentrates her practice primarily in business, litigation, and bankruptcy law; (413) 737-1131.

 

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Dress Down for Animals

Feb. 15: Employers, are you looking for a fun way to engage your staff while helping local shelter animals? By participating in Dress Down for Animals Day, your business can help provide life-saving care to dogs, cats, and other small animals at the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center in Springfield. Through this program, employees will make a minimum donation of $5, $10, or whatever level the employer sets for the privilege of wearing whatever they wish to work on Feb. 15, with proceeds donated to the shelter. Prizes will be awarded based on donation total and number of employees participating. Businesses can compete for a a chair yoga session for up to 50 employees, a catered dessert party, a chance to introduce a business to 7,000 people on the Thomas J. O’Connor Facebook page, and more. To request a form to fill out and return with donations, call (413) 533-4817 or e-mail [email protected]. For more information about the adoption center, visit www.tjofoundation.org.

 

Business-law Basics

March 12, April 16: Get the business-law basics that every small-business owner and entrepreneur needs to know from the legal experts at the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Western New England University. This series of free information sessions is focused on key topics to help plan and grow a small business. Sessions will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at Western New England University School of Law, in the Blake Law Center. The events are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. The dates, topics, and presenters are: March 12, “Intellectual Property Law Basics,” with attorneys Peter Irvine of Peter Irvine Law Offices, Leah Kunkel of the Law Offices of Leah Kunkel, and Michelle Bugbee of Solutia Inc.; and April 16, “Bankruptcy,” with attorneys George Roumeliotis of Roumeliotis  Law Group, Justin Dion of Bacon Wilson, and Kara Rescia of Eaton & Rescia. To learn more about upcoming events hosted by the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, visit www.wne.edu/cie.

 

Women’s Fund Celebration

March 14: The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts will celebrate its 15th anniversary by honoring 16 local women with the first-ever Standing on Her Shoulders Awards. The celebration, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, begins at 5 p.m. with a cocktail hour and photographic exhibit of the award recipients and a showcase of the Women’s Fund grantees. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. with a musical performance, presentation of the Standing on Her Shoulders Awards, and a speech by Luma Mufleh, founder and coach of a soccer team called the Fugees, short for refugees.  An immigrant from Jordan and a Smith College graduate, Mufleh has created several businesses to employ refugees and immigrants in her community. That will be followed by an after-party and dancing from 8:45 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets cost $100. RSVP by March 7 to Julie Holt at (413) 529-0087, ext. 10, or register online at www.womensfund.net. The Women’s Fund is a public foundation that has reached over 80,000 people through $2 million in grant awards. More than 100 women have participated in the Women’s Fund Leadership Institute for Political and Pubic Impact. The 16 Standing on Her Shoulders Award recipients include Elaine Barkin, Ethel Case, Claire Cox, Verda Dale, Ruth Hooke, Vera Kalm, Gail Kielson, Susan Lowenstein Kitchell, Gloria Lomax, Ruth Stewart Loving, Ruth Moore, Venessa O’Brien, Lorna Peterson, Linda Slakey, Marlene Werenski, and Angela Wright.

 

Difference Makers 2013

March 21: The annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House starting at 5 p.m. Details on the event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. Several dozen nominations for the award were received this year, and the winners have been chosen. They will be announced in the magazine’s Feb. 11 issue. For more information, call (413) 781-8600.

 

Not Just Business as Usual

April 4: The Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Foundation will host its fourth annual Not Just Business as Usual event at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. A cocktail and networking reception will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m., followed by the dinner program and keynote speaker from 7 to 9 p.m.
This year, in celebration of 40 years of excellence in nursing at STCC, speakers include ‘The Three Doctors’ — Drs. George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, and Sampson Davis — who are well-known for their work delivering messages of hope and inspiration. As teenagers growing up on the inner-city streets of Newark, N.J., the three friends made a pact to stick together, go to college, graduate, and achieve their dreams of becoming medical doctors. They have been lauded by Oprah Winfrey as being “bigger than rock stars” and have been featured as medical experts on the Tom Joyner Morning Radio Show and CNN. The Three Doctors received the Essence Award in 2000 for their accomplishments and leadership, and a BET Honors Award in 2009. Over the past two years alone, the Not Just Business as Usual event has provided the STCC Foundation with more than $100,000 to support college and student needs. Funds help to provide STCC students with access to opportunities — through scholarships, technology, and career direction — to be successful future employees and citizens. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available. Individual tickets cost $175 each. If your business is interested in purchasing a table, contact Robert LePage at (413) 755-4477 or [email protected].

 

40 Under Forty

June 20: BusinessWest will present its seventh class of regional rising stars at the annual 40 Under Forty gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The gala will feature music, lavish food stations, and introductions of the winners. Look for event details in upcoming issues of BusinessWest — including the must-read April 22 issue in which the class of 2013 will be profiled — or call (413) 781-8600 for more information.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

• Feb. 13: Murder Mystery! After Hours, 5-7 p.m. at City Place Inn and Suites, 711 Dwight St., Springfield. For reservations, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1313.

 

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com

(413) 253-0700

• Feb. 27: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m. at the Hampshire Athletic Club, 90 Gatehouse Road, Amherst. Admission is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. For more information, visit www.amherstarea.com.

 

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

• Feb. 20: February Annual Meeting/Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Castle of Knights. Tickets are $20 for members, $26 for non-members.

• Feb. 27: February Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at NUVO Bank & Trust Co. Admission is $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

 

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com

(413) 426-3880

• Feb.  28: Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Springfield Country Club, 1375 Elm St., West Springfield. Panel of elected officials will include state Reps. Nicholas Boldyga and Michael Finn, Agawam Mayor Richard Cohen, West Springfield Mayor Greg Neffinger, and state Sen. Michael Knapik. Tickets are $25 for members, $30 for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

• Feb. 13: February WestNet, 5-7 p.m., at Shaker Farms Country Club, 866 Shaker Road, Westfield. Meet chamber members and bring your business cards. Sponsored by Ashton Services. Admission is $10 for chamber members, $15 for non-members. Payment can be made in advance or at the door with cash or check. Walk-ins are welcomed. Call the chamber at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail Pam Bussell at [email protected]. Your first WestNet is always free.

 

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD

www.springfieldyps.com

• Feb. 21: February Third Thursday Networking Event, 5-7 p.m., at Samuel’s Tavern, 1000 West Columbus Ave, Springfield. The event is free for members, $10 for non-members. For more information, visit www.springfieldyps.com/events.

The Sisters of Providence

By
Class of 2013 Difference Makers
SistersOfProvidence

Sr. Mary Caritas, SP, left, and Sr. Kathleen Popko, SP.

Sr. Kathleen Popko, SP likes to say that the 700-odd Sisters of Providence, present and past, “share some DNA” with Sr. Mary Providence Horan, the first mother general of the congregation.
And by that, she meant that those who worked beside her or followed in her footsteps have possessed both her many character traits and her broad operating philosophy.
As for the former, these include vision, compassion, determination, a large dose of innovation, and a very strong sense of mission.
“Mother Mary of Providence has always been an inspiration to me,” said Popko, president of the Sisters of Providence. “She had a lot of foresight and was very innovative; she established 20 works of charity within the first 15 years of her becoming head of the congregation. She crossed boundaries — she worked with the Jewish community and the Protestant community to help establish the board at Mercy Hospital, And she was willing to collaborate and ask for help from others to support the work she was doing, whether it was in Worcester or Pittsfield. And she had a great love of learning; those are qualities we like to think we possess today.”
As for the latter, well, that’s perhaps best summed up in a quote often attributed to her: “never rest on what has been accomplished, but continue reaching on to what needs to be done.”
Suffice it to say, the sisters have never done any such resting. Instead, they have, over the decades, responded to changing societal needs with the same zeal and desire that were firmly in evidence when two members of the Sisters of Charity of the House of Providence from Kingston, Ontario, Canada, came to Holyoke on a so-called begging tour in 1873 and were invited to establish a mission there to help the waves of immigrants struggling to carve out a living.
They eventually did, creating a legacy of providence that is captured in the statue of Mother Mary near the entrance to Providence Place in Holyoke, with a commanding view of the valley below. She is depicted holding hands with two young children — a boy carrying a schoolbook and a girl with a broken arm — artistic touches designed to spotlight the two basic tenets of the sisters’ work over the past 14 decades: education and healthcare.
Those two foundations remain, especially healthcare, through work carried out within the broad Sisters of Providence Health System. But the modern work of the Sisters of Providence is quite diverse, said Sr. Mary Caritas, vice president of the congregation, who listed everything from programs to provide healthcare to the region’s homeless population to groundbreaking initiatives in the broad realm of senior living, such as the ‘small house’ concept created at Mary’s Meadow.
“The one constant is need,” she said. “When the sisters came in 1873, it was in response to a need — they saw a need, and they responded. We’re doing things differently in this day and age, but we continue to have that same spirit.
“But they also recognize the need to change as society does — we’ve never been afraid to let go and move on from something because society has changed,” she went on, citing, as just a few examples, the transition of Providence Hospital from acute care to behavioral health; the repositioning of the former Farren Hospital in Montague into the Farren Care Center, a provider of services to people with severe behavioral disorders; and new uses for the facilities at Brightside for Families and Children.
The past several months have been a time of celebration for the Sisters of Providence — specifically, the marking of two important anniversaries.
Last year marked the 120th anniversary of the Sisters of Providence’s 1892 foundation as an independent congregation in the Springfield diocese. And this year marks the 140th anniversary of the arrival of the Sisters of Providence’s foremothers — today’s Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent De Paul in Kingston, Ontario — in Holyoke.
There have been a host of events to mark both occasions, from the planting and blessing of ‘anniversary trees’ to an anniversary procession and prayer; from an “open weekend of gratitude” to a dinner at Mercy Medical Center.
And because of that long history of caring being celebrated, there will be at least one more event to attend — BusinessWest’s Difference Makers Gala on March 21, when the sisters will be introduced as members of the Class of 2013.
For this special section profiling this year’s winners, we spoke at length with Popko and Caritas about how society may have changed over the past 140 years, but the devotion of the Sisters of Providence to their mission of meeting the needs of the most challenged segments of the population certainly hasn’t.

Past Is Prologue
Before talking about Western Mass. in 2013, Popko and Caritas wanted to talk first about Holyoke in 1873. Doing so, they said, would at least start to put the work of the Sisters of Providence in perspective, and also help explain that shared DNA.
Holyoke was the first planned industrial city in the country, they explained, and in the early 1870s, it was the place where some mill owners found fortune and many immigrants found opportunity for employment. But most found only hardship in the form of difficult, often dangerous work; crowded, inadequate housing (tenements built near the mills); and systems of education and healthcare that were nonexistent or extremely lacking.
It was into this environment that Srs. Mary de Chantal McCauley and Mary Elizabeth Stafford ventured on their begging tour in early 1873. They found the climate difficult for philanthropy — the country was in recession, and many of Holyoke’s mills had closed, while others were struggling — but ripe for charity, and for mostly the same reasons.
Fr. Patrick Harkins, pastor of St. Jerome’s Church in Holyoke, proposed that the congregation establish a mission in his parish for sick people and orphaned children, and one was created later that year, with four pioneer sisters from Kingston moving into a house belonging to St. Jerome’s but located across the Connecticut River in South Hadley Falls. The first orphan was admitted one week after their arrival, and the first patient was admitted for hospital care on Dec. 2, the recorded date of the beginning of the House of Providence, the first Catholic hospital in Western Mass.
Two years later, land was acquired for a new House of Providence on Dwight Street, while that same year, six sisters from Kingston, including Mother Mary of Providence, were assigned to teach at St. Jerome’s Institute, a school for boys in Holyoke.
In 1880, 53 acres of property in Holyoke, known as Ingleside, were purchased, and ground was broken for Mount St. Vincent, a home for orphaned girls. Sixteen years later, property on Carew Street in Springfield was acquired and deeded to the congregation for the House of Mercy, which later became Mercy Hospital and is now known as Mercy Medical Center.
In 1890, Bethlehem House, a home for infants and toddlers, opened at Brightside in Holyoke, Farren Memorial Hospital was dedicated, and schools of nursing were opened at Providence Hospital, Mercy Hospital, and St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, establishing a pattern of caring and growth that continued unfettered for decades.
“When the sisters came here, they were not here a week, and they had an ophan at the door, and then the alms person in the city decided to send some more,” Popko explained. “It wasn’t long before the need was manifested, and they responded, whether it was with orphaned children or with healing the sick, oftentimes in their homes, or it was with making burial plots because there was no one to do that.
“And I think that’s why the Sisters of Providence ministries have been so diverse, from the beginning,” she continued. “It wasn’t simply that we started a healing ministry and were in hospitals, although that evolved most significantly. We were also involved in caring for the elderly or the orphaned or abandoned children, or in burying the dead, or doing home care. We were trying to be the providence of God in the lives of others, and in doing that, we reached out into healing ministries.”
Today, the area facilities operated by the Sisters of Providence include Providence Hospital, Mount Saint Vincent Care Center, Beaven Kelly Home, Providence Place retirement community, and Mary’s Meadow long-term nursing care and rehabilitation center, all in Holyoke; Mercy Medical Center and St. Luke’s Home in Springfield; Saint Luke’s Hospital in Pittsfield; Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester; Farren Care Center; Genesis Spiritual Life Center in Westfield; and the many agencies of Brightside for Families & Children. There are also operations far outside this region, ranging from a home-health agency, hospital, and retirement village in North Carolina to a health clinic and multiple social-service agencies in an impoverished section of Santiago, Chile.
The specific missions and constituencies served vary with each ministry, said Popko, but there is a common denominator — bringing care to those who need it, and to those who may have no other alternative.

Innovative Spirit
The stories of many of these various ministries, as well as the people who inspired and created them, are told in a recently released book titled 140 Years of Providential Caring — The Sisters of Providence of Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Authored by Suzanne Strempek Shea, Tom Shea, and Michele Barker, it chronicles how many programs and facilities were developed, and is told largely through the eyes and thoughts of the individuals who paved those roads. There’s a chapter, for example, on Sr. Julie Crane and her work to create Health for the Care of the Homeless, another on Sr. Caroline Smith and her efforts to create the Sisters of Providence Methadone Maintenance Program, and still another on Sr. Elizabeth Oleksak and her work at Genesis Spiritual Life Center.
These chapters serve as both historical record and source of inspiration, said Popko.
“The individual stories demonstrate how that original spirit has been the driving force for us for 140 years, and how it’s certainly taken different shapes and forms and responded to the different calls of providence in each of our lifetimes,” she explained. “It’s certainly been an amazing journey, and for us to look back on it all in 2012 and 2013 and to read some of our archival material and relive some of the extreme dedication and willingness to reach out in multiple ways, is certainly inspiring.”
And moving forward, the unofficial assignment for the Sisters of Providence is to write more chapters for the next book, said Popko and Caritas. This means finding new ways to carry out the original mission, while also strengthening the infrastructure and operating philosophy that will ensure that this work is carried out in the decades to come, long after the last of the current sisters, already dwindling in number, are gone.
This is part of the legacy of never resting on one’s laurels that continues today, said Caritas, adding that there are several examples of how it manifests itself.
One involves a portion of the former Brightside property, used for residential treatment programs that were discontinued in 2010.
“I’m sure Mother Mary would have been thinking, as we have been for the past three years, about what to do with that property,” Caritas told BusinessWest, adding that plans are emerging to relocate the Sisters of Providence home-care and hospice programs in the main administration building at Brightside, while the ground floor will be used for something called PACE, or the Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly.
Elaborating, Popko said the initiative is a capitated-insurance program that provides essentially whatever care is needed to enable an older individual to remain in his or her own home. “They come to the site three or four times a week,” she explained, “and they might get all kinds of care, be it socialization, they might get a bath, there will be a clinic there so we can look at their healthcare needs and medication. They will be assessed, and care will be coordinated. It’s all designed to prevent those higher-cost institutionalizations by treating them effectively in the short run.”
In other words, it’s another imaginative approach to meeting recognized needs in the community, said Caritas, adding that there are other possible reuses of the Brightside facilities coming into focus, including low-income elderly housing, a geriatric-assessment center, and other coordinated facilities.
“It will be a full-service site,” she noted, “one that will provide all-inclusive care for those who participate.”
Securing funding for the project is ongoing, and it will be a challenge, said Popko, adding that there is no firm timetable in place for this strategic initiative. But the manner in which it is coming together speaks to the legacy of the Sisters of Providence and that notion of never resting on laurels.
“It references a vision of the future, a responsiveness to the needs of the times, and a creative reuse of existing resources — a replanting of the seeds, if you will, that were put down 140 years ago,” she said. “That’s what we’ve been doing throughout our history.”

Mission: In Progress
Returning to her thoughts on Mother Mary of Providence one more time, Popko said that she’d been doing some reading about her lately, and learned that her skills extended into architecture and building practices.
“I just read a quote recently … she said, ‘the next hospital we build is not going to be the conversion of some big house so we can fit in beds,’” Popko recalled. “She said, ‘we’re going to build a modern facility designed for the care of people.’
“Meanwhile, she designed Mount St. Vincent herself,” she went on. “She saw the first plans and went to the bishop and said, ‘these plans are totally inadequate.’ So they made her a committee of one; they tore up the plans, let her design her own building, and pretty much built off what she drew up.”
The current sisters are not architects in the same literal sense, but they are designers and builders in a figurative manner — blueprinting new ways to expand the mission launched 140 years ago.
And in that respect, the DNA is the certainly the same. The 700 Sisters of Providence through history have always been Difference Makers.

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HP Vendor Showcase

Feb. 5: Entre Computer and vendor partner Hewlett Packard (HP) will exhibit the latest technologies and products for 2013 from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. The event, hosted by Hewlett Packard and strategic partners, will introduce new information from Entre, Intel, and Microsoft, who will all be present to discuss the latest innovations from their companies, including the new HP Business Tablet featuring Windows 8 and Intel technology, HP point-of-sale products, and digital signage. The event will highlight HP’s innovation in personal computers and printing. Some of the educational topics covered will include mobile computing, Microsoft Windows 8, and a host of leading-edge solutions, followed by dinner and a partner technology exposition. Entre Computer invites all qualifying customers, businesses, healthcare providers, manufacturers, banks, and retailers to the exhibit, and all are welcome to a complimentary, self-guided tour of the Hall of Fame at the conclusion of the program. Attendance and seating are limited, and pre-registration is required by visiting hpbroadband.com. For additional information, contact Entre Computer at (413) 736-2112 or e-mail [email protected].

 

Essence Editor to Speak

Feb. 5: Susan Taylor of Essence magazine will speak at Springfield Technical Community College at 11 a.m. in the Scibelli Hall gym as part of the STCC Diversity Council Event Series. The presentation, which coincides with Black History Month, is free and open to the public. Taylor’s name is synonymous with Essence magazine, the brand she built as the magazine’s fashion and beauty editor, editor in chief, and editorial director. For nearly three decades, Taylor has been the driving force behind one of the most celebrated black-owned businesses of our time and a legend in the magazine-publishing world. For 27 years, Taylor authored one of the magazine’s most popular columns, “In the Spirit.” She is the only African-American woman to be recognized by the Magazine Publishers of America with the Henry Johnson Fisher Award, the industry’s highest honor, and the first to be inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors Hall of Fame. Taylor also is the recipient of the NAACP President’s Award for visionary leadership and has honorary degrees from more than a dozen colleges and universities.
A fourth-generation entrepreneur and the author of four books, she supports a host of organizations dedicated to moving the black community forward, but her passion and focus today is with the National Cares Mentoring Movement, a call to action which she founded in 2006 as Essence Cares. The National Cares Mentoring Movement (www.caresmentoring.org) is a massive campaign to recruit 1 million able adults to help secure children who are in peril and losing ground. Taylor’s presentation is sponsored by PeoplesBank, Hampden Bank, the STCC Diversity Council, the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, Baystate Health, Health New England, MassMutual, and the United Way of Pioneer Valley.

 

Business-law Basics

Feb. 5, March 12, April 16: Get the business-law basics that every small-business owner and entrepreneur needs to know from the legal experts at the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Western New England University. This series of free information sessions is focused on key topics to help plan and grow a small business. All sessions will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at Western New England University School of Law, in the Blake Law Center. All events are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. The topics and presenters are: Feb. 5, “Legal Issues in Finance,” with attorneys Scott Foster of Bulkley Richardson and Michael Sweet of Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy; March 12, “Intellectual Property Law Basics,” with attorneys Peter Irvine of Peter Irvine Law Offices, Leah Kunkel of the Law Offices of Leah Kunkel, and Michelle Bugbee of Solutia Inc.; April 16: “Bankruptcy,” with attorneys George Roumeliotis of Roumeliotis  Law Group, Justin Dion of Bacon Wilson, and Kara Rescia of Eaton & Rescia. To learn more about upcoming events hosted by the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, visit www.wne.edu/cie.

 

40 Under Forty Reunion

Feb. 7: BusinessWest will stage a reunion featuring the first six classes of its 40 Under Forty program at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The event, open only to 40 Under Forty winners, event judges, and sponsors, will begin at 5:30 p.m. and feature a talk from Peter Straley, president of Health New England, about leadership and community involvement. For more information on the event, call (413) 781-8600 or e-mail [email protected].

 

 

Dress Down for Animals

Feb. 15: Employers, are you looking for a fun way to engage your staff while helping local shelter animals? By participating in Dress Down for Animals Day, your business can help provide life-saving care to dogs, cats, and other small animals at the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center in Springfield. Through this program, employees will make a minimum donation of $5, $10, or whatever level the employer sets for the privilege of wearing whatever they wish to work on Feb. 15, with proceeds donated to the shelter. Prizes will be awarded based on donation total and number of employees participating. Businesses can compete for a $590 advertising package from Reminder Publications, a chair yoga session for up to 50 employees, a catered dessert party, a chance to introduce a business to 7,000 people on the Thomas J. O’Connor Facebook page, and more. To request a form to fill out and return with donations, call (413) 533-4817 or e-mail [email protected]. For more information about the adoption center, visit www.tjofoundation.org.

 

Difference Makers 2013

March 21: The annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House starting at 5 p.m. Details on the event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. Several dozen nominations for the award were received this year, and the winners have been chosen. They will be announced in the magazine’s Feb. 11 issue. For more information, call (413) 781-8600.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

 

• Feb. 6: Business@Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Springfield Marriott. The monthly Business@Breakfast series pays tribute to individuals, businesses, and organizations for major contributions to civic and economic growth and for actions that reflect honor on the region. The Business@Breakfast gives your company exposure to business owners, upper management, and salespeople. For reservations, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1313.

