Events Archives - Page 39 of 48

Financial Planning for the Next Decade

By BusinessWest Staff June 7, 2011

Sections Supplements

Some Basic Steps for Taking Control of Your Money

Doug Wheat

If you are like most people, you are anxious and concerned about the economy, your job, and the future. While we may have a limited impact on the world around us, we can each take control of our own financial situation to ease our concerns. Whether you are wealthy or not, having specific financial goals and a plan for achieving them will help you be more in control of your financial life.
If you have a financial plan in place, make sure you review it on a regular basis. Life can take unexpected turns, and your financial planning may need to be appropriately altered. If you started implementing some changes to your finances but ran into a roadblock, got bogged down in the details, or your life got too busy, now is a great time to pick up where you left off.
Here is a challenge for you to complete this summer. Read through this article detailing nine basics of financial planning. Pick two action items that would be helpful to you, and implement them in June. In July, read a personal-finance book and pick two more action items to implement. You will be on your way to taking control of your finances for the next decade.
• Spend Less Than You Earn: While there are many different strategies for financial planning, no strategy will work unless you spend less than you earn. It doesn’t matter if you make $30,000, $100,000, or $250,000 per year; spending more than you take home each month will make all of your plans collapse. The amount you spend in a year is the result of hundreds of independent decisions. How are you making these decisions? Do you know the difference between your wants and your needs? If you have trouble spending less than you earn, it’s time for you to do some research and some experimentation to find a system that helps you have some money left at the end of every week. One alternative to a traditional budget is the ‘first-step cash management’ system that suggests dividing your money into separate bank accounts, each with a different purpose.
• Have a Cash Reserve: Having cash in the bank is a type of insurance against the unexpected. At some point everyone will face an unexpected large bill, possibly a car-repair bill or a hole in the roof. If you have cash on hand, you can pay the bill without going into debt. Should you lose your job, it is doubly important to have resources available until you can secure new employment. A good goal is to have three months of expenses available in cash; six months would be even better. It is helpful to put your cash reserve in a place that makes it difficult to spend, such as a separate bank.

• Pay Off Debt: Debt can be useful and sometimes unavoidable whether you are paying for college, a medical bill, or a new refrigerator. The average American household with credit-card debt owes $14,743 and pays nearly $2,000 in interest expense per year, according to creditcards.com. It is no surprise that 69% of people with credit-card debt find it difficult to save, according to a 2011 America Saves survey. Whatever the source, you will be better served by paying it off as quickly as possible. You might try the ‘snowball’ method of debt repayment. With this strategy, after you pay off one debt, you add its monthly payment to the next debt on your list until all debts are paid off. Unless you have no other choice, don’t use credit to make additional purchases.
• Establish Specific Goals: Too many people live on a day-to-day basis without thinking about their priorities and developing plans to reach them. The more specific you can make your goal, the easier it becomes to measure your progress. For example, instead of simply having a goal of paying off your credit-card debt, add a date by which you want to have a zero balance and figure out your monthly payment to make it happen.
• Multiply Your Money: We all know the best time to start saving is early, and the second-best time is now. There are lots of competing uses for our money, but the power of compounding is not available to us until our money is invested and earning money. When our money is earning money, then our wealth can build much more rapidly. A 25-year old who saves $1,000 per year for 40 years and earns 5% interest will have $133,880 at age 65. A 35-year-old who saves $1,000 per year for 30 years and earns 5% interest will have $74,083 at age 65. Starting to save early can give you a big jump on meeting a long-term goal.
• Understand Account Types: Tax-advantaged accounts are available to help all of us meet some of our most important goals. Understanding the difference between these accounts will help you minimize the taxes you pay and maximize the money you have available to reach your goals. There are essentially three types of accounts: tax-free, tax-deferred, and taxable. With tax-free accounts, both the money you put in the account and the money earned in the account can be taken out tax-free. Retirement Roth IRAs and 529 Educational Savings Accounts are two examples of tax-free accounts. If you make a contribution to a tax-deferred account, it will reduce your taxable income this year, but withdrawals of both your contributions and earnings in the future are considered income, and you will owe income tax on it. Traditional IRA accounts, 401(k) accounts, and 403(b) accounts are examples of tax-deferred accounts. For a taxable account, you owe income tax and capital-gains tax each year based on your earnings. Taxable accounts include savings accounts and brokerage accounts.
• Invest in a Diversified Portfolio: Since we cannot predict the future, investing in a diversified mix of assets will help you weather economic storms or drops in the market while also having better growth potential than a savings account alone. Being diversified becomes more important as you get older and have accumulated money that you do not want to lose. There are many strategies for building a diversified portfolio. If you don’t have the opportunity to research the subject, a default choice can be either a retirement fund based on your age or an educational fund based on the age of your child. Try to find investment products with low fees.
• Prepare for Pitfalls: It is important to be prepared for unexpected events. Having a cash reserve is one way to be prepared. Having insurance and wills in place is another. Most people have health, automobile, and homeowners insurance because they are often mandatory and it is easier to see a relationship between risk and benefits. However, people often don’t realize their vulnerability to misfortune in other areas of their lives. According to the Social Security Benefit Administration, approximately 30% of 20-year olds entering work today will become disabled before they retire, and 1 in 6 Americans will die before reaching age 67. Finding cost-effective means to insure against the risks we all face will provide you and your family financial security if the unexpected happens.
• Expand Your Learning: Personal finance is a complicated subject with a number of different facets. There is a wealth of information available on the Internet as well as in publications such as Money, Kiplinger Personal Finance, and Smart Money. Basic books on financial planning include Personal Finance for Dummies by Eric Tyson, The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley and William Danko, and The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom by Suzy Orman. Even if you don’t like dealing with money, reading a few personal-finance items every year will help keep you up-to-date and better-able to plan for your future.