• Feb. 13: Murder Mystery! After Hours, 5-7 p.m. at City Place Inn and Suites, 711 Dwight St., Springfield. For reservations, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1313.

 

AMHERST AREA

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com

(413) 253-0700

 

• Feb. 13: Amherst Area Chamber Breakfast, 7:15-9:05 a.m., at the Hampshire College Red Barn. Features a Hampshire County Regional Tourist Council update. Cost is $17 for members, $20 for non-members. RSVP to [email protected] or register online at www.amherstarea.com.

• Feb. 27: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m. at the Hampshire Athletic Club, 90 Gatehouse Road, Amherst. Admission is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. For more information, visit www.amherstarea.com.

 

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

 

• Feb. 20: February Annual Meeting/Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Castle of Knights. Tickets are $20 for members, $26 for non-members.

• Feb. 27: February Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at NUVO Bank & Trust Co. Admission is $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

 

GREATER HOLYOKE

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com

(413) 534-3376

 

• Jan. 28: Basics of Marketing Seminar, 8:30-10 a.m., chamber office. Learn some free and low-cost ideas on marketing your business. Cost is $10 for members and $20 for non-members. A continental breakfast is included in the price. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register or visit holyokechamber.com to sign up.

 

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com

(413) 584-1900

 

• Feb. 6: Arrive @5, 5-7 p.m., at Easthampton Savings Bank, 241 Northampton St., Easthampton. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can; a casual mix and mingle with colleagues and friends. Admission is $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

 

WEST OF THE RIVER

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com

(413) 426-3880

 

• Feb. 6: Wicked Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., at Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. Free for chamber members, $10 for non-members. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

• Feb.  28: Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Springfield Country Club, 1375 Elm St., West Springfield. Panel of elected officials will include state Reps. Nicholas Boldyga and Michael Finn, Agawam Mayor Richard Cohen, West Springfield Mayor Greg Neffinger, and state Sen. Michael Knapik. Tickets are $25 for members, $30 for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

 

GREATER WESTFIELD

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

 

• Feb. 4: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at Miss Sweets, 4 Russell Road, Westfield. The mayor will share information about what’s happening in the city. For more information or to register, contact Pam Bussell at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• Feb. 13: February WestNet, 5-7 p.m., at Shaker Farms Country Club, 866 Shaker Road, Westfield. Meet chamber members and bring your business cards. Sponsored by Ashton Services. Admission is $10 for chamber members, $15 for non-members. Payment can be made in advance or at the door with cash or check. Walk-ins are welcomed. Call the chamber at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail Pam Bussell at [email protected]. Your first WestNet is always free.

 

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD

www.springfieldyps.com

 

• Feb. 21: February Third Thursday Networking Event, 5-7 p.m., at Samuel’s Tavern, 1000 West Columbus Ave, Springfield. The event is free for members, $10 for non-members. For more information, visit www.springfieldyps.com/events.

Searching for Clues

By
Jeff Cissell saw many scenes like this throughout New England
Construction Sections
Cissell Investigative Engineering Gets to the Bottom (and Top) of Things

Jeff Cissell saw many scenes like this throughout New England

Jeff Cissell saw many scenes like this throughout New England during the harsh January of 2011.

When homeowners call Jeff Cissell about a damaged roof or a crack that suddenly appeared in a wall, they have a tendency to think the worst.

That’s why he considers peace of mind one of the many services his company, Cissell Investigative Engineering, provides.

“I feel like we’re actually helping people in that way,” he said. “People don’t know why something is happening, and they get scared. Sometimes all we’re doing is giving them peace of mind. They see a crack and think the structure is ready to fall down. But 99% of the time, it’s a common thing, and we can make a simple suggestion to keep it from happening again. Most times, they’re just happy to know they don’t have to move out.”

Cissell’s job is essentially to uncover why an adverse event — from a torn-up roof to a workplace accident — took place, and the extent of the property damage. He works for a variety of clients, but mostly insurance companies — specifically, claims adjusters trying to assess liability after a storm, fire, or other incident causes damage to a property.

He said 2011 — which began with a harsh, icy January that took its toll on roofs, but also included the June 1 tornadoes, a microburst and a tropical storm later in the summer, and the freak snowstorm just before Halloween that took down countless trees — was an exceptionally busy year, but every season provides plenty of opportunities.

“A lot of damage, a lot of structural issues arose out of those events,” he said. “Usually what happens is, claims adjusters will call us to take a look at a problem when they have questions about whether a policy would cover it.

“We don’t interpret the policy,” he emphasized, “but we interpret why the damage occurred. We go in there and objectively look at what the problem is and come up with a conclusion about what caused it, and the insurance company uses that information to decide whether it’s covered and what the extent of that coverage should be. We also provide some qualified ideas about how to make the repairs.”

For example, he said, “a lot of times, we’re asked to come take a look after a hailstorm comes through. Hail generates different-sized pellets, with different wind velocities and different wind directions. We’ve been successful in ascertaining when hail has damaged a roof and when it hasn’t. We’ve developed some fairly sophisticated ways to ascertain that.”

It’s an important task, and not just for insurance purposes, but sometimes to save homeowners money out of pocket. Cissell noted that many out-of-state roofing contractors moved into Massachusetts after the ice and snow of January 2011 and stuck around after the tornado, and they typically want to push customers for major repairs.

“People want an objective opinion. When they ask a roofer what the problem is, they’ll say they need a new roof. The same goes for a window salesman; they’ll say you need a new window. We don’t sell anything; we just tell you why something happened. I’ve personally been involved in dozens of cases where we come in after someone told a homeowner they needed a new roof, and we find something that can be fixed quickly.”

For this issue’s focus on construction services, Cissell spoke recently with BusinessWest about how his Connecticut-based company, which works at sites across Southern New England and beyond, is bringing clients a welcome dose of clarity when it’s needed most.

 

When Disaster Strikes

The 2011 tornado rattled plenty of Western Mass. home and business owners — not just those with obvious, catastrophic loss, but those whose properties might have been buffeted by wind and debris to a lesser — and difficult-to-determine — extent.

“When the tornado went through, a lot of people were scared; it’s one thing to lose a few shingles, but another to sustain roof damage to the structure itself,” Cissell said. “If a structure has been compromised, there are clues for us to find. We’ve done about 5,000 of these, so we know where to look.”

Roofs, in fact, comprise a good portion of Cissell’s investigative business, and on this front he’s seen it all, from a shopping-center roof that collapsed weeks after the building was vacated to flat-roofed schools that couldn’t handle ice and snow buildup — some of which had inherent structural defects to begin with.

Property managers reach out to Cissell as well, when they’re unsure about the extent of storm damage or don’t understand where a water leak is coming from. “A large complex in New York called us when people were getting mold on their walls and they couldn’t understand why,” he said. “We can determine where the potential water sources are.”

Cissell is also called upon in legal proceedings in cases like slip-and-fall injuries, to determine whether a property or business owner should be liable for damages. “Are there code-related conditions? We determine who’s responsible for the accident — did someone just lose their balance and fall, or did something contribute to that?

“Sometimes we’re working for the defense, and sometimes we’re working for the plaintiff,” he added. “It doesn’t matter who is buttering our bread. But we don’t take sides; we apply scientific methods to come up with an answer. For example, we have a machine that tests the friction of surfaces. And we can stand up in court and take a lot of the subjectivity out of insurance liability.”

He said building a reputation for objectivity is critical to the success of his business, and clients appreciate that quality — even when his findings don’t match up with their hopes. “I tell them, ‘I’ll tell you what you need to know, not necessarily what you want to hear, and let the chips fall where they may.’”

He recalled a case where a worker was installing trim on a building and fell over a handrail. But the investigation concluded that he had failed to secure himself according to normal worksite protocol. “That’s why he fell. He was suing the property owner, but he was, in fact, violating all kinds of OSHA rules. He should have known better.”

Whether it’s a home or business owner faced with such an incident, he added, “most people don’t know why something happens and what they are obligated to do. But we look at these things objectively.”

By ‘we,’ Cissell is also referring to a team of independent professionals who work as subcontractors for his investigative business. Paul Huijing, a Wilbraham-based general contractor, is one of them.

“I’ve done mostly roofs lately — looking at storm damage, hail damage, and whether it’s significant or not,” Huijing said. “I’ve also looked at structural issues with severe winters, where we’ve had the weight of ice and snow cause cracks and structural problems.”

Some of these are minor and easily fixed, he explained, but homeowners usually can’t determine this on their own. He echoed Cissell’s contention that a roofer or other contractor isn’t always the best source of information because they’re trying to sell additional products and services.

“I was on a roof the other day; there were some cracks in the roofing,” he recalled. “A roofer had gone up there and told the homeowner they had some wind damage; I went there and looked at it, and they had some cracks in the roofing material, but it wasn’t the result of wind damage, just the expansion and contraction of the shingles themselves.”

 

Career Change

Cissell, who studied engineering in college and earned his master’s in environmental engineering, has worked in a variety of settings over the years, specializing in power and petrochemical plants, wastewater-treatment facilities, and construction, along with a stop in Clinton, Conn. as the town engineer. In 1991, he hung out his own shingle, doing mainly design work for various clients.

But when an attorney for an architect asked him to look at a slip-and-fall claim, his career path began to change. “I was looking for another revenue stream and include more of my talents. So I started doing more and more of this, and by 2003, I was doing very little site-design work; that just kind of faded away. By 2005, my work was almost exclusivfely forensics-related.”

Cissell Investigative Engineering performs work throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, as well as Western New York — essentially anywhere within a two-hour drive.

“There aren’t a lot of people doing this, in part because it’s so multidisciplinary; not everyone has the tools to do it,” he said. “The guys who work best for me get their hands dirty and aren’t afraid of climbing a ladder. They think of the big picture and don’t focus on just one possibility; they bring all the tools to the table.”

Even though he might show up at a house as a representative of an insurance company, Huijing said his role as an investigator provides an opportunity for education as well.

“I usually end up meeting the homeowner there, so I can at least educate them about what’s going on,” he told BusinessWest. “So I feel that adds value; what I find may or may not be covered, but hopefully they learn more about their house and other peripheral issues — what does the chimney look like? Do they have enough ventilation? If I’m in an attic, I might talk about how they need more insulation, and how they can get that through the MassSave program at reduced cost. I try to bring my broad experience to the homeowner in addition to the specific thing I’m looking at.”

But the education aspect is often a two-way street, Huijing noted.

“It’s an interesting sideline for me because my main business is building and remodeling, and it’s useful and instructive to see these problems,” he said. “You are only the sum of your mistakes or what you’ve learned from other people’s mistakes, so it’s a good way for me to gain even more experience on items I might not normally see.”

As for Cissell, he loves the variety of the work, with a roster of jobs that constantly changes. “This just conglomerates all the experiences I’ve had in my career,” he said. “Plus, it’s fairly quick; I get an assignment, and we usually have things figured out in a day or two.”

Which is a relief for property owners clamoring for answers — and a little peace of mind.

 

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

First-ever 40 Under Forty Reunion on Tap

By
40 Under 40

It’s an event, says Kate Campiti, that’s long overdue.

“I’ve had conversations with many 40 Under Forty honorees who’ve said they wish there were a way they could get together with other winners for a networking opportunity,” said Campiti, associate publisher of BusinessWest, adding that many of these individuals value their standing in what has become a highly desirable club throughout Western Mass.

“They include their status as a 40 Under Forty winner on résumés, in e-mail signatures, and when talking with clients and potential clients,” she noted. “Not only does this honor open doors for them, but they also give other honorees a preference on business relationships over other individuals and companies without a 40 Under Forty title.”

Given that reality, a reunion event was only a matter of time.

“After having these conversations and realizing the fraternity that has been made of 40 Under Forty honorees, we decided to give them what they asked for with a reunion exclusively for the 40 Under Forty winners,” Campiti said.

That event will take place the evening of Feb. 7 at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke, which has hosted several 40 Under Forty events. This high-energy networking event is exclusively for the 40 Under Forty winners from the classes of 2006 through 2012, as well as judges and sponsors. The evening will include hors d’oeuvres and entertainment, as well as a high-profile speaker, Health New England CEO Peter Straley. Overall, said Campiti, this will be an ideal venue for the 240 past honorees to meet each other and build relationships.

Jaimye Hebert, a 2011 honoree who served as a judge for the class of 2012 (see story, page 13), plans on attending, adding that she’s grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the 40 Under Forty legacy.

“It’s such a great event,” said Hebert, vice president at Monson Savings Bank, of the annual June gathering celebrating the year’s winners. “I call it the best networking event of the year for the region.”

Campiti said the Feb. 7 reunion, which is being sponsored by Bacon Wilson, Fathers & Sons, Moriarty & Primack, Northwestern Mutual, and Paragus Strategic IT, will take that annual opportunity to make connections to the next level by assembling an elite who’s who of Western Mass. professionals.

“We’ve said this before,” she noted, “but the 40 Under Forty program has become a status symbol and level of achievement that many of the young professionals in our region aspire to. Each year, we’ve seen an increase in the number of nominations we receive, and those nominations span every sector and industry.”

With the support of groups like the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield and Northampton Area Young Professionals, which have both encouraged nominations from their ranks and seen many members achieve the award, the 40 Under Forty program has even created a competition of sorts for young up-and-comers.

“We’ve heard directly from previous winners and those vying for the honor who said they had increased — or are increasing — their volunteerism on various nonprofit boards, as well as their business skills, by taking courses and working with mentors, in an effort to be worthy of a 40 Under Forty award,” Campiti said. “This healthy competition only helps our region by strengthening our young professionals and future leaders.”

The reunion also coincides with nomination season for the class of 2013. Nomination forms may be found on page 17 of this issue or at businesswest.com, and entries will be accepted through Feb. 15.

“Each year, not only does the number of nominations increase,” Campiti said, “but so do the breadth and depth of the nominees, their skill sets, the industries they work in, their volunteerism, and their commitment to the health and vitality of our region. I think we’re all a little surprised, and pleasantly so, that the nominations we’ve seen come in show no sign of dwindling in quantity or, more importantly, quality.” n

 

Class of 2007

William Bither III Atalasoft

Kimberlynn Cartelli Fathers & Sons

Amy Caruso MassMutual Financial Group

Denise Cogman Springfield School Volunteers

Richard Corder Cooley Dickinson Hospital

Katherine Pacella Costello Egan, Flanagan & Cohen, P.C.

A. Rima Dael Berkshire Bank Foundation of Pioneer Valley

Nino Del Padre Del Padre Visual Productions

Antonio Dos Santos Robinson Donovan, P.C.

Jake Giessman Academy Hill School

Jillian Gould Eastfield Mall

Michael Gove Lyon & Fitzpatrick, LLP

Dena Hall United Bank

James Harrington Our Town Variety & Liquors

Christy Hedgpeth Spalding Sports

Francis Hoey III Tighe & Bond

Amy Jamrog The Jamrog Group, Northwestern Mutual

Cinda Jones Cowls Land & Lumber Co.

Paul Kozub V-1 Vodka

Bob Lowry Bueno y Sano

G.E. Patrick Leary Moriarty & Primack, P.C.

Todd Lever Noble Hospital

Audrey Manring The Women’s Times

Daniel Morrill Wolf & Company

Joseph Pacella Egan, Flanagan & Cohen, P.C.

Arlene Rodriquez Springfield Technical Community College

Craig Swimm WMAS 94.7

Sarah Tanner United Way of Pioneer Valley

Mark Tanner Bacon Wilson, P.C.

Michelle Theroux Child & Family Services of Pioneer Valley Inc.

Tad Tokarz Western MA Sports Journal

Dan Touhey Spalding Sports

Sarah Leete Tsitso Fred Astaire Dance

Michael Vann The Vann Group

Ryan Voiland Red Fire Farm

Erica Walch Speak Easy Accent Modification

Catherine West Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.

Michael Zaskey Zasco Productions, LLC

Edward Zemba Robert Charles Photography

Carin Zinter The Princeton Review

Class of 2008

Michelle Abdow Market Mentors

Matthew Andrews Best Buddies of Western Mass.

Rob Anthony WMAS

Shane Bajnoci Cowls Land & Lumber Co.

Steve Bandarra Atlas TC

Dr. Jonathan Bayuk Hampden County Physician Associates

Delcie Bean IV Valley Computer Works (Paragus Strategic IT)

Brendan Ciecko Ten Minute Media

Todd Cieplinski Universal Mind Inc.

William Collins Spoleto Restaurant Group

Michael Corduff Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House

Amy Davis New City Scenic & Display

Dave DelVecchio Innovative Business Systems Inc.

Tyler Fairbank EOS Ventures

Timothy Farrell F.W. Farrell Insurance

Jeffrey Fialky Bacon Wilson, P.C.

Dennis Francis America’s Box Choice

Kelly Galanis Westfield State College

Jennifer Glockner Winstanley Associates

Andrea Hill-Cataldo Johnson & Hill Staffing Services

Steven Huntley Valley Opportunity Council

Alexander Jarrett Pedal People Cooperative

Kevin Jourdain City of Holyoke

Craig Kaylor Hampden Bank / Hampden Bancorp Inc.

Stanley Kowalski III FloDesign Inc.

Marco Liquori NetLogix Inc.

Azell Murphy Cavaan City of Springfield

Michael Presnal The Federal Restaurant

Melissa Shea Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn

Sheryl Shinn Hampden Bank

Ja’Net Smith Center for Human Development

Diana Sorrentini-Velez Cooley, Shrair, P.C.

Meghan Sullivan Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn

Michael Sweet Doherty Wallace Pillsbury & Murphy

Heidi Thomson Girls Inc.

Hector Toledo Hampden Bank

William Trudeau Jr. Insurance Center of New England

David Vermette MassMutual Financial Services

Lauren Way Bay Path College

Paul Yacovone Brain Powered Concepts

Class of 2009

Marco Alvan Team Link Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Gina Barry Bacon Wilson, P.C.

Maggie Bergin The Art of Politics

Daniel Bessette Get Set Marketing

Brandon Braxton NewAlliance Bank

Dena Calvanese Gray House

Edward Cassell Park Square Realty

Karen Chadwell Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy, P.C.

Kate Ciriello MassMutual Financial Group

Kamari Collins Springfield Technical Community College

Mychal Connolly Sr. Stinky Cakes

Todd Demers Family Wireless

Kate Glynn A Child’s Garden and Impish

Andrew Jensen Jx2 Productions, LLC

Kathy LeMay Raising Change

Ned Leutz Webber & Grinnell Insurance Agency

Scott MacKenzie MacKenzie Vault Inc.

Tony Maroulis Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce

Seth Mias Seth Mias Catering

Marjory Moore Chicopee Public Schools

Corey Murphy First American Insurance Agency Inc.

Mark Hugo Nasjleti Go Voice for Choice

Joshua Pendrick Royal Touch Painting

Christopher Prouty Studio99Creative

Adam Quenneville Adam Quenneville Roofing

Michael Ravosa Morgan Stanley

Kristi Reale Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.

Amy Royal Royal & Klimczuk, LLC

Michelle Sade United Personnel

Scott Sadowsky Williams Distributing Corp.

Gregory Schmidt Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy, P.C.

Gretchen Siegchrist Media Shower Productions

Erik Skar MassMutual Financial Services

Paul Stallman Alias Solutions

Renee Stolar J. Stolar Insurance Co.

Tara Tetreault Jackson and Connor

Chris Thompson Springfield Falcons Hockey Team

Karl Tur Ink & Toner Solutions, LLC

Michael Weber Minuteman Press

Brenda Wishart Aspen Square Management

Class of 2010

 

Nancy Bazanchuk Disability Resource Program,

Center for Human Development

Raymond Berry United Way of Pioneer Valley

David Beturne Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County

Maegan Brooks The Law Office of Maegan Brooks

Karen Buell PeoplesBank

Shanna Burke Nonotuck Resource Associates

Damon Cartelli Fathers & Sons

Brady Chianciola PeoplesBank

Natasha Clark Springfield School Volunteers

Julie Cowan TD Bank

Karen Curran Thomson Financial Management Inc.

Adam Epstein Dielectrics Inc.

Mary Fallon Garvey Communication Associates

Daniel Finn Pioneer Valley Local First

Owen Freeman-Daniels Foley-Connelly Financial Partners and

Foley Insurance Group

Lorenzo Gaines ACCESS Springfield Promise Program

Thomas Galanis Westfield State College

Anthony Gleason II Roger Sitterly & Son Inc. and

Gleason Landscaping

Allen Harris Berkshire Money Management Inc.

Meghan Hibner Westfield Bank

Amanda Huston Junior Achievement of Western Mass. Inc.

Kimberly Klimczuk Royal, LLP

James Krupienski Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.

David Kutcher Confluent Forms, LLC

James Leahy City of Holyoke and Alcon Laboratories

Kristin Leutz Community Foundation of Western Mass.

Meghan Lynch Six-Point Creative Works

Susan Mielnikowski Cooley, Shrair, P.C.

Jill Monson Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding Inc.

and Inspired Marketing & Promotions

Kevin Perrier Five Star Building Corp.

Lindsay Porter Big Y Foods

Brandon Reed Fitness Together

Boris Revsin CampusLIVE Inc.

Aaron Vega Vega Yoga & Movement Arts

Ian Vukovich Florence Savings Bank

Thomas Walsh City of Springfield

Sean Wandrei Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.

Byron White Pazzo Ristorante

Chester Wojcik Design Construction Group

Peter Zurlino Atlantico Designs and Springfield Public Schools

Class of 2011

 

Kelly Albrecht left-click Corp.

Gianna Allentuck Springfield Public Schools

Briony Angus Tighe & Bond

Delania Barbee ACCESS Springfield Promise Program

Monica Borgatti Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity

Nancy Buffone University of Massachusetts

Michelle Cayo Country Bank

Nicole Contois Springfield Housing Authority

Christin Deremian Human Resources Unlimited/Pyramid Project

Peter Ellis DIF Design

Scott Foster Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP

Stephen Freyman Longmeadow High School

Benjamin Garvey Insurance Center of New England

Mathew Geffin Webber and Grinnell

Nick Gelfand NRG Real Estate Inc.

Mark Germain Gomes, DaCruz and Tracy, P.C.

Elizabeth Gosselin Commonwealth Packaging

Kathryn Grandonico Lincoln Real Estate

Jaimye Hebert Monson Savings Bank

Sean Hemingway Center for Human Development

Kelly Koch Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP

Jason Mark Gravity Switch

Joan Maylor Stop and Shop Supermarkets

Todd McGee MassMutual Financial Group

Donald Mitchell Western Mass. Development Collaborative

David Pakman Vivid Edge Media Group/The David Pakman Show

Timothy Plante City of Springfield/Springfield Public Schools

Maurice Powe The Law Offices of Brooks and Powe

Jeremy Procon Interstate Towing Inc.

Kristen Pueschel PeoplesBank

Meghan Rothschild SurvivingSkin.org

Jennifer Schimmel Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity

Amy Scott Wild Apple Design Group

Alexander Simon LogicTrail, LLC

Lauren Tabin PeoplesBank

Lisa Totz ITT Power Solutions

Jeffrey Trant Human Resources Unlimited

Timothy Van Epps Sandri Companies

Michael Vedovelli Mass. Office of Business Development

Beth Vettori Rockridge Retirement Community

Class of 2012

Allison Biggs Graphic Designer

Christopher Connelly Foley/Connelly Financial Partners

Scott Conrad Center for Human Development

Erin Corriveau Reliable Temps Inc.

Carla Cosenzi Tommy Car Corp.

Ben Craft Baystate Medical Center

Michele Crochetiere YWCA of Western Mass.

Christopher DiStefano DiStefano Financial Group

Keshawn Dodds 4King Edward Enterprises Inc.

Ben Einstein Brainstream Design

Michael Fenton Shatz, Schwartz, and Fentin, P.C.

Tim Fisk The Alliance to Develop Power

Elizabeth Ginter Ellis Title Co.

Eric Hall Westfield Police Department

Brendon Hutchins St. Germain Investment Management

Kevin Jennings Jennings Real Estate

Kristen Kellner Kellner Consulting, LLC

Dr. Ronald Laprise Laprise Chiropractic & Wellness

Danielle Lord O’Connell Care at Home & Staffing Services

Waleska Lugo-DeJesus Westfield State University

Trecia Marchand Pioneer Valley Federal Credit Union

Ryan McCollum RMC Strategies

Sheila Moreau MindWing Concepts Inc.

Kelli Ann Nielsen Springfield Academy Middle School

Neil Nordstrom Pediatric Services of Springfield

Edward Nuñez Freedom Credit Union

Adam Ondrick Ondrick Natural Earth

Gladys Oyola City of Springfield

Shardool Parmar Pioneer Valley Hotel Group

Vincent Petrangelo Raymond James

Terry Powe Elias Brookings Museum Magnet School

Jennifer Reynolds Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.

Jessica Roncarati-Howe  AIDS Foundation of Western Mass.

Dan Rukakoski Tighe & Bond

Dr. Nate Somers Center for Human Development

Joshua Spooner Western New England University

College of Pharmacy

Jaclyn Stevenson Winstanley Partners

Jason Tsitso R & R Windows Contractors

Sen. James Welch State Senator, First Hampden District

Karen Woods Yankee Candle Co.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

 

• Feb. 6: Business@Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Springfield Marriott. The monthly Business@Breakfast series pays tribute to individuals, businesses, and organizations for major contributions to civic and economic growth and for actions that reflect honor on the region. The Business@Breakfast gives your company exposure to business owners, upper management, and salespeople. For reservations, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1313.

• Feb. 13: Murder Mystery! After Hours, 5-7 p.m. at City Place Inn and Suites, 711 Dwight St., Springfield. For reservations, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1313.

 

AMHERST AREA

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com

(413) 253-0700

 

• Jan. 23: Chamber After Five, 5-7 p.m. Location to be announced. Admission is $5 for members, $10 for non-members. Visit

www.amherstarea.com for more information.

• Feb. 13: Amherst Area Chamber Breakfast, 7:15-9:05 a.m., at the Hampshire College Red Barn. Features a Hampshire County Regional Tourist Council update. Cost is $17 for members, $20 for non-members. RSVP to [email protected] or register online at www.amherstarea.com.

• Feb. 27: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m. at the Hampshire Athletic Club, 90 Gatehouse Road, Amherst. Admission is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. For more information, visit www.amherstarea.com.

 

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

 

• Feb. 20: February Annual Meeting/Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Castle of Knights. Tickets are $20 for members, $26 for non-members.

• Feb. 27: February Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at NUVO Bank & Trust Co. Admission is $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.franklincc.org

(413) 773-5463

 

For more information on our upcoming events, visit the chamber online at www.franklincc.org.

 

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org

(413) 527-9414

 

• Jan. 24: Chamber Annual Meeting and Annual Awards Dinner, 5 p.m., Southampton Country Club. We’ll review a successful 2012 and celebrate member milestones. The event will feature presentation of awards for Business, Business Person, and Community Service Members of the Year. Event Sponsor is Easthampton Savings Bank. Cost is $30 per person, inclusive. For more information, e-mail [email protected].

 

GREATER HOLYOKE

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com

(413) 534-3376

 

• Jan. 16: Chamber Business Networking, 5-7 p.m., at Homewood Suites, 375 Whitney Ave., Holyoke. Sponsored by CareerPoint. Admission is $10 for members and $15 cash for non-members. If you are a member of the hospitality industry or a small retailer, please attend as the chamber’s guest at no charge. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register, or visit holyokechamber.com to sign up.

• Jan. 17: The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and the Holyoke Police Department are teaming up to co-host the chamber’s Open House and a ribbon cutting at the grand opening of the department’s ‘Hub’ office. The events will take place at 176 and 177 High St., 4-7 p.m. Both events are open and free to the public.

• Jan. 28: Basics of Marketing Seminar, 8:30-10 a.m., chamber office. Learn some free and low-cost ideas on marketing your business. Cost is $10 for members and $20 for non-members. A continental breakfast is included in the price. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register or visit holyokechamber.com to sign up.

 

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com

(413) 584-1900

 

• Feb. 6: Arrive @5, 5-7 p.m., at Easthampton Savings Bank, 241 Northampton St., Easthampton. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can; a casual mix and mingle with colleagues and friends. Admission is $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

 

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY

www.thenayp.com

(413) 584-1900

 

For more information on our upcoming events, visit the society online at www.thenayp.com.

 

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER

www.professionalwomenschamber.com

(413) 755-1310

 

• Jan. 16: Business Expo, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Max’s Tavern at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Sign up to showcase your company’s products and services or to attend the event. Display price includes a draped table and lunch for one. General-admission tickets include specialty sandwiches, fruit, chips, and dessert. Tabletop cost (includes one lunch ticket): $70 for PWC members, $100 for non-members. Admission cost (lunch included): $25 for PWC members, $35 for non-members.

 

QUABOAG HILLS

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.qvcc.biz

(413) 283-2418

 

For more information on our upcoming events, visit the chamber online at www.qvcc.biz.

 

 

 

SOUTH HADLEY/GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.shchamber.com

(413) 532-6451

 

For more information on our upcoming events, visit the chamber online at www.shchamber.com.

 

THREE RIVERS

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.threeriverschamber.org

413-283-6425

 

For more information on our upcoming events, visit the chamber online at www.threeriverschamber.org.

 

WEST OF THE RIVER

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com

(413) 426-3880

 

• Feb. 6: Wicked Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., at Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. Free for chamber members, $10 for non-members. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

• Feb.  28: Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Springfield Country Club, 1375 Elm St., West Springfield. Panel of elected officials will include state Reps. Nicholas Boldyga and Michael Finn, Agawam Mayor Richard Cohen, West Springfield Mayor Greg Neffinger, and state Sen. Michael Knapik. Tickets are $25 for members, $30 for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

 

GREATER WESTFIELD

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

 

• Feb. 4: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at Miss Sweets, 4 Russell Road, Westfield. The mayor will share information about what’s happening in the city. For more information or to register, contact Pam Bussell at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• Feb. 13: February WestNet, 5-7 p.m., at Shaker Farms Country Club, 866 Shaker Road, Westfield. Meet chamber members and bring your business cards. Sponsored by Ashton Services. Admission is $10 for chamber members, $15 for non-members. Payment can be made in advance or at the door with cash or check. Walk-ins are welcomed. Call the chamber at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail Pam Bussell at [email protected]. Your first WestNet is always free.

 

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD

www.springfieldyps.com

 

• Jan. 17: January Third Thursday Networking Event, 5-7 p.m. at he Colony Club, 1500 Main St., Springfield. The event is free for members, $10 for non-members. For more information, visit www.springfieldyps.com/events.

• Feb. 21: February Third Thursday Networking Event, 5-7 p.m., at Samuel’s Tavern, 1000 West Columbus Ave, Springfield. The event is free for members, $10 for non-members. For more information, visit www.springfieldyps.com/events.

Mind over Matter

By
Ann Buscemi
Health Care Sections
The Art and Science of Hypnosis Can Benefit a Variety of People

Ann Buscemi

Ann Buscemi says it’s important to understand what’s important to each patient before crafting an individualized strategy for hypnosis.

Ann Buscemi says it’s important to understand what’s important to each patient before crafting an individualized strategy for hypnosis.
[/caption]Hypnosis, Marlene Quinlan says, is not a loss of consciousness, or a ceding of free will. And it’s not a party trick.

“I always make sure people I’m working with understand that I am their guide,” said Quinlan, an oncology social worker at the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care in Springfield, who uses hypnosis with some patients who are struggling with anxiety and other aspects of a cancer diagnosis. “I’m not doing anything to them; they’re allowing themselves to enter this hypnotic trance state. It’s a skill they actually have inside them. My goal is to help them do that on their own.”

Some patients begin the process with skepticism, she added, spurred partly by distorted perceptions about hypnosis from the entertainment world. “I always explain what hypnosis is and what it isn’t. It won’t make you undress or cluck like a chicken … unless, of course, you want to cluck like a chicken.”

In short, it’s not a loss of control, she explained. Quite the opposite, hypnosis done for the right reasons is empowering. “Basically, people feel like they possess a tool inside of them that allows them to feel like they can deal with the stress in their life. People are most stressed when they feel like there’s nothing they can do about their situation; they want a tool like this to manage their stress.”

Ann Buscemi, a certified hypnotherapist and educator who spends part of her time working with patients at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, conducts a program there for pregnant women called Deep Relaxation for Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond.

“It’s not centered on the outcome being a guaranteed, non-medicated birth, but focuses on confidence and feeling comfortable and calm, regardless of what comes your way in birth, because birth is always unique and different,” she told BusinessWest.

“What I’ve found, from many, many years working with pregnant women, is that, if I can help them find a quiet space within, and allow their body to do the work it knows how to do, everyone will be in a better place; it’s better for the woman, better for the partner, and better for the baby.”

Women in the program learn to enter a hypnotic state in order to relax and regulate their breathing, but the process is also beneficial for women preparing for a scheduled cesarean birth, she said, to deal with the anxiety of what is, in fact, major surgery.

“We really focus on the relaxation piece,” said Buscemi, who also teaches a class for nurse midwives on the basics of childbirth education. “The feedback I get from the midwifery center is that it really makes a difference.”

For this month’s focus on healthcare, BusinessWest explores what hypnosis in a medical setting involves, and why many patients grappling with fear, anxiety, pain, and other issues find the process liberating — and healing.

 

Free Your Mind

Buscemi, like Quinlan, emphasizes the free-will element of hypnosis, reiterating that it’s most effective on individuals who are open to it and understand what it is.

“A lot of people fear it because, so often, we hear about a guy at the Hu Ke Lau bringing people up on stage, and they start quacking like a duck. If someone wants that to happen, it will happen; it’s not mind control. You can’t make somebody do anything against who they are, religiously or ethically.”

So, how does hypnosis work?

“It’s getting to that subconscious space where I can plant a seed for positive results,” Buscemi explained. “It’s sort of moving beyond your fears and anxiety and introducing positive words, positive images, deep relaxation, lower blood pressure, and, again, better outcomes.

Much of the success of hypnosis is improved confidence and attitude, she explained, adding that each individual experiences the specifics differently. For example, in learning to breathe during labor, “you can think of your breath in any way you wish. Some women see their breath as fueling their body, so their body can do the work. Other women see it as a parachute above their body; they see it as a means of staying outside their body and therefore not getting in the way. … I never say, ‘you must do it this way.’”

Buscemi said she tries to bring a sense of humor to the process as well, again, to decrease the tension of impending childbirth. “Having a baby can be incredibly scary for people, and I try to help them find that quiet space.”

As an oncology social worker, Quinlan’s job entails a number of functions. “Hypnosis is a small part of what I do on a regular basis,” she said, “and not every patient I work with would necessarily want to think about hypnosis as something helpful to them. For those who are interested, I would discuss it with them as an option in the bigger picture of helping them cope with cancer.

“There are, for sure, situations that come up where I have been able to use hypnosis,” she added. “Essentially, the first step is working with the patient to establish what their goals are. I’m very goal-oriented.”

Marlene Quinlan

Marlene Quinlan says pain relief isn’t one of her goals in treating cancer patients, although some find they’re able to manage their pain more effectively afterward.

In addition to helping them reduce anxiety, Quinlan has worked with cancer patients on smoking cessation — obviously, an important factor in helping the body fight off the disease. But, she said, there first needs to be a deeply felt desire to make that life change — or any change for which hypnosis might help.

“Hypnosis won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do,” Quinlan said. “That’s why it’s important, when doing an assessment, to find out what their goals really are, if it’s what they really want. If I receive a referral to help someone quit smoking, and during my assessment, I hear them saying, in so many words, that they’re not really interested in quitting, that can be an obstacle.”

Therefore, some patients need more conventional counseling first to get to the bottom of what they really want, or to assure themselves that they really want what hypnosis could help them achieve.

“It’s not a magic pill,” she told BusinessWest. “And one session of hypnosis isn’t going to cure all your ills, although many people think of it that way.” In fact, sometimes the first session doesn’t involve hypnosis at all, but is a thorough assessment of the patient’s mindset and goals.

 

The Rest Will Follow

Buscemi also conducts hypnotherapy for cancer patients, through the Cancer Connection in Northampton.

“It’s really taking time with people who are looking at surgery or chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and focusing on healing,” she explained. “It’s really challenging to be faced with a diagnosis — a life-threatening diagnosis — and then everything you have to do to get through it.

“I’ve found, in working with people at the Cancer Connection, that they haven’t thought about being OK,” she continued. “I help them come up with visualization and focus, seeing themselves as healed, helping them through their fear, anxiety, and stress, using the things going on around them and within them to help them promote more relaxation.”

While different patients call for different techniques, Buscemi said she often uses a “color healing” form of visualization, where chemotherapy patients picture the liquids going into their bodies as a healing color. Similarly, “I’ve written a script about powerful beams of light for working with a man with prostate cancer.”

Every case is different, she said. “I take the time to find out what they love. Do they love the beach? Then let’s use [images of] waves, waves of healing. You have to make it something they can relate to, never something I think they should be thinking about. I think that’s important; I don’t know what’s going to work for people, so it’s a discovery time for me.”

Buscemi also creates a CD that patients can use at home — before, during, or after their treatments — to practice self-hypnosis as an ongoing tool. “That’s important, that they have this tool to listen to anytime,” she said. “I’m not just planting a seed, but really pressing it in and making sure it’s well-sown in their mind.”

Anytime a patient can relax — whether it’s a woman giving birth, a patient prepping for surgery, or someone sitting in a dentist’s chair — it makes life easier for everyone, including the care provider, Buscemi said. And often, when hypnosis is conducted in conjunction with serious procedures, “you need less anesthesia, you leave the hospital earlier, you need less pain medication. That mind-body piece is significant, and it makes a difference.”

The concept of seeking hypnosis before a surgical procedure has been promoted by Massachusetts psychotherapist Peggy Huddleston, who offers a course to healthcare providers called “Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster.”

Huddleston’s process involves using visualization to turn surgery worries into positive, healing imagery; listening to her relaxation CD or mp3; asking family and friends to wrap the patient in a “blanket of love” before surgery; and using “healing statements” during and after surgery that, she claims, reduce the need for pain medication in most patients.

“You’re planting a suggestion that the surgery will go well, and recovery will go well,” Quinlan said. “Entering that procedure feeling really positive about the outcome can help you.”

Hypnosis can also help them with ancillary stressors for cancer patients, she added. “Some people have difficulty sleeping, and cancer does create anxiety, which causes difficulty sleeping. If I can teach them how to relax and go into a trance state at bedtime, they’ll sleep better” — and, in circular fashion, reduce the stress that caused the sleeplessness to begin with.

 

Peace of the Action

Some hypnotherapists use the process for pain relief, but Quinlan is careful with how she frames that idea.

“I never say to somebody, ‘if you see me and we do hypnosis, it will help you with your pain,’” she told BusinessWest. “But a couple of my patients have had pain issues, and they’ve actually been able, as a side effect of hypnosis, to feel like their pain has improved. I think they’re able to relax, and there’s less tension in their bodies, and therefore they’ve felt some relief from their pain, but I don’t promote that as a substitute for whatever pain management is being promoted by their doctors.”

She also stressed that hypnosis is not a cure-all, and is generally undertaken in tandem with other treatment modalities.

“Often, in conjunction with hypnosis, we’re also doing counseling around what they’re thinking and feeling, and somehow, the combination of these things helps them reframe their thoughts on the situation.

“If you’re focusing on your fears,” she added, “you’re going to have anxiety. But if you’re finding a way to distract yourself and not always be focused on your fears, and having some mastery over your stress, I think I can help you get into a better place emotionally.”

Buscemi says her work is gratifying on a number of levels.

“I know this works; I know it makes a difference,” she said, but she’s still thrilled when patients tell her the process has helped them in some way, and honored that she can be a part of helping them through events both happy — the birth of a child — and traumatic, like cancer.

“That’s a gift to me,” she said. “It reminds me how precious life is.”

 

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Editorial

By
Opinion
A Chance for UMass to Make Connections

UMass Amherst will celebrate a major milestone this year, its 150th anniversary as a land-grant institution and the start of its role as the state university (see story, page 32).

It’s a chance to mark the school’s long history and effectively tell the story of how it has grown, matured, and become a national leader in many academic realms and a rising power in the research world. And that’s a story that definitely needs to be told, because far too many state residents, alums, state and regional economic-development leaders, and, yes, UMass trustees don’t know it as well as they should.

The 150th anniversary will provide an excellent opportunity to educate people on all that has happened in Amherst, and about the promise of much more to come.

But there is perhaps a much bigger, more important goal for the university as celebrates its beginnings at the height of the Civil War.

This would be the opportunity to re-connect with the alumni base and create more passion for the state university and its critical role in this state.

Indeed, for reasons that are somewhat difficult to articulate, there is a definite lack of passion when it comes to the university and its huge alumni base, at least when compared to the strong bond that graduates of institutions like Holy Cross, Boston College, Harvard, Amherst, Williams, and others have for their schools. And this level of passion also pales beside the fervor that graduates of other state universities across the country have for their schools.

Perhaps one of the reasons is sports — UMass does not have the high-profile programs of a Michigan, Ohio State, Florida, or Alabama. But, then again, Holy Cross and Amherst don’t have big-time sports, either. Perhaps it’s the fact that UMass must operate in the same small state as literally dozens of prestigious private institutions, including four within just a few miles of the campus. Perhaps it’s because UMass is the school that some people attend because they can’t attend those others.

Whatever the reason, the lack of a passionate alumni base has no doubt impacted the university, and not just in terms of the ridiculously low turnout for football games last fall at Gillette Stadium after the school made the risky and expensive leap to the Mid-America Conference and the so-called Football Bowl Subdivision — although that’s part of it.

This dispassion also affects donations to the school, thus limiting its overall growth opportunities, while it may also play a the role in the fact that UMass, like other public schools in the Commonwealth, has long been underfunded in comparison to institutions in other states.

A 150th-birthday celebration, even one on the huge scale that organizers are planning, is not going to change this equation overnight. But it can start to move the needle more in the desired direction.

If the university can succeed in drawing area alumni to the wide range of events on the Amherst campus, where they’ll see the cranes in the air and talk to current students, and if it’s able to attract alums from the eastern part of the state to events to be staged in Boston in October, then perhaps some important connections and reconnections can be made.

One of the sesquicentennial organizers used the phrase ‘light a fire’ to describe what he hopes might happen with the alumni base attending the various events to be staged. That’s being quite optimistic.

But it seems very realistic that the school can use this event to educate, inspire, and perhaps prompt alumni to scour their closets in search of maroon clothing. If it can do that, then maybe the passion level can start to rise.

Getting Down to Business

By
Springfield Chamber leaders (from left) Jeff Ciuffreda, Jeff Fialky, and Patrick Leary
Features Getting Down to Business
Casinos Add to Full Slate for Springfield Chamber

Springfield Chamber leaders (from left) Jeff Ciuffreda, Jeff Fialky, and Patrick Leary

Springfield Chamber leaders (from left) Jeff Ciuffreda, Jeff Fialky, and Patrick Leary all say that casinos are just one of many issues on the agency’s crowded plate.

Patrick Leary acknowledged that much of the current discussion involving casinos in Springfield is centered on where and who — meaning the location and the chosen operator.

But the Springfield Chamber of Commerce isn’t focusing on those specific matters, and it probably won’t, said Leary, a partner with the Springfield-based accounting firm Moriarty & Primack and current president of the chamber’s board. But that doesn’t mean the organization isn’t getting involved in what would be the largest development project in the city’s history if it comes to fruition.

Instead, the chamber is taking a more global view, one that can best be described as providing a voice for its membership on this all-important issue, said Leary.

“North End, South End … regardless of who it is and where it is, we’re more concerned that the chamber’s members aren’t forgotten in this whole process,” he told BusinessWest. “It would be very easy to have a casino move into the North End or South End and start siphoning business away from the central business district and pulling employees away from our membership; we need to look at all those issues that are going to affect our membership.”

Jeffrey Ciuffreda, executive director of the 550-member Springfield Chamber, as well as the larger Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, agreed.

He said the chamber has thus far decided, as an organization, to endorse the concept of a Springfield-based casino — with some stated suggestions, or requests, designed to protect the interests of existing businesses in the city.

These include:

• “A preferential procurement program for gods and services from Springfield businesses with measurable goals”;

• “Employing those unemployed and underemployed,” with an emphasis on those residing in Springfield now or in the future in market rate housing; and

• “Enhancement of downtown Springfield and the city as a whole,” among others.

The wording on the chamber’s measure sums up the charge for the group during the casino fight. The organization voted to “support a Springfield-based casino development that adequately addresses the issues and concerns of the membership of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.”

So, in many respects, the chamber is taking the same approach with casinos that it does with other issues impacting the local business community, said Ciuffreda, listing everything from tax classification and efforts to lower the commercial rate to zoning policy and matters involving the compensation and term length of Springfield’s mayor.

The common denominator, he said, is creating an environment in which the city and its business community can succeed.

“We have a very large and diverse membership base in Springfield,” said Ciuffreda. “Our mission is to effectively represent these businesses, advocate for them, and, in general, create a business-friendly environment in the city.”

For this issue, BusinessWest concludes its Getting Down to Business series with an in-depth look at the Springfield Chamber, which finds itself in the middle of a hotly contested battle for the Western Mass. casino license, but also has a number of other matters on its plate.

 

Playing Their Cards

When asked about the chamber’s role with casinos moving forward, Ciuffreda said the time for debate about whether expanded gaming is something the state wants or needs is over — legislation passed just over a year ago allows up to three casinos and a slots parlor — and the chamber’s current assignment reflects this.

“Now, the issue of ‘do you want a casino?’ is off the table,” he said, while acknowledging that city residents must still approve a referendum on a casino plan or plans. “The issue now is ‘how does this benefit Springfield?’”

Elaborating, he said the chamber’s official role is to communicate the desires and concerns of its membership and the business community as a whole, and to secure itself a seat at the table in discussions with casino operators — both literally and figuratively.

Concerning the former, Kate Kane, managing director of the Springfield office of Northwestern Mutual Financial/the Zuzdo Group, and a former Springfield Chamber board member, has been appointed to an ad-hoc committee appointed by mayor Domenic Sarno to review competing casino proposals; she will, in essence, represent the chamber and its membership on the panel. As for the latter, the chamber intends to be quite visible and vocal as negotiations continue with casino operators, said both Leary and Ciuffreda.

And to carry out that assignment, the chamber has appointed its own casino subcommittee, one that has met several times and thoroughly researched other urban centers with casinos, including Detroit, Kansas City, Mo., and Biloxi, Miss.

“We discussed the good and the bad of having a casino, how they [operators] negotiated, and whether they even negotiated,” said Leary, “and the board voted to endorse the Springfield-based casino with the provision that we’re going to have certain items that we need to have addressed before we’ll fully endorse and advocate for casinos.”

Both Ciuffreda and Leary said they’re impressed with the plans of both casino operators (MGM and Penn National) proposing facilities in Springfield, just as they were with Ameristar’s concept for the former Westinghouse site before that company withdrew from the competition. But both also added that some of the promises to hire minorities and women are already part of the state’s gaming legislation.

While other chambers had to reach out and call for the casino developers to do something specific on that front, “it’s already built into ours,” Ciuffreda said.

“Not taking anything away from MGM or Penn National; there’s a minimum standard [through the legislation], and they’ve exceeded those standards,” he continued. “But it’s a compliment to Gov. Patrick and the Legislature for writing a very solid measure that protects what we have right now and adds to it.”

 

East Meets West

Yet, as the pitched casino battle plays itself out, the Springfield chamber will have other matters to address, which collectively fall under the category of giving its membership a strong, clear, united voice in both Springfield City Hall and Beacon Hill.

Indeed, advocacy is one of the most visible and impactful ways that the chamber brings value to its members through the long reach of the ACCGS, said Ciuffreda, adding that there are many ways in which this aspect of the group’s mission is carried out.

For starters, there’s the ACCGS’s annual bus trip to the State House every April, a program that brings 65 area business and nonprofit leaders to Boston to meet with delegation members, gain insight into pressing issues impacting the business community, and express their view on such issues.

“Boston just doesn’t see that many people in that building at one time from Western Mass.,” said Leary. “And that translates to 65 business leaders who represent literally thousands of people.”

And while the chamber brings its members to Boston, it has also succeeded in bringing Boston-based elected officials to Springfield. Indeed, Ciuffreda secured Jay Gonzalez, secretary of the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, as a speaker for a recent luncheon program, and has consistently brought top officials within the Patrick administration — and the governor himself — for area events.

“I see it as a win-win situation,” he said of such high-profile speaking engagements. “Area business owners and managers get to hear directly from these officials, and we can provide a large audience for them.”

Chamber visibility in Springfield City Hall is far more constant, obviously, said Ciuffreda, adding that the chamber has been, and continues to be, vocal on issues ranging from tax classification to city-wide zoning policy; from tornado recovery to the mayor’s salary.

That last item is still a matter to be settled, he continued, adding that it is one of many action items to result from the 2007 Urban Land Institute study on Springfield, which took place as the city was struggling to fight its way out of receivership and blueprint an economic-development strategy for the years ahead.

The report’s recommendations for City Hall included lengthening the mayor’s term in office from two to four years, adding a chief financial officer (those steps have already been taken), and raising the mayor’s salary above its current $95,000, in an effort to consistently attract top talent to that position.

“It’s a sensitive issue when you talk about a pay increase for a mayor,” said Jeffrey Fialky, a partner with the law firm Bacon Wilson and chamber board member, as he talked about why the chamber is involved in such matters. “But it’s such an important part of the ability to retain strong serving mayors as well as the ability to attract new mayoral candidates.”

Tim Murphy, a partner with the law firm Skoler, Abbott, & Presser, P.C., represented the chamber on the compensation committee, and explained its recommendations. “The pay has been $95,000 since 1997,” he explained. “What the committee was able to agree on was immediately increasing the mayor’s pay to $110,000 and having an annual cost-of-living increase of 2.5% going forward.”

Ciuffreda said the pay issue is slated to be resurrected in 2013, and is an important consideration for the city as it looks to ensure strong leadership in the corner office in the years and decades to come.

Education is another matter the chamber, and the ACCGS as a whole, is addressing in many ways and on many levels, said Ciuffreda, adding that it is involved in everything from early education to efforts to reduce the city’s disturbingly high dropout rates, to initiatives involving training and retaining key members of the workforce.

One stated goal is supporting efforts to close the so-called skills gap in the region, a factor contributing to difficulties for many companies with filling open positions, even at a time of high unemployment, and stifling growth efforts for some ventures.

One such initiative is the Precision Manufacturing Training Program (PMTP), a pilot program aimed at providing individuals with the skills needed to succeed in today’s technology-oriented precision-manufacturing sector.

“There’s a big emphasis on the veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Ciuffreda, adding that the state is looking to expand the program based on the success of an initial thrust involving more than 130 participants.

The PMTP is funded by a $750,000 grant from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development through the work of the chamber, the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, and the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., and will take place at Springfield Technical Community College and Westfield Vocational Technical High School.

 

Odds Are

Ciuffreda said a series of circumstances — from geography to what is perceived to be a more open competitive landscape in the Western Mass. region — has made Springfield ground zero in the casino fight.

This development has added new challenges and more layers of involvement to the Springfield chamber’s itinerary. But casinos are just one of many issues that will compete for the group’s energy and attention.

The bigger assignment is to keep providing that aforementioned voice for its members, something it has done for more than a century now, and will keep doing long after the casino is built — wherever it winds up.

 

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook Departments

Springfield College, STCC Sign Articulation Agreement for IT Students

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) and Springfield College recently signed an articulation agreement allowing students at Springfield College to take Information Technology classes at STCC, recognizing the high quality of the Computer and IT Security program offered at STCC. Additionally, the agreement allows STCC students completing an associate’s degree in Computer Information Technologies to transfer to Springfield College as juniors in their Computer and Information Sciences major. “The agreement between STCC and Springfield College is historic because it gives bilateral pathways for STCC students to continue their education by earning a bachelor’s degree at Springfield College and it allows Springfield College students to gain access to the computer networking and security curriculum and expertise offered at STCC,” said Brian Candido, STCC Computer Information Technologies program chairman and associate professor. “It is a true win-win scenario for all students and faculty at both institutions.” Candido said the two colleges have been working together in this capacity since 2008 through the Cooperative Colleges of Greater Springfield (CCGS). The formal signing of this articulation agreement not only creates an opportunity for STCC students to transfer to Springfield College as juniors, but also allows STCC students to become eligible for school-based scholarships based on their grade-point averages. For Springfield College student Karon Perkins, the partnership between STCC and Springfield College gives him access to a top-notch IT program as well as a chance to experience campus life at another college besides his own. “STCC offers a good selection of programs not offered at Springfield College,” said Perkins. “And having the opportunity to come to STCC gives me a taste of a different college — what it’s like to be on a different campus — and I’ve learned a lot.” Leona Ittleman, dean of STCC’s School of Business and Information Technologies, credits both STCC and Springfield College faculty for the work they have done to make this agreement between the campuses a reality. “Some of our best students transfer to Springfield College and receive the benefits of our colleagues’ experience and dedication to student learning,” she noted. The Computer and Information Sciences major at Springfield College is a professional program that offers a solid core of theoretical and applied computer-science courses and provides students with the choice of one of four required concentrations: Information Systems, Software Development, Game Programming, or Internet and Network Security.

 

Big Y Raises $194,000 to Fight Breast Cancer

SPRINGFIELD — In order to raise awareness and funds to fight breast cancer, all Big Y Supermarkets donated proceeds from the company’s October initiative “Partners of Hope” to 17 breast-cancer support groups throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. This month-long program reflects the partnership, commitment, and support of breast-cancer awareness and research that are so vital for many. In October,  Big Y raised $194,000, which was donated to nearly two dozen organizations. Locally, these included the Women’s Imaging Center at Berkshire Medical Center, Rays of Hope, and the Mercy Breast Care Center. “Big Y is committed to promoting breast-cancer awareness to our community,” said Big Y CEO Donald D’Amour. “Over the past five years, we’ve made tremendous progress thanks to our customers, vendors, and employees. In addition, these funds benefit local programs throughout our region. It is truly a collaborative effort.” Since 2007, the chain has raised more than $863,000 for this cause. During the entire month of October, specially marked ‘pink’ products and promotions involved almost every department in the store. Big Y donated a portion of the proceeds from several departments, including floral and produce. Many other items with pink packaging were available, and their manufacturers also made a donation of a portion of their proceeds for breast-cancer research as well. Big Y’s pink, reusable, earth-friendly shopping bag highlighting the breast-cancer awareness campaign were available, and every store promoted Partners of Hope pink ribbons for $1 as a way of generating additional proceeds for breast-cancer organizations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut.

 

Cooley Dickinson Named a Leapfrog Top Hospital

NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Hospital is one of 92 hospitals nationwide and eight in Massachusetts named to the Leapfrog Group’s annual list of Top Hospitals, which was announced on Dec. 4 at Leapfrog’s annual meeting. “It is because our doctors, nurses, allied-health professionals, and staff take the steps necessary to ensure that our patients receive safe, high-quality care that Cooley Dickinson achieved this recognition,” said Craig Melin, president and CEO. “Being named a Top Hospital is validation from an independent authority that our staff is continuously focused on delivering a high quality of care. Ultimately, our patients benefit most from our efforts, because they are less likely to experience quality or safety events at Cooley Dickinson.” Leah Binder, president and CEO of the Leapfrog Group, said the Top Hospital distinction “is by far the most competitive award a hospital can receive. Leapfrog holds hospitals to the highest standards on behalf of our purchaser members and their employees. By achieving the Top Hospital accolade, Cooley Dickinson has demonstrated exemplary performance across all areas of quality and patient safety that are analyzed on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey.” Besides announcing this year’s Top Hospitals, the Leapfrog Group focused on transparency as the key to improved hospital safety at its annual meeting. Cooley Dickinson was selected as a Top Hospital out of nearly 1,200 hospitals participating in the Leapfrog Group’s annual survey. Hospitals reaching this achievement include academic medical centers, teaching hospitals, children’s hospitals, and community hospitals in rural, suburban, and urban settings.

Top Hospital selections are based on the results of the Leapfrog Group’s annual hospital survey, which measures hospitals’ performance on patient safety and quality, focusing on three critical areas of hospital care: how patients fare, resource use, and management structures in place to prevent errors. The results of the survey are posted at www.leapfroggroup.org/cp.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com

(413) 253-0700

 

• Jan. 9: Chamber Annual Meeting Luncheon, noon to 1:30 p.m. Location to be announced. Cost: $25 fior members, $30 for non-members. For more information, visit www.amherstarea.com.

• Jan. 23: Chamber After Five, 5-7 p.m. Location to be announced. Tickets: $5 for members, $10 for non-members. For more information, visit www.amherstarea.com.

 

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org

(413) 527-9414

 

• Jan. 24: Chamber Annual Meeting and Annual Awards Dinner to Celebrate Member Milestones, 5 p.m., Southampton Country Club, 329 College Highway, Southampton. Review of a successful 2012, annual awards presentation for business, business person, and community-service members of the year, and to honor members’ business milestones. Event sponsor: Easthampton Savings Bank. Cost: $30 per person, inclusive. For more information, visit [email protected].

 

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com

(413) 534-3376

 

• Jan. 9: Winners Circle, 5-7 p.m., Yankee Pedlar, 1866 Northampton St., Holyoke. Sponsored by Dowd Insurance Agency, Holyoke Community College, Holyoke Medical Center, PeoplesBank, and Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll. Cost: $25. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register or sign up at holyokechamber.com.

• Jan. 16: Chamber Business Networking, 5-7 p.m., Homewood Suites, 375 Whitney Ave., Holyoke. Sponsored by CareerPoint. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members. If you are a member of the hospitality industry or a small retailer, please attend as the chamber’s guest at no charge. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register or sign up at holyokechamber.com.

• Jan. 17: The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and the Holyoke Police Department are teaming up to co-host the chamber’s open house and a ribbon cutting at the grand oppening of the HPD’s ‘Hub’ office. The events will take place at 176 and 177 High St., 4-7 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

• Jan. 28: Basics of Marketing Seminar, 8:30-10 a.m. Learn some free and low-cost ideas on marketing your business. Cost: $10 for members, $20 for non-members. A continental breakfast is included in the price. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register or sign up at holyokechamber.com.

 

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

 

• Jan. 9: WestNet. 5-7 p.m., at the Westwood Restaurant and Pub, 94 North Elm St., Westfield. Sponsored by For K9s and Felines. Guest speaker: Ray Maagero, Liberty Tax. Tickets: $10 cash for members, $15 cash for non-members. Your first WestNet is always free. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, door prizes, great networking opportunity. Bring your business cards. To register, contact Pam Bussell at the chamber office, (413) 568-1618, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Ahead of the Curve

By
Janine Fondon
Sections Women in Businesss
Unity First’s Janine Fondon Mixes Diversity and High-tech Savvy

Janine Fondon

Janine Fondon says she’s always managed to stay atop trends in communications.

In the spring of 1946, Irene Morgan, a black woman, boarded a bus in Virginia headed to Baltimore. She was ordered to sit at the back of the bus, as Virginia state law required, but she objected, saying that, since it was an interstate bus, the law did not apply. Morgan was arrested and fined $10.

Attorney Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP took on the case … and won, thus striking down Jim Crow laws in interstate travel. In 1955, Rosa Parks refused a bus driver’s order to move for white riders on a city bus, which initiated the Montgomery Bus Boycott and eventually a precedent-setting win in the Supreme Court.

Irene Morgan — whose bravery and tenacity paved the way for Rosa Parks to become an icon of the Civil Rights movement — was Janine Fondon’s aunt.

Fondon is now the successful president and CEO of Unity First Direct Inc., a marketing and public-relations consultancy business, which she founded with her husband, Tom Fondon, in 1996. That business was soon followed by its website counterpart, UnityFirst.com — a national distributor of diversity-related e-news — that grew, as the world grew, with the explosion of workplace computer technology and the burgeoning Internet.

Her ability as a young African-American woman to forge a career in what are mostly male-dominated industries stems from that same bravery and tenacity that her Aunt Irene demonstrated more than 65 years ago. With each new position, all involving communications of some form, Fondon has deepened her public-relations and communications abilities, while picking up emerging technology skills.

Looking back at her family history and career, she noted that, somewhere along the road, she realized she’d been ahead of the curve at almost every point. A persistent focus on the future and an ever-growing skill set that she acquired in various positions — and a particular interest in computers, which she repeatedly referred to as ‘fun’ — ensured that she showed up at the doorstep of each new opportunity with confidence.

For this issue’s focus on women in business, BusinessWest spoke at length with Fondon about her intriguing background. Her keen eye for concrete workplace skills, mixed with an awareness of different cultures and human behavior, has enabled her to launch a small consultancy group that has evolved into a growing, diversity-focused web destination targeting African-Americans and others seeking information of interest to multicultural communities.

 

Right Time, Right Place

Straight out of Colgate University, young New York native Janine Fondon landed her first job with ABC-TV New York in the public relations department as a broadcast analyst. In that position, she would hear viewer responses about programming content, news personalities, and sports analysts, and report back to the network.

“Working for ABC Sports … every time they mentioned things like ‘Hail Mary’ passes, the Catholic Church would not be too happy,” Fondon laughed. But strong miniseries like ‘The Winds of War’ and docudramas with controversial topics were great introductions to a broad variety of perspectives — and watchdog groups that were concerned about how the network was representing women, culture, or some specific issue, Fondon said. WJLA in Washington, D.C. helped expand her work in large metropolitan areas, especially the promo coverage she did in January 1987 when the space shuttle Challenger exploded after takeoff, just one of the milestones that helped her hone her writing skills.

“Those days of writing good stories, getting to the heart of the message … it was really exciting figuring out what the real story was,” she explained. “Those positions made me think how I might pursue something else in the communications field, and honestly, that field has changed every two years since I’ve been involved in it.”

A move to Boston for a PR job with the Unitarian Universalist Assoc. wasn’t a great fit, but with the New England area going though high-tech growth, she was thinking, as always, of the future. She targeted Digital Equipment Corp. and landed in its Corporate Communications department as the associate editor of Digital’s worldwide internal publication, Decworld.

“At Digital, we were communicating internally and with the world, much like we do with Facebook and other forms of communication today, but we were doing it before the mainstream,” Fondon told BusinessWest.

The jump from religion to technology wasn’t an issue. “This was a global company, and I would be able to see what it was like to build this global effort,” she said. Later, with the eventual demise of Digital, her communications and technology skills made her a solid fit in the financial industry which was entering a new age of online sharing of highly confidential financial information.

Working for BankBoston, she was writing not only for the internal print magazine but online vehicles as well — the early development of online communications for the masses. People were using WordPerfect, and everyone still wanted hard copies, and her co-workers were resistant to online bulletin boards and new computer programs. Fondon thought they were great. “I don’t know about you, but IBM Selectric was not my idea of fun, so anything that made it easier, I was all for it,” she laughed.

“Everybody was asking, how are we going to deal with all this change — change in management, change in technology, and the efforts to bring more women into the workplace?” she continued. Meanwhile, she was experiencing major changes in her own life — a husband who came from the world of IBM, and a baby daughter, had her reevaluating her path.

 

Worldwide Change

Fondon can remember people saying that newsrooms weren’t diverse. “I said, ‘if you think newsrooms aren’t diverse, you should enter into corporate communications!’”

Merging her past positions, her skills, and what she saw as a need in all workplaces, Fondon created a small consulting company that she named Unity First Direct. Her husband, Tom, with his IT skills, joined her soon after. She kept busy with magazine writing, brochures, reports, and the like, and within that same year, she and her husband noticed that diversity really was becoming a buzzword, and more venues for community outreach were needed.

So she launched the Unity First newspaper and built a small following, but discovered a growing need for different avenues of diversity awareness. Through e-marketing, outreach, and public relations, Fondon could help clients engage new audiences and build their brands with diverse, emerging markets, including people of all backgrounds, experiences, and geographic locations.

“As we moved from being a print publication to online, and more diversity consulting,” she said, “we saw companies had all the pieces, so we would work to help them connect the dots.”

Eric Gouvin, director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Western New England University, has worked with Fondon on many occasions, having used her as an expert panelist and through co-sponsored events. “We’ve had diversity events that focus on inclusive management,” he said. “Your workforce has its own sets of traits and properties: the way you manage young folks versus old folks, women versus men, people of color versus other races … there are ways of handling all that, not heavy-handed, but sensitively.”

As Fondon described this aspect of her work, “if a company has a project and they want to develop it to meet this 21st-century approach through demographics, content, and tone, then we can help them shape that project.

She explained what she means by ‘tone.’ “Companies that are trying to position themselves in today’s workplace need to reflect diversity inclusion in their internal communications, external communications, community relations, and media approach, and they need people like us to help them sharpen those skills.”

She prefers to not spend energy on the negative, which includes all the things that can happen when a proper approach to tone is ignored — everything from diminishing one’s culture to lawsuits — but to focus on positive outcomes, the companies that make a respectful and educated difference and, thus, enhance their own success.

Today, UnityFirst.com is a growing voice on the Internet and one of the most in-depth resources for connecting with diverse communities and press across the U.S. and beyond. Engaging more than 2 million readers from corporations and boards to cross-cultural business leaders striving for new bottom-line success, the site is a content driver of news, with more than 4,000 national press members, including top mainstream business publications; television, Internet, and radio sources; and press from the African, African-American, Caribbean, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American communities.

In addition, UnityFirst.com delivers content to ForbesDiversity.com, an outgrowth of Forbes.com that offers special sections with comprehensive subject matter from different perspectives.

 

Driven to Success

In addition to a multitude of speaking engagements, Fondon is an adjunct professor at Baypath College and Westfield State University. She and Tom are also targeting young local middle- and high-school students through two projects, the Digital Ambassadors Program and the Common Ground Leadership Forum and Awards.

“It’s our initiative to work with young people around the technology and diversity topics,” said Fondon. “Both programs emphasize the importance of digital learning, inclusion, and leadership.”

Part of her work with students is to keep the dialogue applicable to young people’s interests. Considering the speed at which technology and young people’s interests evolve, Fondon said, “as a teacher, when you think you’re making it relevant and interesting, revisit what that means, because either you got it right, or you didn’t.”

Gouvin agrees, and praises Fondon’s ability to consult with employers. “If you want to be effective, you’ve got to find a way to connect with the people who are working for you,” he said. “It’s not a matter of being PC [politically correct], or doing it because that’s what everyone’s doing; there is sense to it. Janine has always made a case for diversity that is compelling.”

Along with her tenacious and pioneering qualities — like those that spurred her Aunt Irene to such groundbreaking action — Fondon will continue to assist clients with marketing, educate communities about diversity awareness through digital, print, and verbal communication, and help individuals and corporations realize their full potential.

In short, she’s keeping them ahead of the curve.

 

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

Some ‘Chilling’ Developments

By
Law Sections
National Labor Relations Board Takes Aim at Employer Policies

John S. Gannon

John S. Gannon

Recently, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has been attacking workplace policies that are common in both union and non-union workplace settings.

Previous BusinessWest articles have discussed the NLRB’s intrusion into social-media polices and at-will disclaimers. Unfortunately, more common employer practices are under siege, including internal workplace investigations and policies and rules that limit off-duty employee access to the workplace.

 

Non-union Employers Are Fair Game

Employers are often surprised to learn that the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) applies in a non-union environment. The NLRA is considered by many to be a federal law that regulates only employer-union relations. However, you may be surprised to learn that the law covers a wide range of employer activities, both in companies that are unionized and in companies where there are no unions at all.

In particular, Section 7 of the NLRA protects the right of all non-supervisory employees to engage in “concerted activities” for the purpose of collective bargaining or other “mutual aid or protection.” This gives employees the right to come together to discuss any terms and condition of employment, including wages, benefits, or working conditions. Employer actions that impede or “chill” an employee’s exercise of these rights violate Section 7.

 

 

Discussion of Internal Investigations

Employers often initiate a workplace investigation when an employee brings a report or complaint of misconduct to management. The first step is to interview the complainant and employees who may have witnessed the allegedly inappropriate or unlawful conduct. Employers often discourage employees from discussing the substance of these interviews with others, particularly to protect the integrity of the investigation.

Employers that routinely require employees to keep investigative discussions confidential might need to alter their practices. The NLRB recently concluded that a blanket rule requiring employee confidentially during internal investigations violates Section 7. According to the board, requiring employees to keep quiet during investigations conflicts with their right to openly discuss their working conditions with co-workers. Although the board recognized that employers may have a legitimate interest in keeping investigative discussions under wraps, this does not outweigh their employees’ Section 7 rights to engage in concerted activities.

The NLRB did, however, outline circumstances that could justify a request for confidentiality by an employer. To lawfully implement — and justify — a confidentiality request, employers should determine at the outset of an investigation whether confidentiality is truly needed. To make this determination, employers must examine whether: (a) witnesses are in need of protection; (b) evidence is in danger of being destroyed; (c) testimony is in danger of being fabricated; or (d) there is a need to prevent a coverup. Satisfying this standard is no small task, and failure to properly consider these or other factors could result in an unfair-labor-practice charge.

Employers should consult with labor and employment counsel before asking employees to keep the substance of internal workplace investigations confidential.

 

Employee Off-duty Access

Employers frequently institute policies prohibiting off-duty employees from entering the workplace. These rules help ensure employee or customer safety and ease administrative burdens on supervisors. They also have particular importance during union-organizing drives. Off-duty rules help to keep off-duty employees who might support a union from disrupting the workplace during non-working hours.

For more than 35 years, the NLRB has considered off-duty employee access rules to be permissible, as long as the restriction (a) limits access solely to the interior of the facility; (b) is clearly disseminated to all employees; and (c) applies to off-duty access for all purposes, not just union activity. However, in another controversial decision from the NLRB, the board determined that an employer policy prohibiting off-duty employee access to the workplace was unlawful.

In that case, a hospital restricted hospital employees from entering the interior of the hospital except to visit a patient, receive medical care, or conduct “hospital-related business.” Employees were occasionally permitted to return to work to pick up a paycheck under the hospital-related-business exception, but other than that, they were typically disciplined for entering the facility for non-work purposes.

The board took issue with the hospital-related-business exception to the hospital’s off-duty rule. It ruled that this exception gave management too much discretion to permit or deny off-duty employees to enter the facility. Conceivably, it could be used to limit union-organizing activities, but permit other activity at the employer’s discretion. This violated the NLRA’s stance on off-duty access.

Notably, this ruling was consistent with a recent decision where the board concluded that a rule permitting off-duty access to attend employer-sponsored events, such as retirement parties and baby showers, but barring other access, violated the NLRA because it was an impermissible chilling of the employees’ Section 7 rights.

 

Bottom Line

By taking aim at workplace investigations, off-duty access rules, at-will statements, and social-media polices, the board is clearly seeking to regulate employer practices that go beyond the traditional unionized environment. Employers need to carefully evaluate existing practices to ensure compliance with NLRA.

If you have concerns about how these decisions could impact your workplace, you should contact experienced labor and employment counsel for assistance.

 

John Gannon is an associate at the management-side labor and employment firm Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C.; (413) 737-4753; [email protected]

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com

(413) 253-0700

 

• Dec. 19: After Five/Holiday Party. Hosted by PeoplesBank, 56 Amity St., Amherst. Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members.

• Jan. 9: Chamber Annual Meeting Luncheon, noon to 1:30 p.m. Location to be announced. Cost: $25 fior members, $30 for non-members. For more information, visit www.amherstarea.com.

• Jan. 23: Chamber After Five, 5-7 p.m. Location to be announced. Tickets: $5 for members, $10 for non-members. For more information, visit www.amherstarea.com.

 

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

 

• Dec. 19: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Cost: $20 for members, $26 for non-members. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.franklincc.org

(413) 773-5463

• Dec. 21: Annual Holiday Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., Deerfield Academy. The Citizen of the Year Award will be presented. Sponsored by the Recorder. Gifts for all, music by Gary Maynard and Friends. Cost: $24 for members, $25 for non-members.

 

 

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org

(413) 527-9414

 

• Jan. 24: Chamber Annual Meeting and Annual Awards Dinner to Celebrate Member Milestones, 5 p.m., Southampton Country Club, 329 College Highway, Southampton. Review of a successful 2012, annual awards presentation for business, business person, and community-service members of the year, and to honor members’ business milestones. Event sponsor: Easthampton Savings Bank. Cost: $30 per person, inclusive. For more information, visit [email protected].

 

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com

(413) 534-3376

 

• Dec. 19: Holiday Chamber After Hours, sponsored and hosted by the Delaney House.

In addition to door prizes and a 50/50 raffle, the business-networking event will also include a lottery-ticket-tree raffle. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

• Jan. 9: Winners Circle, 5-7 p.m., Yankee Pedlar, 1866 Northampton St., Holyoke. Sponsored by Dowd Insurance Agency, Holyoke Community College, Holyoke Medical Center, PeoplesBank, and Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll. Cost: $25. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register or sign up at holyokechamber.com.

• Jan. 16: Chamber Business Networking, 5-7 p.m., Homewood Suites, 375 Whitney Ave., Holyoke. Sponsored by CareerPoint. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members. If you are a member of the hospitality industry or a small retailer, please attend as the chamber’s guest at no charge. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register or sign up at holyokechamber.com.

• Jan. 17: The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and the Holyoke Police Department are teaming up to co-host the chamber’s open house and a ribbon cutting at the grand oppening of the HPD’s ‘Hub’ office. The events will take place at 176 and 177 High St., 4-7 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

• Jan. 28: Basics of Marketing Seminar, 8:30-10 a.m. Learn some free and low-cost ideas on marketing your business. Cost: $10 for members, $20 for non-members. A continental breakfast is included in the price. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register or sign up at holyokechamber.com.

 

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

 

• Jan. 9: WestNet. 5-7 p.m., at the Westwood Restaurant and Pub, 94 North Elm St., Westfield. Sponsored by For K9s and Felines. Guest speaker: Ray Maagero, Liberty Tax. Tickets: $10 cash for members, $15 cash for non-members. Your first WestNet is always free. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, door prizes, great networking opportunity. Bring your business cards. To register, contact Pam Bussell at the chamber office, (413) 568-1618, or by e-mail at [email protected].

 

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD

www.springfieldyps.com

 

• Dec. 20: Third Thursday, 5-8 p.m., the Barney Estate at Forest Park. The event includes a complimentary drive through Bright Nights. Sponsored by the Spirit of Springfield and Elegant Affairs. For more details, visit www.springfieldyps.com.

A ‘Shift in Strategy’ in Holyoke

By
Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse
Features
An Already Intense Casino Battle Is Getting Even Hotter

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse says he hasn’t changed his mind on casinos, but wants to protect Holyoke’s interests.

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse spoke at the podium placed at the back of his office at City Hall for perhaps 15 minutes. But very few people heard anything that he had to say.

Whatever microphones there were at the podium for a raucous press conference on Nov. 26 did not carry his voice past the first few rows of people — most of them press representatives — gathered in front of him. And even those people couldn’t hear much due to the loud and incessant catcalls coming from the more than 100 city residents who couldn’t squeeze in to Morse’s office, but made sure the 24-year-old, first-term mayor knew they were there — and not happy with him.

Among the comments heard: “No casino” (that was a constant, heard throughout); “Morse lied to Holyoke”; “shame on you”; “this is wrong”; “sellout”; and even “get a real job.” There were also plenty of signs, including one that read, “Don’t Bet on Another Term.”

What Morse was attempting to explain — and there were plenty of copies of his remarks made available so people would know, even if they couldn’t hear — is that, at this moment, he is only considering a proposal forwarded by Holyoke resident and business owner Eric Suher to place a resort casino on land he now owns on Mount Tom and from which he operates a concert venue.

But even the fact that he is considering such a proposal sent shock waves through the region and took the hotly contested casino fight in this region to another dimension.

“Let me be absolutely clear,” said the mayor. “There is no agreement in place between a casino-development group and me. There have been no back-room deals. My intent today is to inform the people of Holyoke of my shift in strategy before any advanced discussions or negotiations take place, so that everyone in the city may voice their ideas, concerns, and suggestions.”

The press conference had long been scheduled for that date, the mayor told the press after his remarks, but it was made more necessary — and far more hostile — by the fact that information about Morse’s consideration of a Mount Tom casino were leaked to the Boston Globe days before. In fact, the newspaper already had a copy of Morse’s remarks long before anyone else.

The intriguing turn of events has sent Ward 7 residents of Holyoke scrambling for a new candidate to support, and added even more layers of speculation and intrigue to what was already an intense fight for the license to be granted for a Western Mass. casino, one that has become all-consuming and even entertaining.

Indeed, several days before Morse’s stunning “shift in strategy,” as he called it, representatives of the three companies trying to place a casino in Springfield — MGM, Ameristar, and Penn National — essentially took turns calling each other names in a rambling, gloves-are-off story in the Republican.

The casino officials basically tried to shoot holes in their opponents’ plans before the court of public opinion, casting aspersions on everything from traffic plans to the size of planned hotels. And this is months before anything is remotely close to being put on an election ballot.

But back to Holyoke. It’s certainly not unusual for a city official to say that he’s looking hard at a plan to bring a casino to his community. What is quite unusual is for such a pronouncement to come from someone so passionate in opposition to gaming that he wrote the following in a recent issue of Commonwealth magazine (in a point-counterpoint segment with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno):

“A casino does not create wealth; it transfers it. Regions benefit from casino gambling when people from outside the region come to spend money there. But there is no evidence that this would be the case at a Holyoke site. A casino in Holyoke would not be a destination gambling site, but a convenience gambling site. It would thus serve primarily to remove money from the local economy and put it in the hands of casino owners who do not live here. This is how casinos work — by design. Because of this, I do not believe a casino would be useful even as part of a holistic approach. We have the resources and the drive to create an economy that will benefit all, and for generations to come.”

On Nov. 26, and the day before in the Globe, Morse, who studied urban planning at Brown, essentially said he hasn’t exactly changed his mind on casinos, only his perception of the situation now facing not only his community, but the region as a whole.

“For me, in an ideal world, we would not have a casino in our boundaries. My views on casinos haven’t changed, and neither has my belief that a casino is unequivocally not  our saving grace,” he said in his prepared remarks. “The only thing that has changed is my weighing of that option with the alternative, which would be locating a box-style casino right at our doorstep. Map out driving directions on your favorite GPS: Springfield’s would be 15 minutes from [Holyoke] City Hall; one at Mountain Park would be 12. We share one metropolitan area, and I cannot assume that our city boundaries will provide us any protection from a casino down the road.

“I have thus come to the conclusion that in order to mitigate the effects of having a casino in Western Mass., it is not enough to oppose one in our boundaries. … The best way to control the outcome of this process, such that we reap the benefits and mitigate the downsides, is to ensure that we negotiate a host agreement that best addresses our concerns and our values, and then, once such an agreement is reached, put it before the voters. My overarching goals for Holyoke’s economic future remain the same; today’s announcement marks the deployment of a new strategy, given current realities, for achieving them.”

Read between the lines (or just the lines, really), and Morse seems to be saying that, if you can’t control what goes on with a Springfield or Palmer casino, you’d be better off having one built in your city, where you can exercise some control.

And with that, Morse possibly added not one, but two more casino proposals to the already-crowded mix in Western Mass. — the one he’s discussing with Suher, and another plan to place a facility at nearby Wyckoff Country Club, an initiative that was practically abandoned on Election Day 2011, when Morse triumphed over incumbent, and casino supporter, Elaine Pluta.

When pressed repeatedly by members of the media to explain to be what appears to be a huge flip-flop on the issue that most decided that mayoral race, Morse said, in essence, that it is anything but.

“I wasn’t elected to keep a casino out of the city of Holyoke,” he said. “I was elected to represent everyone in the city of Holyoke.”

Whether the voters ultimately agree with that sentiment remains to be seen, and what happens in Holyoke politically is only a part of the story.

The bigger picture is that the casino fight in this region may soon include three communities and six proposals — an intense competition that exists nowhere else in the state — and is certain to get even more intense in the weeks and months to come.

 

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

Legal Lessons

By
Eric Gouvin
Education Sections
WNEU’s Mini Law School Program Helps Small Businesses Avoid Pitfalls

Eric Gouvin

Eric Gouvin said the Mini Law School program is meant to provide area business owners with a working understanding of many aspects of the law.

It’s called ‘Mini Law School.’

And while that name doesn’t exactly say it all, it says more than enough.

It aptly describes a program created by Western New England University Law School to provide area business owners with a working understanding of many aspects of the law.

And by ‘working,’ Eric Gouvin, professor of Law and director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at WNEU, meant basic knowledge of the legal system and many aspects of the law — enough to help business owners hopefully stay out of trouble, especially with the many complex aspects of employment law, and also to help them decide when it is appropriate to invest in legal assistance.

“Sometimes, people in business are very cost-conscious; they’re a little reluctant to call an attorney,” said Gouvin. “So one of the things we hope this series does is give people a sense of when making that call is probably money well-spent, because it can add up.”

Patterned after a decade-old initiative created by Baystate Health called Mini Medical School, which provides the general public with a very basic understanding of the human body, the WNEU program consists of seven two-hour sessions (presented free of charge) spread over two semesters. Those sessions feature panels of area legal experts who not only present information, but also engage participants in discussion on the points addressed.

Gouvin told BusinessWest that the program brings a legal focus to a series of informational sessions being offered by the school called “The 1, 2, 3s of Financial Literacy,” with classes focused on subjects ranging from accounting to marketing to banking relationships.

Trinda Nehmer, a freelance designer of children’s apparel, textiles, and fabric designs for more than 30 years, was one of the recent attendees of Mini Law School. She took in the October session, primarily because of its title — “Current Tax Issues Facing Small Businesses and How to Handle an Audit” — and some issues she was facing.

She’d heard about the series from a friend, and having received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service a few years ago that had her questioning her next moves tax-wise, she knew she needed to be more “up” on areas that could become problems for her business.

“It turned out not to be an issue, but at the time I wasn’t sure if I should get legal advice or at least listen to how other small businesses would handle such a matter,” said Nehmer of her motivation for attending the session.  “Because I get a 1099 at the end of the year, not a W-2, I feel I have to keep myself educated in all areas.

“I really enjoyed listening to Paul Mancinone [of Paul L. Mancinone Co., P.C.] because he was to the point and extremely helpful,” she continued. “He explained very simply all the new tax laws, and he was very thorough. Over the years, I found I had to go back and get up to speed on some of these tax issues because I’d been getting a little lax in the tax area; this was a great way to educate myself.”

From hiring to firing and everything in between, there’s an important legal dimension to all aspects of running any size business. For this issue’s focus on education, BusinessWest takes a closer look at WNEU’s free Mini Law School program and how it can make a vast difference in the busy day-to-day life of a small business owner.

 

Cutting Through the Clutter

The stated mission of Mini Law School is to give small-business participants enough understanding of the law that they don’t make some common mistakes that can land business owners in court and cost them hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines.

Having offered the ‘small-business clinic,’ as it’s known in-house, for 10 years, and serving more than 250 business owners, Gouvin and his team understood the needs and concerns of the business community, and clearly saw both a need for a program specifically focused on legal issues and an opportunity to meet it.

The next matter at hand was determining a curriculum, he continued, adding that current events and prevailing issues within the broad spectrum of business law would essentially set the tone.

“There are a million things that we could be talking about in law,” said Gouvin. “But we’ve been working with small businesses long enough to see recurring patterns and things that crop up over and over again, and we identified our focus areas for these sessions based on that need.

“They almost always have problems with choices of entity, intellectual property, problems with employees,” he continued, “and the sad fact of life is that some of these businesses will fail.”

Thus, the April session of Mini Law School was devoted to bankruptcy issues, a depressing but necessary topic for discussion.

“Good planning would require that you at least think about it,” Gouvin said of bankruptcy relief, “because things that you do early on might affect how painful the process is or how productive it is.”

He added that, while he and his team know what areas are most relevant to small businesses, matters such as securities law, anti-trust law, mergers and acquisitions, and issues that pertain more to much larger companies might be touched upon during some of the sessions, but will not be a hard focus of the Mini Law School.

One thing that all businesses must be concerned with, regardless of size, is employment law, and as a result, the November session was devoted to many aspects of that broad speciality, and was, as expected, very well-attended.

The program focused on many timely issues, especially the often-complicated matter of classifying workers as employees or independent contractors, a question that has caused headaches for many employers.

“A lot of people think they know, but in Massachusetts it’s very hard to be an independent contractor,” said Gouvin. “That’s a sad fact, or an awakening moment for many owners when they think they can just give someone a 1099 and hope that nobody challenges them, because if they are challenged, under Massachusetts state law, they’ll owe back all that withholding they haven’t done, and all the interest and penalties — and it typically unfolds in a very unpleasant scenario.”

Gouvin added another, intriguing layer to the discussion by offering the example of a perceived independent contractor being in an accident and seriously injuring another person. That injured party will probably find out the connection to the business owner and then seek damages from the employer, he explained, adding that, at that point, it doesn’t matter what the business owner wants to call the worker; in the eyes of the law, if the worker really is an employee, not an independent contractor, serious problems will ensue.

 

Not Lost in Translation

Gouvin said the overriding goal of the program is not to throw information at participants, but to have them understand it and use to run their businesses more efficiently and in a manner that will keep them out of the courts.

“To go it alone, without having someone looking over a business owner’s shoulder, can be a very scary situation,” he said, adding that legal matters are often complex. And Mini Law School Law school was created to give business owners power through knowledge.

And that’s why the experts providing information and initiating discussions are instructed to do so using simple, straightforward language that participants can comprehend, which is one of the keys to avoiding legal problems.

Gouvin added that some of the participants are law-school students, who can benefit from hearing experienced legal professionals giving this type of talk.

“It’s different from the way they are used to hearing a law professor talk,” he noted. “But it’s a skill that any good lawyer should develop: the ability to translate legalese into English in a way that they can really communicate and connect with their future clients.”

Response to the simplicity and direct nature of the Mini Law School has been one of gratitude and a literal wipe across the forehead for some.

“People are always expressing thanks that they got so much information delivered in a way that is no fooling around,” said Gouvin. “The information is not legalese, but in a list form — ‘you need to know this, this, and this’ — and if you’re someone just trying to focus on running a business, the legal things are just a pain in the neck.”

With 32 participants for the November session on employment law, up from the 20 attendees at the October tax-issues session and the handful in attendance for the September class on risk management and legal entities, Gouvin told BusinessWest that the series does appear to be growing.

“The trend is that we are building an audience, and while we’d be very happy with 25 to 30, we can handle up to 60.”

Organizers also found that the timing in the spring, on Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m., was not conducive to busy business owners, so the time has been adjusted this year to the same day but later by an hour, from 5 to 7 p.m.

 

Justice Served

Gouvin said the plan moving forward is likely to involve rotating Mini Law School with the financial-literacy program on an annual basis. Such a schedule would give participants needed updates on legal matters, which they could then follow-up with a curriculum he described as “self-education.”

But he’s already seen enough to convince him that this program is needed, worthwhile, and certainly capable of meeting its primary mission — to help business owners avoid trouble, rather than rely on legal help after they get into trouble.

 

Elizabeth Taras may be reached at [email protected]

Change from Within

By
Janice Mazzallo
Employment Sections
PeoplesBank Earns Accolades for Its Employee Culture

Janice Mazzallo

Janice Mazzallo says the internal culture change at PeoplesBank reaps benefits for both employees and customers.

When PeoplesBank was recently named an Employer of Choice by the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, Doug Bowen was pleased, but he’s quick to note that the honor was based on testimony from the bank’s leaders.

However, when the Boston Globe named the bank a Top Employer last month, that may have been even more gratifying, said Bowen, the institution’s president and CEO — because the honor was based solely on employee input.

According to Janice Mazzallo, senior vice president of Human Resources, “we did an employee engagement survey, a series of questions about the bank’s leadership, communication, benefits, and work-life balance. That feedback qualified us to get that award. That was a powerful and proud moment. This culture shift has taken a long time and a lot of energy, and this was another recognition that our people really do appreciate the environment here.”

The ‘culture shift’ she cited wasn’t accidental, she noted, but the end result of a plan set in motion almost a decade ago to improve the bank from the inside out.

“Our senior team got together for a strategic planning session,” Bowen recalled. “PeoplesBank was a good bank with a wonderful historical legacy, but we wanted to make it a great bank. And to be this great bank we aspired to be, we wanted to have a great culture.”

Much of the responsibility for crafting specific elements of that culture change, he noted, fell to Mazzallo after she joined the institution eight years ago. “She was the architect of our cultural activities and moves made here at the bank that have really blossomed into this wonderful environment we all get to enjoy every day.”

As Mazzallo explained to BusinessWest, “we began by communicating to employees what the strategic plan was and their role in support of that” — an effort that included the development of a training and leadership program to aid employees in implementing each piece.

That multi-faceted endeavor has helped bring about improvements in communication, expanded benefits, training and career-development programs empowering bank staffers to make more decisions on their own, and events like a weeklong festival honoring employees each year.

“The overarching goal was to attract and retain high-quality employees,” she said. “We felt that meant a couple of things. We wanted to bring in the best and brightest from outside into this organization, and we have, in fact, been able to do that — I think, in part, because the culture attracts people from other banks, and larger banks. As for the second piece, we knew we had very good employees, and we wanted to develop them internally so they could be promoted, so we wouldn’t have to go outside the bank.”

The third leg of that strategy has to do with benefits, Mazzallo explained, and a diverse package of voluntary benefits and perks ranging from an adoption benefit to a wellness group to chair massages. “These aren’t things you have to put in, but they’re additional pieces that make it much nicer to come to work.

“I’ve worked in places where, on Sunday night, I dreaded going in. Many of us have,” she added. “I don’t want to feel like that, and as the head of Human Resources, I don’t want anyone on my team feeling like that. Most people have to work to make a living. If you have to work, why not make it a great environment for everybody?”

 

High Performance

And satisfied employees have resulted in better bank performance, Bowen said.

“When you go into any store or anyplace else where the people are engaged and happy to be there, you get better service. That’s what we’re aiming for, and that’s what we’ve achieved at the bank.

“We have a high-performance culture, and part of that, certainly, is that we’re a high-performance bank financially,” he added. “We’ve been able to maintain this high-performance culture, and at the same time we’re a top-quartile bank in terms of financial measurements.

“All of that is wrapped together,” he continued. “If you have a great culture, you get great employee engagement. That’s reflected in our community service, too; our employees serve on the boards of 115 nonprofits in the Pioneer Valley.” PeoplesBank has also been honored by the Boston Business Journal for the amount of volunteer time and money its employees donate to charity.

As part of its renewed emphasis on culture, the bank has taken on a cause of its own, so to speak, in environmental sustainability. That’s manifested in two branches recently certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for their ‘green’ construction elements; a third LEED branch is currently being built in Northampton.

It’s also reflected in touches like electric car charging stations at the bank’s Holyoke headquarters; $60 million in investments in wind, solar, and hydroelectric projects; and an annual environmental fair where bank workers can learn about what they can do to support sustainability — efforts that, as a whole, contribute to the feeling that employees are part of something important, and bigger than themselves.

“One of our values is environmental sustainability, and that’s shared by employees; it’s part of the whole culture here,” Bowen said.

Added Mazzallo, “we feel it’s the right thing to do. We live in a really beautiful area, with some unbelievable natural resources; we’re very fortunate. And when we bring new people into the bank, there’s a level of expectation, a commitment to the environment and to the community; those things are important. So it’s no longer just about coming into work. Our people really want to make those connections.”

As for what lies ahead, Mazzallo said PeoplesBank does not intend to rest on its laurels, instituting the noted Ritz-Carlton training program next year to ensure that employees offer “legendary service, that goes above and beyond the norm. That involves empowering employees to make decisions to benefit the customer. It might be as simple as giving flowers to a customer that just welcomed a grandchild. It’s the small things that often make the difference.”

Bowen said the bank’s status as a mutual organization allows it to make employee-and community-centered decisions without worrying about reporting to shareholders. But he also believes the bank’s financial performance justifies a belief that happy employees lead to satisfied customers.

“When employers put employees first,” Mazzallo said, “when they treat their people well, and when employees feel respected, that is going to show in the kind of service they provide to the outside world.”

 

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

• Dec. 5: December Business@Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield. The monthly Business@Breakfast series pays tribute to individuals, businesses, and organizations for major contributions to civic and economic growth and for actions that reflect honor on the region. To make reservations, visit www.myonlinechamber.com, e-mail Cecile Larose at [email protected], or fax a reservation to 755-1322.

 

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce

www.amherstarea.com

413-253-0700

• Dec. 19: After Five/Holiday Party, hosted by PeoplesBank, 56 Amity St., Amherst. Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members.

 

Chicopee Chamber of Commerce

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

• Dec. 6: Holiday Open House, 4:30-6:30 p.m., at the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, 264 Exchange St., Chicopee. Free admission for all chamber members. RSVP to [email protected].

• Dec. 19: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Cost: $20 for members, $26 for non-members. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

 

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce

www.franklincc.org

(413) 773-5463

• Dec. 21: Annual Holiday Breakfast,  7:30-9 a.m., Deerfield Academy. The Citizen of the Year Award will be presented. Sponsored by the Recorder. Gifts for all, music by Gary Maynard and Friends. Cost: $24 for members, $25 for non-members.

 

Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce

www.easthamptonchamber.org

(413) 527-9414

• Dec. 13: Holiday Dinner Dance, 6-11 p.m., hosted by the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, Holyoke. An evening of friends and holiday spirit including the big raffle with a $5,000 drawing, butler-style hors d’ouevres, multi-station entrees, Viennese dessert table, cash martini and full-service bar. Music provided by Michael J. Productions. Cost: $50 per person inclusive; group reservations available.

 

Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce

www.holycham.com

(413) 534-3376

• Dec. 12: Holiday Business Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., hosted by the Delaney House, Holyoke. Sponsored by Holyoke Gas & Electric and Health New England. Enjoy a hearty breakfast buffet while listening to the Holyoke High School Madrigal Choir fill the air with holiday spirit. Door prizes. Hat and glove drive; bring warm hats and gloves for homeless and needy men, women, and children. Tables reserved for groups of eight people. Call the Chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.

• Dec. 19: Holiday Chamber After Hours, sponsored and hosted by the Delaney House. In addition to door prizes and a 50/50 raffle, the business networking event will also include a lottery ticket tree raffle. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

 

Northampton Area Young Professional Society

www.thenayp.com

(413) 584-1900

• Dec. 13: December Social, 5 p.m., hosted by Thornes Marketplace, 2nd Floor, 150 Main St., Northampton. Featured nonprofit: Highland Valley Elder Services Inc.

 

Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce

www.explorenorthampton.com

(413) 584-1900

• Dec. 5: Northampton Chamber Monthly Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Don Muller Gallery, 40 Main St., Northampton. Sponsored by Florence Savings Bank. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with colleagues and friends.

• Dec. 18: December Meet & Eat, 7:30-9 a.m., hosted by the Delaney House, Holyoke. Sponsored by Easthampton Savings Bank. Learn from your colleagues at breakfast with the chamber. Cost: $15 for members. For more information, contact Jenna at the Chamber, (413) 584-1900, or e-mail [email protected].

 

West of the River Chamber of Commerce

www.ourwrc.com

(413) 426-3880

• Dec. 5: Wicked Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Squires Bistro at Coopers Commons, 159 Main St., Agawam. Cost: free for members, $10 for non-members. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, which bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

 

Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

• Dec. 14: Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce Holiday Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by Tuckers Restaurant, 625 College Highway, Southwick. Sponsors: Westfield Bank, Gold Sponsor; First Niagara Bank, Silver Sponsor; Met Life, Bronze Sponsor. Guest speaker: Alan Popp, CEO of Colony Care. Performance by Westfield High School Show Choir. Cost: $25 for members, $30 cash for non-members. Donations of non-perishable food items or money are being accepted for the Westfield Food Pantry. For more information, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected].

 

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield

www.springfieldyps.com

• Dec. 20: Third Thursday, 5-8 p.m., at the Barney Estate at Forest Park. Event includes a complementary drive through Bright Nights, and is sponsored by the spirit of Springfield and Elegant Affairs. For more details, visit www.springfieldyps.com.

Opinion

By
Opinion
Valley Gives: A Celebration of Generosity

The Pioneer Valley has a long tradition of philanthropy — a culture of giving that has benefited youth- and family-serving organizations, educational initiatives, colleges and universities, healthcare institutions, and many other community-serving organizations in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties.

This generosity has had a meaningful impact on life in the Valley, even if this can be difficult to quantify. For much of the previous century, this generosity in our region sometimes was quiet, because those with means directed their contributions to one particular organization or even anonymously to the causes for which they had a passion.

In time, there came a desire to gather the philanthropic instinct of the Valley into an organized movement. Thus, in 1991, a group of local visionaries — led by our friend, the late Dick Stebbins, and others — helped to form and launch the Community Foundation of Western Mass.

In just over 20 years, the Community Foundation has grown into a respected institution, responsible for $121 million in assets for which it has grant-making responsibility. In just the last year alone, the foundation rendered $7.8 million in grants, $2 million of which went to scholarships and educational loans. And philanthropy continues to be on the rise in the Valley, as new gifts to the foundation for the most recent fiscal year totaled $8.4 million.

These are impressive numbers for sure. But there are many nonprofits in the Valley that need help, and, currently, there are not sufficient resources to support all of them adequately. We also know there are so many more in the Valley who are generous, who want to help the causes, organizations, and initiatives that make living in here so special.

At the same time, there is ample and growing evidence that philanthropy from the grassroots is well on its way to dwarfing traditional philanthropy. In 2001, just 4% of Internet users made an online donation. By last year, 65% of Internet users, a huge number, made an online donation. Over the past five years, fund-raising through social media alone has doubled to almost $1 billion.

Early last year, as longtime supporters of the Community Foundation, we approached the organization’s leadership to discuss how to get more individuals, from every corner of the Valley, involved in growing this culture of giving in the region.

After much discussion, research, and outreach to find successful models for inspiring new donors, we discovered community ‘giving day’ campaigns throughout the U.S. that in a single 24-hour period have raised millions for nonprofits. This tapping in to community-wide generosity served as the inspiration for the launch of Valley Gives.

The impact of community-giving days has been swift and impressive. In Minnesota, Nevada, Michigan, and New Haven, Conn., millions of charitable dollars have been raised from tens of thousands of donors in just one day. These results confirm that Americans welcome online giving. We think we can have the same success here.

In short, Valley Gives is a one-of-a-kind celebration of generosity in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties. On Dec. 12 — 12/12/12 — residents of the three counties will join together for 24 hours of special events and online campaigns with the goal of getting thousands of Valley residents to make gifts to their favorite charities and nonprofits.

Anyone with a computer or mobile device, which is just about everyone, can participate. Starting at 12:01 a.m., residents of the Valley can visit the website, find the cause they care most about — or several at the same time — and make their contribution online. On the 12th, there will also be mobile giving stations located at areas of high foot traffic, such as malls.

The choices in spreading generosity and making a difference will be many — more than 250 nonprofits and the critical work they do will be represented on the Valley Gives website.

The initiative has an ambitious goal of raising $1 million in a single day from thousands of donors, large and small, via the Internet, much of it driven through social media, to help our nonprofits sustain and expand the important work they do.

We hope you will join us in supporting the causes and initiatives you care about by giving in this new way. Valley Gives is likely to engage more individuals supporting more causes in our region than ever before. Visit the website valleygivesday.org and be a part of starting something new, something big, in the Pioneer Valley.

Al Griggs and Paul Doherty are business leaders, supporters of the Community Foundation, and catalysts for the
Valley Gives initiative.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

 

• Nov. 7: Chamber’s Business@Breakfast, at Ludlow Country Club, Tony Lema Drive in Ludlow. Registration begins at 7 a.m., the buffet opens at 7:30, and the program begins at 7:55. Guest Speaker is Tony Cignoli, who will be giving a recap of the elections. Coffee Bar Sponsor is Reminder Publications. Salutes will be given to Reminder Publications on its 50th anniversary and Columbia Gas on its 165th anniversary. Cost to attend is $20 for chamber members and $30 for non-chamber members. Reservations should be made in advance at www.myonlinechamber.com, by faxing information to (413) 755-1322, or by e-mailing Cecile Larose at [email protected]. Sponsorships are still available. Contact Larose at (413) 755-1313 if you are interested.

• Nov. 29: Government Reception, at Storrowton Tavern on the Eastern States Exposition grounds. Sponsors for this event are Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Verizon, Baystate Health, and Western Mass. Electric Co. Tickets are $50 for members and $70 for non-members. To make reservations, go online to www.myonlinechamber.com, e-mail Cecile Larose at [email protected], or fax your reservation to (413) 755-1322. Sponsorships are available. Contact Cecile Larose if you are interested.

 

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

 

• Nov. 14: Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce November Salute Breakfast, from 7:15 to 9 a.m., Summit View Banquet & Meeting House, 555 Northampton St., Holyoke. Speakers are state Sen. Senator Gail Candaras and state Rep. Joseph Wagner. Among the topics they will address are transportation and gaming. Cost is $20 for members and $26 for non-members. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

 

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com

(413) 534-3376

 

• Nov. 14: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Eighty Jarvis Restaurant, Holyoke. This Business networking event includes a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, and a bake sale. Local accountants and lawyers may attend this event as the chamber’s guests at no charge. Cost is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register, or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.

• Nov. 15: SBA Business Plan Basics Seminar, 9-11 a.m., at the chamber offices. This workshop will focus on management fundamentals from start-up considerations through business-plan development. Topics will include financing, marketing, and business planning. Presented by Allen Kronick of the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network. Cost is $40, which includes a continental breakfast. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register, or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.

• Nov. 29: SBA Marketing Basics Seminar, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the chamber offices. This workshop will focus on the basic disciplines of marketing, beginning with research — primary, secondary, qualitative, and quantitative. The core focus will be on developing and keeping a customer. Topics will include advertising, public relations, and the importance of developing a marketing plan. Presented by Dianne Doherty, director of the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network. Cost is $40, which includes a light lunch. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register, or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.

 

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com

(413) 584-1900

 

• Nov. 7: Networking Training Session, 4:15-5 p.m. at the Northampton Survival Center, 265 Prospect St., Northampton, prior to the Arrive@5.

• Nov. 7: Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m. at the Northampton Survival Center, 265 Prospect St., Northampton. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with colleagues and friends. Sponsored by Masiello Employment Services, Webber & Grinnell Insurance, and Dr. Hauschka Skin Care. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

 

PROFESSIONAL WOMENS CHAMBER

www.professionalwomenschamber.com

(413) 755-1310

• Nov. 14: November Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Max’s Tavern, Springfield, at the Basketball Hall of Fame, MassMutual Room. Guest speaker is Lynn Ostrowski of Health New England. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

 

 

SOUTH HADLEY/GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.shchamber.com

(413) 532-6451

 

• Nov. 14: Economic Summit, 8-9:30 a.m. at Mount Holyoke College. Guest speaker is James Hartley, professor of Economics, who will talk on current state of the economy. Cost is $15 per person for breakfast. RSVP to [email protected] or call (413) 532-6451.

• Nov. 30: Holiday Party, 5-7 p.m. Sponsor: Village Eye Care. Cost: $5 per person.

 

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

 

• Nov. 14: Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, 6-9 p.m. at Shaker Farms Country Club, 866 Shaker Road, Westfield. Salute the Business Leader of the Year, Jeffrey Daley, city advancement officer. Guest speaker will be state Sen. Michael Knapik. Platinum sponsor: Westfield State University; Gold sponsors: First Niagara and Noble Hospital; Silver sponsors: Berkshire Bank and Savage Arms. Cost: $45 for members; $50 for non-members. To register, call Pam at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected].

Getting Down to Business

By
Carlos Gonzalez
Features
Latino Chamber Continues to Expand Its Programs

Deborah Roque

The Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce helped Deborah Roque channel her entrepreneurial spirit; she now owns two small ventures.

In the years after she emigrated from Puerto Rico to Western Mass., Deborah Roque took work where she could find it, and eventually found a groove in the warehouse sector, rising to manager of a facility in South Windsor, Conn.

But she always had a desire to be in business for herself, and today, she has not one, but two entrepreneurial ventures that vie for her time. Most of the hours are devoted to Roque Neighborhood Tax Services, which provides bookkeeping, payroll, notary, and other services to individuals, small businesses, and a few larger corporations. On weekends, though, she commits significant amounts of time and energy to Aponte-Roque’s Shoes & Accessories, an online store that promotes itself with the slogan “Where the fashion is always notable.”

Roque’s tax service is located at 1655 Main St., Suite 505 in Springfield. That’s one of the offices within an incubator facility operated by the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce (MLCC), which opened its doors in 2004. Since it was launched three years ago, the incubator has helped dozens of small, minority-owned businesses get off the ground, said Carlos Gonzalez, president of the MLCC.

And that’s just one of a host of services the organization now offers, he said, listing everything from advocacy to technical assistance for small businesses; from networking events to programs designed to help area companies connect with — and do business with — the large and growing minority population in Western Mass.

Such efforts are part of what Gonzalez called “bridge-building work” between the Anglo (majority) population and the region’s minority groups.

“As the Latino community continues to grow, it needs to recognize that the Anglo community is an economic opportunity,” he explained. “And the Anglo community obviously needs to recognize that the growth of the Latino community is definitely an economic opportunity. So we need to bridge those gaps.”

Carlos Gonzalez

Carlos Gonzalez says that fostering entrepreneurship has become one of the highest priorities for the Latino Chamber.

The MLCC now boasts more than 700 members statewide (more than half are in Western Mass.), with offices in Springfield, Holyoke, Boston, and Lawrence, and another planned for Worcester, said Gonzalez, who splits his time among all of those locations but keeps his main office in downtown Springfield, just around the corner from Roque.

He told BusinessWest that, while the name is the Latino chamber of commerce, the organization serves a number of “minority” groups, including women, African-Americans, and a growing number of Asians and Russians in the Greater Springfield area. And he expects the MLCC’s role within the state’s business community to continually expand, as those minority populations increasingly become the majority, which they already have, by most all accounts, in Springfield, and were long ago in Holyoke, Lawrence, and other communities.

“Our membership has started to change … we’re becoming more of what I would call an ethnic chamber, or minority chamber,” he explained. “We have many women-owned businesses, many non-Latino, and even non-minority owned business owners coming to our seminars and networking events.”

He attributes this growth and diversification to the strong lineup of educational programs offered by the MLCC, as well as the myriad success stories it has helped script.

For this, the latest segment of the Getting Down to Business series, BusinessWest turns the spotlight on the MLCC and the many programs it offers to a diverse population that is becoming an ever-more-powerful force in the regional and state economy.

 

Work in Progress

Gonzalez told BusinessWest that there are many within the Latino community — and other minority groups — that share Roque’s entrepreneurial drive.

For some, business ownership is a dream, a passion they’ve pursued for years, he explained, noting that, for many others, it is simply their best option for making a living.

“Considering the unemployment crisis and the lack of job opportunities in this region, the only way to find economic solutions for many people in the inner city, particularly within the minority population, is for people to start their own businesses,” he explained. “And every small business is potentially creating revenue for 1.5 people.”

Helping individuals take business ventures from their kitchen table to the incubator in downtown Springfield, and often well beyond, has become one of the signature services provided by the MLCC, which has certainly grown and evolved since it was launched nearly a decade ago.

It was a vision cultivated by Gonzalez, who had spent years in government (specifically, the Springfield mayor’s office as an aide) and also in business — he operated a Spanish-speaking radio station. The simple goal at first was to create an organization that would help combat poverty by assisting members of the Latino community and other minority populations succeed in the modern workplace, as employers and especially as business owners.

“I saw a lot of people, particularly in the Latino community, with a strong interest in entrepreneurship, but there were few resources to meet their cultural and language necessities,” he said by way of explaining the genesis of the MLCC. “The minority population was growing in Springfield, and entrepreneurship was a key area that no one was targeting.”

The plan — one that has largely been adhered to — was to start in Springfield and expand into areas, especially urban centers, where the Latino community was growing or already sizeable. Holyoke and Lawrence were natural landing spots, said Gonzalez, adding that Worcester is the next logical point of expansion, with a facility due to be operating by the end of this year.

In each community where the MLCC has established a presence — and in all the communities it serves through those offices — the emphasis has been providing members and those served with the tools to succeed, whether that be in the workplace or a business owner, and education has been at the heart of those efforts.

“Education and training was, is, and will always be the heart and soul of our chamber,” he told BusinessWest, “We’re not only a chamber that does networking — we actually do education and training on site.”

Over the years, the MLCC has greatly expanded its roster of services, always with the goal of providing the necessary tools for success, whether it be in the workplace or, increasingly, with small entrepreneurial ventures. Offerings now include:

• Small-business technical assistance, which comes in many forms, with programs tailored to the needs of specific constituencies and provided in conjunction with a host of partners, including other chambers and economic-development-related agencies;

• Lending to Success, a business-lending technical-assistance program that offers loan assistance, business plans, financial plans, and marketing strategies to successfully access capital for startups and growing businesses. The MLCC provides mentoring in legal, accounting, and marketing activities to support businesses through the growing process;

• The Alliance/Alianza Contractor Development Program, which helps foster procurement, contracting, and employment opportunities in the construction trade industry between women and minority small businesses and government and corporate entities;

• The Estes Conectado Technology Program, a full-service computer laboratory that provides technology education to help participants become more proficient in the use of technology, especially as it relates to business operations, reducing costs, and improving time management;

• The La Academia Program, a workforce and skill-development program that provides an introduction to making musical instruments, cabinetmaking and refinishing, sewing, basic computer skills, conversational Spanish classes, management training, and more;

• Advocacy on policy issues that effect the business community, such as local, state, and federal procurement regulations, taxes, small-business programs, and other areas; and

• Youth and leadership programs, including a Leaders of Tomorrow program that provides leadership training for youths through mentoring, public speaking, and community involvement, as well as a business seminar for young people ages 7-16, at which they can learn about everything from basic banking skills to starting a small business to keeping financial records.

 

Taking Flight

But arguably the most successful initiative has been the small-business incubator center, which offers office space, conference rooms, an Internet computer lab and training room, and, most importantly, mentoring and other forms of assistance to help businesses get off the ground and to the proverbial next stage.

Gonzalez told BusinessWest that the current list of 20 registered businesses that share space in the incubator includes everything from Roque’s tax-service operation to a few accountants and lawyers; from photographers to a pizza restaurant located on the ground floor of the building. And while most are Latino-owned, there are some started by African-Americans, Russians, and other ethnic groups.

The common denominators are an entrepreneurial spirit and a need for physical space and technical assistance that will enable that spirit to flourish.

Roque took a path that would be considered typical among those who have participated in the program, said Gonzalez, adding that she started her venture in her home, moved into shared space in the incubator, and now occupies her own office at 1655 Main St.

“I always wanted to own my own business,” she told BusinessWest, adding that the MLCC helped her make the transition from her home, where she worked for several years to establish a client base, to her downtown Springfield facility.

Today, many of her clients are small-business owners themselves, people who know the specific field they’ve chosen, but usually not the payroll, bookkeeping, and other duties that are part and parcel to owning a business, so they’ve turned to her for assistance. “It’s very rewarding work, and each day is different,” she said, dispelling some perceptions about the work she does. “I enjoy working with small businesses.”

While the incubator in Springfield has been the scene of many success stories, the MLCC has helped inspire and then write entrepreneurial success stories in many other communities with large minority populations, including Holyoke and Lawrence, where MLCC efforts have helped that city, in which 80% of the population is Latino, gain statewide recognition as a minority business hub.

In the Paper City, the chamber has been working closely with Mayor Alex Morse and his administration to help get many new businesses off the ground and, in so doing, create momentum and fill vacant storefronts and office space at the same time.

Among the initiatives is what Gonzalez called a “healthy-food restaurant” to be opened downtown that will also serve as a training ground for entrepreneurs across the area looking to get into the food industry.

“Mayor Morse has been very supportive of new approaches to entrepreneurship and training,” said Gonzalez. “We’re looking to fill empty storefronts with a new entrepreneurship spirit that’s being cultivated by the mayor, the data center, and a new arts center going in the downtown, and an urban-renewal plan that’s been designed to connect the Latino-populated neighborhoods with the core of the city.

“We’re excited about what’s going on in Holyoke right now,” he continued. “They’re really thinking outside the box, and they’re allowing entrepreneurship to be part of the overall solution to bringing back Holyoke.”

Minority Report

As he talked about the MLCC’s work in the many urban areas it serves, Gonzalez mentioned some new initiatives. They include work in Holyoke to help entrepreneurs leverage the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center, which will open its doors soon; efforts in Springfield to prepare minority populations for the coming of the casino era; and programs in several communities involving business opportunities in the emerging ‘green’ energy and biosciences sector.

They provide clear evidence that, while the Latino Chamber’s basic role hasn’t changed, the specific ways in which that mission is carried out will continue to expand and evolve.

And they will always be centered on people like Deborah Roque, who have dreams and aspirations — and the need for some assistance when it comes to making them reality.

 

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

Understanding Your Company’s Cash Flow

Oct. 24: Your business runs on cash — cash in and cash out. At a workshop titled “Understanding Your Company’s Cash Flow,” presented by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network, attendees can learn the basics of cash flow, how to manage cash-flow projections, the timing of cash inflows and outflows, how to improve a company’s cash flow, and how cash flow is different from profit. The workshop will take place at 10 a.m. at PeoplesBank, 330 Whitney Ave., Holyoke, and will be presented by Robb Morton of Boisselle, Morton & Associates in South Hadley. For more information, call (413) 737-6712.

 

Top Trends in Politics

Oct. 24: “Top Trends in Politics @Westfield State: a Round-table Discussion of What is Happening Now” will be staged at the Woodward Center on the Westfield State University campus starting at 7 p.m. A public reception begins at 6:30. The event is described as “an exploration of election year 2012 — the issues, candidates, strategies, and political climate” — and will feature six panelists. They include Douglas Brinkley, bestselling author of Cronkite, historian, and professor at Rice University; Hendrick Hertzberg, senior editor and political commentator for the New Yorker; Shannon O’Brien, former Massachusetts state treasurer and receiver general; Dan Thomasson, nationally syndicated columnist and former editor and vice president of Scripps Howard; Lowell Weicker, former U.S. senator and U.S. representative; and Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle. For more information, visit www.westfield.ma.edu

 

Rays of Hope Walk in Springfield, Greenfield

Oct. 28: As the nation observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month, thousands of walkers and runners will be hitting the pavement to support breast health in Western Mass. as part of the 19th annual Rays of Hope – A Walk Toward the Cure of Breast Cancer, and its accompanying 3rd annual Run Toward the Cure 8K. This year’s annual walk events, presented by Health New England, are set for Springfield and Greenfield, while the run is held only in Springfield. Last year some 21,000 combined walkers and runners from Springfield and Greenfield, including over 600 teams, participated in Rays of Hope. Since 1994, the program has raised $10.25 million, all of which has remained in local communities on behalf of patients and their families affected by breast cancer. The Springfield walk and run begin at Temple Beth El on Dickinson Street, with registration set for 9 a.m. The walk in Greenfield begins at Energy Park on Miles Street, with registration at 10 a.m. The Springfield walk steps off at 10:30 a.m., preceded at 10:15 a.m. by the run, and the Greenfield walk begins later at noon. Walkers in Springfield can choose from a two- or five-mile route. The shorter route is accessible to handicapped participants, while the five-mile stroll is a little more challenging with some hills. In Greenfield, participants can select a two- or three-mile route, both of which travel up Main Street before taking different directions. Participants can register for both the walk and run online at baystatehealth.org/raysofhope, where they can also create their own personal webpage to assist them in their fund-raising efforts. For the Springfield Walk, free parking with shuttle service is available at locations near Temple Beth El, including in East Longmeadow at American Saw and East Longmeadow High School, as well as in Longmeadow at Blueberry Hill School and Longmeadow High School, and at other locations found on the Rays of Hope website. Participants are asked to refrain from parking on the side streets near the temple. In Greenfield, free parking is available in the public lots behind Green Fields Market, on Chapman Street behind Wilson’s Department Store, behind the Franklin County Court House, and in the Freedom Credit Union parking lot. Walkers are asked not to park in the Wilson’s Department Store lot for the benefit of its customers. There is no shuttle service, as all lots are within walking distance of Energy Park. Handicapped parking is available at Temple Beth El and at Energy Park for those with an official handicapped parking permit and/or license plate only. No pets, other than service dogs, are allowed at either the Springfield or Greenfield locations.

 

Equity-financing Workshop

Oct. 31: For some new or small businesses, equity financing is the most appropriate way to bring required capital into the firm. This could be the case because the businesses are high-risk, high-growth, or in need of more startup and growth capital than can be supplied by other sources. At a workshop titled “Equity Financing for High Potential/High Growth Ventures,” presented by the Mass. Small Development Center Network, attendees can learn about this attractive financing option. The program will provide an overview of equity financing and answer questions such as, what qualifies a venture for equity financing? What are the biggest mistakes you can make and the smartest things you can do while seeking equity investment? What should the venture leadership team look like? What are equity investors looking for? What matters the most in seeking equity investment? What are the major reasons why a business is funded or not funded? How are equity deals structured? And how do you set a valuation for a new venture?

The workshop, to be presented by Peter Morton of the MSBDC Network, Central Regional Office, will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St. in Springfield. A light lunch will be provided. For more information, call (413) 737-6712.

 

HCC Fall Open House

Nov. 1: Holyoke Community College will stage its annual Fall Open House from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development’s PeoplesBank Room. Guests can learn about HCC’s nearly 100 degree and certificate programs, as well as the school’s comprehensive support, services, student clubs and activities, financial aid, and more. Applications for admission will be accepted at the event, and there will also be individual breakout sessions for financial aid and adult learners. The open house will feature a new segment called “Conversations by Division” beginning at 6 p.m. Guests will be assigned to a separate meet-and-greet based on their intended major, led by division teams. Each divisional conversation will be followed by a short question-and-answer session and then a student panel discussion. For more information, contact the Office of Admissions at (413) 552-2321 or [email protected].

 

Writer, Essayist to Speak

Nov. 5: Anne Fadiman, a writer, essayist, and author whose first book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, won her a National Critics Book Circle Award, will visit the region as part of the Ovations series, sponsored by the Chicopee Savings Bank Endowment for Academic Excellence, the STCC Office of Academic Affairs, and the STCC Honors Program. There will two performances, at 10:10 and 11:15 a.m., in Scibelli Hall. Both are free and open to the public. The Washington Post called Fadiman’s book “an intriguing, spirit-lifting, extraordinary exploration.” The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down tells the story of Lia Lee, the daughter of Hmong immigrants from Laos, who was diagnosed with epilepsy in 1981. What follows is the story of a clash of cultures as well as an examination of the U.S. healthcare system. The book is often taught in university literary journalism courses across the country and serves as a casebook for cross-cultural sensitivity. Fadiman also is the author of Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader and At Large and at Small: Familiar Essays. She currently resides in Whately and is a professor of English and writing mentor at Yale University. For additional information about the Ovations series, contact Philip O’Donoghue at (413) 755-4233 or [email protected].

 

Employment Law and Human Resources Practices Update

Nov. 8: The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast will stage its annual Employment Law and Human Services Practices Update at the Holyoke Hotel and Conference Center (formerly the Holiday Inn). The conference, sponsored by Johnson & Hill Staffing Services, will address the challenging state and federal legal and regulatory environment for employers, and present practical solutions and information to guide employers in their day-to-day employment decisions. The conference is designed for all levels of management — executives, corporate counsel, human-resource professionals, managers, and supervisors — who need practical and timely information to help negotiate ever-evolving employment issues. Conference presenters will include Joel Berner, chief of Enforcement for the Mass. Commission Against Discrimination; Charles Krich, principal attorney for the Connecticut Human Rights Organization; attorney Elaine Reall; and attorneys from Skoler Abbott & Presser, P.C., and EANE. For more information, contact Karen Cronenberger at (877) 662-6444.

 

40 Under Forty Reunion

Nov. 8: BusinessWest will stage a reunion featuring the first six classes of its 40 Under Forty program at the Log Cabin Banquet & meeting House inn Holyoke. The event, open only to 40 Under Forty winners, event judges, and sponsors, will begin at 5:30 and feature a talk from Peter Straley, president of Health New England, about leadership and community involvement. For more information on the event, call (413) 781-8600, or e-mail [email protected].

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

 

• Oct. 26: Super 60 Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Chez Josef in Agawam. The chamber’s annual event recognizes the top 60 companies in both revenue and growth. This has always been a well-anticipated event that draws roughly 500-600 people. Presenting sponsor is Health New England. Guest speakers are Stanley Kowalski III, owner and founder of FloDesign Inc., and state Secretary of Housing & Economic Development Greg Bialecki, who will show how government and private industry can work together successfully in this environment. Cost is $50 for members, $70 for non-members. Reservations can be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com, or by emailing Cecile Larose at [email protected].

• Nov. 7: Chamber’s Business@Breakfast, at Ludlow Country Club, Tony Lema Drive in Ludlow. Registration begins at 7 a.m., the buffet opens at 7:30, and the program begins at 7:55. Guest Speaker is Tony Cignoli, who will be giving a recap of the elections. Coffee Bar Sponsor is Reminder Publications. Salutes will be given to Reminder Publications on its 50th anniversary and Columbia Gas on its 165th anniversary. Cost to attend is $20 for chamber members and $30 for non-chamber members. Reservations should be made in advance at www.myonlinechamber.com, by faxing information to (413) 755-1322, or by e-mailing Cecile Larose at [email protected]. Sponsorships are still available. Contact Larose at (413) 755-1313 if you are interested.

Nov. 29: Government Reception, at Storrowton Tavern on the Eastern States Exposition grounds. Sponsors for this event are Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Verizon, Baystate Health, and Western Mass. Electric Co. Tickets are $50 for members and $70 for non-members. To make reservations, go online to www.myonlinechamber.com, e-mail Cecile Larose at [email protected], or fax your reservation to (413) 755-1322. Sponsorships are available. Contact Cecile Larose if you are interested.

 

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

 

• Nov. 14: Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce November Salute Breakfast, from 7:15 to 9 a.m., Summit View Banquet & Meeting House, 555 Northampton St., Holyoke. Speakers are state Sen. Senator Gail Candaras and state Rep. Joseph Wagner. Among the topics they will address are transportation and gaming. Cost is $20 for members and $26 for non-members. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

 

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org

(413) 527-9414

 

• Oct. 22: Celebrity Bartenders Night 2012, from 6-9 p.m. at the Opa-Opa Steakhouse & Brewery, 169 College Highway, Southampton. Join us for a night of fun with local celebrities mixing your drinks. Your tips benefit the chamber’s holiday lighting fund. Raffles and more fun. Admission is free.

 

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com

(413) 534-3376

 

• Nov. 14: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Eighty Jarvis Restaurant, Holyoke. This Business networking event includes a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, and a bake sale. Local accountants and lawyers may attend this event as the chamber’s guests at no charge. Cost is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register, or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.

• Nov. 15: SBA Business Plan Basics Seminar, 9-11 a.m., at the chamber offices. This workshop will focus on management fundamentals from start-up considerations through business-plan development. Topics will include financing, marketing, and business planning. Presented by Allen Kronick of the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network. Cost is $40, which includes a continental breakfast. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register, or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.

• Nov. 29: SBA Marketing Basics Seminar, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the chamber offices. This workshop will focus on the basic disciplines of marketing, beginning with research — primary, secondary, qualitative, and quantitative. The core focus will be on developing and keeping a customer. Topics will include advertising, public relations, and the importance of developing a marketing plan. Presented by Dianne Doherty, director of the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network. Cost is $40, which includes a light lunch. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register, or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.

 

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com

(413) 584-1900

 

• Nov. 2: Health Insurance Info Session, 8-10 a.m.

• Nov. 7: Networking Training Session, 4:15-5 p.m. at the Northampton Survival Center, 265 Prospect St., Northampton, prior to the Arrive@5.

• Nov. 7: Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m. at the Northampton Survival Center, 265 Prospect St., Northampton. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with colleagues and friends. Sponsored by Masiello Employment Services, Webber & Grinnell Insurance, and Dr. Hauschka Skin Care. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

 

PROFESSIONAL WOMENS CHAMBER

www.professionalwomenschamber.com

(413) 755-1310

• Nov. 14: November Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Max’s Tavern, Springfield, at the

Basketball Hall of Fame, MassMutual Room. Guest speaker is Lynn Ostrowski of Health New England. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

 

SOUTH HADLEY/GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.shchamber.com

(413) 532-6451

 

• Nov. 14: Economic Summit, 8-9:30 a.m. at Mount Holyoke College. Guest speaker is James Hartley, professor of Economics, who will talk on current state of the economy. Cost is $15 per person for breakfast. RSVP to [email protected] or call (413) 532-6451.

• Nov. 30: Holiday Party, 5-7 p.m. Sponsor: Village Eye Care. Cost: $5 per person.

 

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com

(413) 426-3880

 

• Nov. 1: Food Fest West, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Crestview Country Club, Agawam. This is a chance for local Pioneer Valley Restaurants to highlight their culinary expertise. Restaurants participating include Lattitude, Nadim’s Downtown, and Chez Josef, among others. There will be approximately 15 restaurants participating in this year’s event. This year’s presenting sponsor is Western Massachusetts Electric Co. Tickets are $25 for chamber members and for anyone who pays in advance, and $30 at the door. Proceeds raised by the event go to support the chamber’s Educational Fund and the Business Education Grant Program.

 

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

 

• Nov. 5: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Shaker Farms Country Club, 866 Shaker Road. An open forum with Mayor Daniel Knapik, free and open to the public. To register, call Pam at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected].

• Nov. 14: Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, 6-9 p.m. at Shaker Farms Country Club, 866 Shaker Road, Westfield. Salute the Business Leader of the Year, Jeffrey Daley, city advancement officer. Guest speaker will be state Sen. Michael Knapik. Platinum sponsor: Westfield State University; Gold sponsors: First Niagara and Noble Hospital; Silver sponsors: Berkshire Bank and Savage Arms. Cost: $45 for members; $50 for non-members. To register, call Pam at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected].

Course of Action

By
Marc Sparks
Holiday Party Planner Sections
New Ownership Has Ambitious Plans in Place for Chez Josef

Marc Sparks

Marc Sparks has worked his way up the ladder from waiter to operations manager, and now to owner of Chez Josef.

Marc Sparks, the new owner and general manager of Chez Josef in Agawam, has a saying for his staff during the vital and busy prom season. “A prom is not just a prom; it’s a room of future brides and grooms.”

But that saying could also be refashioned to fit his new position. It would go something like this: ‘a waiter is not just a waiter; he or she could be the owner of the company someday.’ And that would fit the story of Sparks’ life perfectly.

On July 2 Sparks, through his new hospitality-management company, finalized acquisition of Chez Josef from the Skole family, thus beginning a new chapter in his intriguing career in the hospitality business, one that started in 1990, when he was a waiter in the main ballroom, aptly named the ‘Allan Room’ after Allan Skole, one of three founders of the complex.

“It’s been an exiting ride,” said Sparks of the acquisition process and subsequent developments and strategic initiatives. “Our vision is to grow this business, to honor where we came from, and look forward to the future.”

His obvious pride for his place of employment for nearly two decades is matched only by his respect for the Skole family, who, starting in 1969, built and managed one of the first-of-its-kind banquet halls in the region.

“Allan and Ron [Allan’s son, who passed away in 1999] were visionaries in this business, and they showed me the ropes,” said Sparks. “It’s why I say we honor the past and look to the future.”

The banquet hall, which has been long known as a grand location for weddings, proms, gala fashion shows, and corporate events such as the Super 60 and Pynchon Awards, will soon be given an extensive facelift, said Sparks, adding quickly that, while the look may change somewhat, what won’t is the facility’s dedication to customer service — and being on the cutting edge of change in this highly competitive business.

For this issue’s holiday party planner and focus on area banquet facilities, BusinessWest talked with Sparks about his entrepreneurial gambit and how he intends to make the past prologue for this Agawam landmark.

 

Trendsetters

In 1991, Sparks was attending UMass and working his way toward a degree in Psychology. He applied for work at Chez Josef as a bartender, but the Skoles talked him into waiting tables, and he caught the hospitality bug.

He would stay with the company, taking several titles, and eventually operations manager. Throughout his tenure, he said he carried out his various duties as if he had a “vested interest” in the company, and admitted that, if the opportunity to acquire the facility ever came about, he would work to find some way to make it happen.

And in 2010, those pieces starting falling into place.

“I said to the Skoles, ‘if there is ever an opportunity to step in and purchase’ … and that started the ball rolling,” he explained, adding that the progression was a natural one, due to his many years there. The parties explored options together, and the result, said Sparks, was a transition as seamless as possible.

And a big reason for this is the staff, he said, noting that many, like him, have modest beginnings and long tenures with Chez Josef.

For instance, Executive Chef Marcel Ouimet has been with the company for 42 years, and started as a dishwasher. Anne Wright, second in charge in the kitchen, has 30 years with Chez Josef, as does Edmond Flebotte, executive assistant and purchaser. In comparison, Robin Wozniak, director of sales and marketing, is a relative newcomer, having started just five years ago.

Sparks noticed something in Wozniak, who soon rose up through the ranks, just as Sparks had done, and became a trainer and supervisor. But it was a bit iffy at first, he admitted.

“The first day, I wasn’t sure she was going to make it, but she proved me wrong,” laughed Sparks. “There’s a lot of longevity here; people don’t leave.”

As this experienced team takes the landmark into a new era, one of the keys to future success, said Sparks, is to change with the trends in the industry. But this is something it has always been able to do.

“Chez Josef has historically been a trendsetter, in my opinion,” he told BusinessWest. “We will continue that mission though research and attending trade shows around the country.”

This trendsetting began with Allan Skole in the late ’60s, when standalone banquet houses were a rarity. In fact, most get-togethers, such as proms, happened in the gym at the local high school, and wedding receptions were smaller or held at the local country club. Skole, a classically trained culinary artist, and two partners were pioneers with their concept for Chez Josef, named for one of the partners.

“Even with pioneering this facility, the way that Allan designed the building is brilliant,” said Sparks, adding that the center hallway in the middle of the building that guests never see is a sound-dampening feature to keep the clatter of the kitchen from the guests. Oversized bars were also unique for that time, as were the two grand curving staircases, reminiscent of southern mansions.

 

Fare Game

Sparks said he plans to continue this pattern of trendsetting. His plans are to remain on top of every new wrinkle and curve in the banquet business, and he’ll get to customers’ hearts through their stomachs.

“Everybody is a foodie,” he explained. “With developed palates, you really have to be on top of your game to wow your customers.”

He noted that banquet cuisine is now a global experience, and the fare is a result of East meets West. But the way in which the food is served is also changing.

“There are more chef-attended ‘action’ stations, small-plate and sampling stations, and not sitting down to a four- or five-course meal,” said Wozniak. “Even brides are looking for the action stations; they want the interaction, the camaraderie, and the socialization.”

Sparks and Wozniak both see multiple reasons for this shift from sit-down to stand-up, and number one is the ability to more readily network. Station fare also allows clients to be more creative with the menu while maximizing often-limited budgets.

But keeping up with all that’s new will require due diligence.

“We made a decision, as a company, to constantly reinvest in our staff, in tradeshows, food shows, classes, seminars, and the annual Catersource Conference & Tradeshow in Las Vegas,” said Sparks. “Our job is to be cutting-edge, with the Chez Josef spin; we call it the ‘Chez Josef experience.’”

And that ‘experience’ is in a seemingly constant state of change, he went on, because that is the way things are in this industry now, as the Internet has made clients more savvy about trends and products, while technology makes this almost a 24/7 business. As a result, the pace of the hospitality industry has accelerated, and in many ways.

“I share with my staff that we are in a time like no other; it’s real-time information,” said Sparks. “Brides, clients, they all want accessibility, they want to know what’s going on, and we are linked remotely, in the field, in real time.”

Wozniak said Internet-educated clients are ever-more demanding, which poses both challenges and opportunities.

“They have a definite vision, so we need to meet and exceed that vision,” she said, adding that there are obvious rewards when they do. “All this encourages us to think outside the box.”

Sparks calls this personalized process “active listening as a team,” and said that, of 20 proposals received per week, half are customized, a number that continues to rise.

As the close-knit team works to build the Chez Josef of the future, a new catering arm called Chez Gourmet is being added. It will offer full-service catering, from dinner or holiday pickups and deliveries to 10-person luncheons, said Wozniak.

“We’re rebranding ourselves and growing this business,” added Sparks.

Also on the horizon is an extensive, multi-faceted renovation effort, with the first aspects of that initiative due to be completed next spring, said Sparks, adding that the facility plans to have one capital project going on every year.

“And we’re committed to working with local contractors who are willing to work in off times, overnight, so as not to interrupt business.”

 

Giving Back, Moving Forward

One of the other commitments Sparks has involves giving back to the community.

For two full days just after the June 1, 2011 tornado struck the Greater Springfield area, Chez Josef chose to take on the task of helping to feed a few hundred people breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a local church, allowing the women who had started the process a few days to rest.

And during Hurricane Irene, the staff worked with the American Red Cross to deliver food to a few of the elderly-housing units in Springfield, said Sparks, adding that assistance to area nonprofits, in the form of special pricing for fund-raising events, is ongoing.

“One of my thoughts when taking on this role is that we have to give back till it hurts,” said Sparks. “It’s our task to give back and build relationships, and that’s one of the reasons this [ownership] transition has gone so smoothly.”

It’s all about teamwork, and there are no short cuts, added Sparks. “I tell my staff, ‘we wouldn’t cut corners on your day; don’t do it on someone else’s.’”

This is one of many sayings, or operational philosophies, that have guided the company for more than 40 years, he noted, while getting ready to get back to work. And they will continue to guide it through this next chapter in a storied history.

 

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

Inn Vogue

By
Robin Brown
Holiday Party Planner Sections
After Extensive Renovations, ‘the Jeff’ Is Again Open for Business

Robin Brown

Robin Brown, standing in the wine-tasting room, brings years of culinary and hotel-management experience to the newly renovated Lord Jeffery Inn.

Robin Brown, director of sales and catering for the Lord Jeffery Inn, located just off the Amherst Common and part of Amherst College, is still trying to master the proper way to say the name of this community.

That would be the way residents pronounce it: phonetically, it’s Am-erst — the ‘h’ being silent. She’s working on it and making considerable progress, though she admits that she can’t quite bring herself to call the inn by the name most in Amherst do: ‘the Jeff.” (The inn, like the town and college, owes its name to Lord Jeffery Amherst, best known as one of the victors of the French and Indian War.)

“I still just say it all out: Lord Jeffery Inn,” she said with a laugh. “I’ll get the ‘Am-erst’ soon; I’m practicing.”

Coming from the eastern part of the state, she brings 30 years of sales and catering experience to the Jeff as the second employee hired, just after General Manager Robert Reeves, during an extensive renovation that closed the landmark for an extended period.

The historic inn is owned by the Amherst Inn Co., an affiliate of Amherst College, and managed by the Waterford Hotel Group, and is a member of the Historic Hotels of America. The three-year, $14 million overhaul, the most extensive rehab since the facility opened in 1926, was completed late last year, and the inn reopened on Jan. 5.

Brown arrived in April 2011, enabling her to start her wedding and event sales from a clean slate. “I was temporarily put up in the dorm building, and this area [a new patio with perfectly set pavers that lead into the new, 160-seat ballroom] was a mud pit, and I had to walk across the boards to the door with my hard hat on,” she said. “I was literally booking weddings off of swatch boards, carpet samples, and artists’ renderings. I’d put hard hats on brides and bring them to the parking lot.”

She said she couldn’t bring the brides in, largely for insurance reasons, but, more importantly, because they tend to be very emotional.

“I would never have sold a thing,” Brown said, adding that, despite the handicaps, she did manage to sell the inn to those brides-to-be; this first full year, the Jeff will host more than 26 weddings, and her goal for 2013 is 40. Meanwhile, she has booked many other events as well.

It’s been a solid comeback for the landmark, which was closed but certainly not forgotten in the Amherst community. “I’m sure that there were some who wondered … but we’re open now, and look how elegant it is.”

For those who are fans and followers of the inn, gone is the darkness of millwork, the dated hotel rooms, and the musty smell. This elegant new Lord Jeffery Inn is everything an historic inn should be: a showcase of 1920s architecture, but with a present-day flair. For this focus on the holiday banquet season and local meeting facilities, BusinessWest takes an up-close look at the stately inn to see how the new fits very comfortably within the old.

 

Up the Ladder

Brown brings an intriguing résumé to the Jeff.

“Right out of college, I was working in the kitchen of the Ritz [now the Taj] in Boston — it was awesome,” she said, adding that there were many interesting career stops even before that. “At 15, I was a private, personal chef for a Virginia brewery company, at their summer home in Maine. The woman [owner] said, ‘no 15-year-old can meet my standards,’ and I said, ‘then let me work for you for a week, and if what you said is true, then don’t pay me,’ and a week went by, and she gave me a 50-cent raise.”

With degrees in Culinary Arts and Food & Beverage Management, she loves, and knows, a catering kitchen inside and out. And she and Dino Giordano, the executive chef, also know they are lucky to be a part of an inn and banquet facility that is literally brand-new, or at least as much as possible to stay within the Historic Hotels of America designation.

“I drive to work each day, and I still can’t believe how lucky I am,” said Giordano, as he looked at the kitchen, one of three at his disposal. “I’m used to hot and small, and this … this is just phenomenal.”

In addition to two full-size kitchens and one smaller one, 49 hotel rooms and suites were completely gutted, said Brown, adding that there is now a wide selection of room choices, with deluxe rooms coming with a sun porch.

And the meticulous attention to detail is apparent. Brown showed BusinessWest a variety of suites that have completely new bathrooms, but look as they would have in 1926. The bridal suite is one of Brown’s favorites. “Our brides can look out over the lawn and tent to see their guests arrive,” she said.

And many brides will continue to watch guests arrive for the entire event. It’s a definite trend Brown has seen, called the ‘on site’ wedding, where the ceremony and reception occur on the same grounds. “Years ago, you were expected to get married in a church,” said Brown. “Now, there is more creativity and freedom.”

And the layout for this new trend, as well as traditional weddings and corporate events, is one reason for the specific additions and their locations in the the Jeff.

Brown explained the extensive restoration to the property, noting that it includes additions to a 2,360-square-foot ballroom on the site of the former tent area. The ballroom roof is now a posh rooftop deck complete with a 30-foot-high outdoor fireplace. The newly positioned tented garden area offers a 40-by-80-foot tent that will seat 180, and is open from the end of April through October.

But one of the key elements to the entire renovation, said Brown, is the focus on environmental sustainability that features amenities such as organic bath products, an extensive recycling program throughout the inn, and the distinction of being one of the Pioneer Valley’s greenest hotels.

“We’re a green inn,” she explained. “The college has a definite commitment to sustainable design, so the owners are seeking LEED certification per their incorporation of several sustainable features such as 50 geothermal wells, which are each 500 feet deep and will provide environmentally friendly heating and cooling to the facility.”

The renovations, she continued, include more than $1 million in energy-efficiency improvements, most of which guests will never see, but all of which retain the historic look of the building. In addition, none of the elegant millwork was altered.

Once guests appreciate their first introduction to the newly painted inn — which is now white, as it was when first opened, according to Brown — the delightful aroma of farm-to-table cuisine is where she and Giordano feel they’ll capture even more fans.

 

Soups On

Stepping into the new 30 Boltwood restaurant, the former Boltwood Tavern, is like stepping into a contemporary wine-country kitchen. The dark paneling has been replaced by soft natural colors, the wooden tables and chairs replaced by comfortable and stylish booths, and a chic, new curved bar, a large fireplace, and contemporary chandeliers combine today’s designs with traditional New England architecture.

The restaurant offers a private, eight-person dining area, a 16-person greenhouse room with views to the stars at night, and a small wine room. The description of this new restaurant is the latest buzzword in the culinary world: ‘farm table’ or ‘farm-to-table cuisine.’

“Everything we do, we try to get locally first, and we are a part of CISA [Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture],” Brown told BusinessWest. “And certain times of the year, our chef will go to the farmers market on Saturday, with the clients that have the inn’s Farmers Market Package, and he shops with them and cooks for them.”

While the new restaurant is open for all meal periods, Brown said, one feature is the traditional Sunday brunch.

Giordano, hand-picked by the Waterford Hotel Group and classically trained in New York City, has a flair with gluten-free and vegetarian dishes, Brown explained.

“We’re working on our signature dishes,” added Brown. “We don’t want to just jump out of the gate and say we have a signature dish.” To that end, she and Giordano are looking for staff and guests to help identify their favorites.

And as the holidays approach, the institution of the farm-table menu will be coupled with new traditions, Brown said, that the inn hopes the community will accept. She points to Breakfast with Santa on Sundays leading up to Christmas, Holiday Tea in the library on December Saturdays, a giant gingerbread house in the new foyer, and holiday carolers outside the inn on specific nights around the holidays.

Overall, the Lord Jeffery Inn is creating new traditions on many levels.

 

Welcome Mat

Stepping her toes deeper into the Amherst area, Brown is serving with the Amherst Chamber of Commerce board on the programming and ambassador committees, and also serves on the newly formed Regional Tourism Council for Hampshire County, which helps to brand the county.

And while becoming more involved in the community, she is, as she said, making definite progress with pronouncing the town’s name like a local.

She still won’t call her place of employment the Jeff, but by whatever name it’s known, the inn is back, once again assuming a position of prominence in this proud community.

 

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

’Tis the Season

By
Andy Calvanese has had a successful year at Storrowton Tavern
Holiday Party Planner Sections
And for Banquet Managers, that Means Creating Opportunities

Rachel Voci, banquet manager at Tekoa Country Club

Rachel Voci, banquet manager at Tekoa Country Club

Andrew Calvanese, partner with his sons Vinny and Donald at the Storrowton Tavern in West Springfield, can remember a time when the holiday party season was literally booming.

“The ’80s were just incredible,” recalled Calvanese, who was then managing Suffield Country Club, noting that money was seemingly no object, and budgets were nonexistent.

To say that the times have changed would be a huge understatement.

“Today, we deal with some pretty big companies, and they are really watching how they spend their money; they are definitely budgeting,” said Calvanese, who fully expects that trend to continue this year, although he remains optimistic that more companies will be in a mood to party.”

Peter Rosskothen, president and CEO of the Log Cabin and Delaney House, takes a similar outlook. He said 2008 and 2009, the height of the Great Recession, were the worst years he’s seen in terms of holiday-party spending. Things have improved a little each year since, and he’s hoping that trend will continue.

Summing things up, he said he’s not wasting time pining for a return for those free-spending days in the ’80s; he’ll settle for what he called stability.

“It’s my hope that this year will get us close to where we were before the ’08 and ’09 disaster,” he told BusinessWest, “but I’m not so sure we’ll get there.”

Peter Rosskothen

Peter Rosskothen says 2008 and 2009 were bad years for holiday-party spending, but things have improved steadily since.

His guarded optimism is reflected in the results from the latest annual survey of corporate America’s holiday party plans conducted by Amrop Battalia Winston, a leading global executive-search firm, which conducted the survey among a cross-section of 120 companies.

In 2011, 26% of U.S. companies did not hold a holiday party, up 5% from the year prior, and nearly half cited budgetary issues as the reason why. Analyzing those numbers, Dale Winston, Amrop Battalia Winston’s chairwoman and CEO, said, “there was uncertainty about the speed of the recovery in 2010; that has been replaced by the certainty that the recovery has a long way to go.”

For this issue and its focus on holiday party planning, BusinessWest talked with area banquet-facility owners and managers about their expectations for the season ahead and the factors that will determine just how wonderful this time of the year will be for them.

Sign of the Times

Overall, the facility managers we spoke with say they’re enjoying a steady year thus far, and, in some cases, better than steady.

“Right through January, right up to now (post-Big E), to the end of the year, our banquet business is excellent,” said Andy Calvanese, noting that the family has noted consistent growth since they acquired the landmark nine years ago.

Offering a total of six room options, the largest being the Carriage House for 350 and the smallest, the Tavern, seating 35, Storrowton is one of the oldest establishments in the area; portions of the buildings date back more than 200 years.

Meanwhile Patrick Gottschlicht, owner of Munich Haus in Chicopee, has battled back from the Great Recession and a devastating fire in a neighboring apartment complex to record a few solid years.

And at Tekoa Country Club, banquet manager Rachel Voci, starting from what amounted to scratch after the facility changed hands in 2009, has amassed a solid book of business. She’s built her corporate and wedding business to 98 bookings this year (not counting golf outings) in her 400-seat Berkshire Room and 200-seat Westfield Room, and with recent interior renovations, she aims to establish a new reputation, and is looking forward to improving her numbers this holiday season.

But as the leaves start to turn, there is still a huge dose of uncertainty about will happen during what has historically been a very important — and lucrative — time for banquet-facility owners.

Much of that uncertainty has to do with employers, their appetite for spending at a time when the economy could go either way, and the level of importance they attach to employee morale.

According to the 2011 Amrop Battalia Winston survey, for more than half (53%) of all companies that were still planning on holding a get-together, employee morale was the reason.

In this environment, said Voci, banquet facilities have to work with employers and become partners in staging their events, providing value for the dollar and, in some cases, some imaginative ideas on how to make the event meaningful and memorable.

At the same time, the pressure is on banquet managers to help all kinds of potential customers with limited budgets — and increasingly, that means groups of employees.

“Over the last few years, companies have cut back on corporate parties, and I see more people planning their own little gatherings,” Rosskothen told BusinessWest. “So a group within a company goes out and has dinner.”

Envision the sales team or the IT division of a company having its own special get-together, and everyone pitches in to pay their way. Both Calvanese and Gottschlicht see the same trend and will work with budgets for even the smallest of groups.

Voci added that some of those small parties will join what is now an increasingly common event, the small-group holiday get-together, which enables small companies or departments within bigger entities to enjoy the look and feel of a full ballroom.

Group Effort

Another challenge and opportunity for banquet managers, said those we spoke with, is the need to move quickly and help those last-minute event organizers, and there are many of them.

“Across the board, last-minute planning is much more common than ever,” said Rosskothen. “Information technology allows us to be last-minute, we can communicate with our employees last-minute, and I would not think anything of somebody calling two weeks before and planning a party.”

But another trend that Rosskothen would like to see more of is the use of the holiday party as morale builder and vehicle for saying ‘thank you’ to employees, many of whom have suffered in various ways because of the economic downturn.

“I’ll speak as an employer,” said Rosskothen. “I think finding ways for us to acknowledge our co-workers is always going to be normal, and the holidays are one of those times, and if financial means allow, we should do something for our employees.”

What that ‘something’ is depends on each decision maker, and that individual should put some time and attention into their work, he continued.

“They have to put effort into it … don’t just make it a two-minute phone call,” said Rosskothen. “Think it through, plan it well, and make it worthwhile, especially since resources are tight.”

Voci says she works with clients to brainstorm, and even the smallest touches, such as a signature drink for the night in lieu of a costly open bar, will help to personalize the event and show effort on the employer’s part.

Gottschlicht will offer employers his new authentic German Biergarten, which seats 160, an addition to the 200 for the second-floor banquet hall. After the apartment-house fire next door last year that nearly consumed the Munich Haus, Gottschlicht purchased the cleared lot and created a unique Biergarten with long benches, a bandstand, and large tents and a large bar that he’s not yet sure will be year-round; he’s still working out the kinks.

“But if anyone wants to do an Oktoberfest-themed holiday party, we have heaters, and we’ll try it, and we have accordion players we can provide as well,” he laughed. “It really depends on the weather.”

 

Decking the Halls

Andy Calvanese has had a successful year at Storrowton Tavern

Andy Calvanese has had a successful year at Storrowton Tavern and is hopeful for more of the same come this holiday season.

“I see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Calvanese. “I think the economy is starting to turn, and I always remain open-minded; after 50 years, I’m still learning. I also think companies are going to be wiser; it’s OK to spend, we all spend, we all get extravagant once in a while, but not all the time. I think that trend is gone.”

Rosskothen agreed. “Holidays will be tough for a long time until we forget about these times,” he said, noting that hope for the future is still something to celebrate. “You have to find a balance.”

With the memories of the over-the-top ’80s and visions of sugarplums (sort of) dancing in their heads, owners and managers of area banquet facilities have come to the realization that times have changed, and they’re likely to be this way for the foreseeable future. In this environment, they have to create their own opportunities and make the most of them.

If they can, this holiday season might become something approaching wonderful.

 

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

The Power of Presence

By
Kate Phelon (left, with Pam Bussell, administrative assistant)
Features
Greater Westfield Chamber Is in the Business of Making Connections

Kate Phelon (left, with Pam Bussell, administrative assistant)

Kate Phelon (left, with Pam Bussell, administrative assistant) says these welcome bags for new members are only the first of many connections the chamber aims to forge with local businesses.

Kate Phelon is passionate about what she calls the ‘power of connection.’

“Technology has a role in business, but face-to-face meetings not only allow people to promote themselves, but also find out what the other person needs and how they can help each other,” said the executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce.

Her belief, reinforced by events that facilitate interactions, are at the heart of the Westfield chamber’s success. The organization hosts 10 ‘mayor’s coffee hours’ each year at different venues; the gatherings give business owners the opportunity to voice opinions and ask questions of the city’s chief executive on issues that are important to them. The chamber also works closely with city officials to ensure that specific needs of business owners are heard and recognized.

“The chamber, the city, the Westfield Business Improvement District (WBID) and Westfield on Weekends are a cohesive group,” Phelon said. “We are all supportive of each other because we are working collectively to promote and develop our community.”

Complementing this is her personal mission to link new members with established business owners and help companies grow their customer bases.

The chamber serves Blandford, Chester, Granville, Huntington, Montgomery, Russell, Southwick, Tolland, Westfield, and Woronoco, and the majority of its members are small businesses with four employees or fewer.

Stevens 470 Marketing and Creative is included in that demographic. “The chamber has helped us get to know other businesses,” said Principal and Creative Director Tina Stevens, who serves on the chamber’s board of directors. “The businesses here are related, and there is a real sense of community. It’s important for us to know and become connected with each other because it makes it easier to decide who you want to work with, as well as the nonprofit organization that is the best fit for your volunteer efforts. Westfield may be a city, but it has a small-town feel.”

Phelon said there is a growing entrepreneurial spirit within the community that has led to a plethora of new business openings in Westfield over the past year.

“Things are happening here, and it’s an exciting time for the city. Entrepreneurship is a risk, but these businesses are the backbone of our community.”

The chamber takes a multi-pronged approach to supporting this backbone, and a number of new initiatives for the upcoming year are in the planning stages.

“We’re implementing quarterly workshops aimed at helping small businesses,” Phelon told BusinessWest, noting that, thus far, seminars on social media, online advertising, succession planning, and retirement benefits are in the works and will be offered free of charge to members. “These are all tools that businesses need to stay vibrant and young and thrive.”

She said the workshops were sparked by members who approached her, wanting to share their knowledge and expertise with others. She hopes to increase the number of programs as time goes on and include topics members will find beneficial.

“Our buzzwords this year are information, education, and advocacy,” she said. “We will promote this heavily in 2013 to provide additional value to members. What makes us different is that it doesn’t matter if you are a one-person show or the largest company in Westfield; we recognize the value of every business.”

One way this is accomplished is via a legislative committee that works to resolve local issues. “And we are the voice of our members when it comes to influencing the City Council and setting commercial and industrial tax rates,” Phelon noted.

She plans to invite all members to a public hearing in November on that issue, and believes a strong presence will make a difference. “Westfield is in transition, and we are hoping to get the tax rate lowered this year.”

 

Strategic Growth

Phelon was hired as executive director 20 months ago, and said she is thrilled to work in the city she has lived in for 35 years.

“I was a member of the chamber when I had my own business, and now I’m trying to convince businesses to join,” she said, adding that she has long been active in the city, and was the first female president of the Rotary Club of Westfield.

Her diverse background gives her insight into the benefits of membership as well as the need to promote the city and surrounding area.

“Economic development is part of our mission,” she explained. “We help to develop and foster a prosperous business environment and take it to another level by participating in all ribbon cuttings that we know of, as well as talking to our business owners.”

New members are given a package of benefits that include free admission to a chamber breakfast and WestNet gathering (an after-5 event), as well as a table top at a signature event to help them gain visibility. This is important since Phelon’s goal is get as many business owners as possible to meet each other in person.

“You never know who can help your company,” she explained. To that end, she is implementing an ambassador program that will match a new member with an existing one who will act as mentor for a year.

Business advice and encouragement coupled with networking are critical to the success of small ventures, she continued, adding that the chamber wants the city to become a destination, and improvements to the downtown infrastructure will help that happen.

She points to ongoing work on Elm Street in the heart of downtown and planned improvements in the so-called Gaslight District, with work slated to begin next spring.

“The city development officer reached out us to us, and several chamber representatives sat down with people from HDR Engineering Inc., who are in charge of the market and transportation analysis,” she said of the Elm Street initiative, explaining that city officials have been seeking input on what members felt would make the area successful. Ideas included new eateries, specialty retail shops, and professional offices, along with market-rate housing.

“We are excited about improving the downtown area,” Phelon noted, “because, when you make improvements to it, you bring foot traffic to existing and new businesses.”

Recently there have been some important additions to the business landscape, including Armbrook Village (a senior-living complex) and a major addition at the Gulfstream facility at Barnes Municipal Airport. In addition, Walmart is expanding and will soon become a superstore.

The first phase of the city’s rail trail has been completed, and Phelon says the economic impact it will hold in the future is considerable, because it will be of one of four elevated rail trails in the country with a large number of access points to businesses.

She said she receives many calls from people inquiring about retail space downtown, and directs them to the WBID.

She said the chamber acts as a facilitator, making connections between entrepreneurs and officials in City Hall, Westfield Gas & Electric, and other entities to help pave the way for new business ventures and expansions. Such was the case with the Westfield School of Music, which recently opened its doors.

The chamber recently finished its strategic plan for the coming year, which includes a plan to host more events in the small towns it serves.

“In the past, most events were held in Westfield or Southwick,” Phelon said. “There hasn’t been enough outreach for members in outlying towns, and it will be interesting for people to learn about the businesses there. It’s exciting to reach out to them, and we want to have a greater presence in the hilltowns so they can make connections.”

The WestNet events have also been transformed, and participation has increased dramatically due to venues that are fun and interesting. New members are introduced and get to pitch their products or services, and those who work on the event are recognized.

A recent gathering was staged at Maple Brook Alpaca Farm, where participants watched a shearing demonstration, while another took place in Pioneer Valley Railroad’s dining car, and a third was held at YMCA’s Camp Shepard beneath a pavilion near its new swimming pool.

“Some business owners would never get the opportunity to see these places; our WestNets are fun, and you can feel the synergy,” Phelon said, adding that one business owner introduced people to her company by singing a song. “We are very creative and want to provide events that are different.”

 

Supportive Environment

In August, Phelon attended the annual meeting of American Chamber of Commerce Executives in Louisville, Ky., where the theme was “Limitless Possibilities” and how they can be fostered.

For her, the answer was clear and came down to the recognition that each business has a personality and mission important to the Westfield region.

“Whether you are a sole proprietor or a large employer such as Westfield State University or Noble Hospital, our chamber treats you the same way,” she told BusinessWest. “We make a real effort to make people feel comfortable. My philosophy is that the chamber should help members thrive, so I get excited when people meet and connect. Not only is it part of our mission, the bigger picture is that it can help businesses grow.”

Which happens when they are educated, informed, and supported by their peers, Phelon said. “It’s a domino effect, and we will continue to foster economic development through personal connections.”