Early-Career (approx. age 23-35) Action Items:
• Establish a cash reserve equal to 3-6 months of expenses.
• Make a plan to pay off non-mortgage debt by a specific date.
• Invest in a 401(k) retirement account at least up to your employer’s match but hopefully 10% of your salary or more.
• Utilize a Roth IRA retirement account if you don’t have a retirement plan at work.
• Pay yourself first by setting up automatic transfers into a long-term savings or investment account.
• Watch your expenses. It is easy to burn through money on nights out or daily coffee. Make sure you are spending less than you are taking home.

Mid-Career (approx. age 36-50) Action Items:
• Make specific mid- and long-range goals and develop a plan to meet them.
• Pay off non-mortgage debt and kick the debt cycle by building up your savings.
• Step up your retirement savings in your 401(k) to 10% or 15% of your salary if you are not already doing so. The default investment option can be a target date fund based on your age.
• Review your insurance needs, including term life insurance and disability insurance.
• Establish a will, health care proxy, and power of attorney.
• Start saving for your kids’ college in a 529 account. The default investment option can be a target date fund based on your son or daughter’s age.

Pre-retiree (approx. age 51-64) Action Items:
• Review your long-range goals and adjust your spending and savings to meet them.
• Develop a realistic budget.
• Consider fully funding your 401(k) with $16,500 per year plus $5,500 per year in step-up contributions for people over age 55.
• Make sure your investments are diversified.
• Review your Social Security benefit information.
• Consider paying off your mortgage before you retire to increase your cash flow when you don’t have a job.
• Don’t sacrifice your retirement to pay for your kid’s college.
• Consider how you will pay for future health care costs, including long-term care.

Retiree (age 65 and up) Action Items:
• Determine your income, including pensions and Social Security.
• Set up your investments to transfer money to your checking account on a monthly basis. Starting with a 4% withdrawal rate can help make your money last.
• Finalize a realistic budget based on your income and asset withdrawals.
• Consider part-time work or delaying retirement if your numbers do not add up.
• Review your will, health care proxy, and power of attorney.

Doug Wheat, CFP is director of Family Wealth Management Inc. in Holyoke; www.fwmgt.com

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2011

Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555
n June 3: ERC5 Annual Meeting, 7:15-9 a.m., Twin Hills Country Club, Longmeadow.
Tickets: $20 for members; $30 for non-members . Speakers: Suzanne Strempek Shea and Tom Shea on “Keeping it Local.” For more information and to purchase tickets call (413) 787-1555
n June 15: ACCGS Annual Meeting, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Marriott Springfield. Tickets: $40 for members; $60 for non-members. Speaker: Greg Bialecki, secretary of Housing and Economic Development. For more information and to purchase tickets call (413) 787-1555.

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101
n June 1: Annual golf tournament at Chicopee Country Club; 10 a.m. start. For more information, please contact the chamber at (413) 594-2101
n June 10: Global to Local — A Workshop Series, Part 3 Growth Strategy: A New Approach, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Hampton Inn Chicopee, 600 Memorial Dr. Cost: $65 for members, $75 non-members.

FRANKLIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463
n June 24: Annual Meeting and Legislative Breakfast, 7:30 – 9 a.m., Eaglebrook School.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376
n June 8: Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting. Program at 4 p.m. followed by social hour and dinner; The Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Tickets: $25. For reservations, call (413) 534-3376 or register online at holyokechamber.com.
n June 15: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Wistariahurst Museum. Sponsored by Sunshine Village. Admission is $5 for members; $10 cash for non-members. For more information, call (413) 534-3376 or sign up at holyokechamber.com.
n June 23: Job Fair, presented by the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, CareerPoint, Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, and Elms College. Hosted by Elms College, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee. Please check holyokechamber.com for details.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900
n June 1: June Arrive @5, 5-7p.m. A casual mix and mingle with your colleagues and friends. Hosted by Hotel Northampton, A2Z Science & Learning Store & The Northampton Education Foundation, 36 King St., Northampton. Sponsored by: Calvin Coolidge Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for Northampton, Webber & Grinnell Insurance. Cost: $10 for members; $15 for non-members.
n June 21: June Meet & Eat Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., Smith College Conference Center, Elm St., Northampton. Cost: $15 for members.

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900
n June 9: Party with a Purpose, the NAYP Non-Profit Board Fair, 5-8 p.m., at the
Smith College Conference Center, Elm Street Northampton. Free for NAYP members as well as Easthampton, Northampton, and Amherst Chamber members;
$5 for non-members.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880
n June 15: Table Top, 4:30-7:00 p.m, Fathers & Sons, 214 New Bridge St. West Springfield. This event will feature tabletop displays of various businesses. The WRC is looking for sponsors of this event. For more information, call (413) 426-3880.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618
n June 8: WestNet, the after 5 networking event, 5-7 p.m. Hosted by the YMCA of Greater Westfield @ Camp Shepard. Come and shoot hoops to support the chamber’s Scholarship fund. Tickets: $10 for members; $15 for non-members. For more information, call (413) 568-1618; [email protected].
n June 10: Chamber June Breakfast, hosted by: Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m.; program, 8-9. Guest Speaker: Timothy Brennan, executive director, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Sponsors: Platinum Sponsor: First Niagara; Gold Sponsors: Westfield State University, United Bank, Noble Health Systems; Silver Sponsor Westfield Bank. Tickets: $25 for members; $30 for non-members. For more information, call (413) 568-1618; [email protected].
n June 20: 50th Annual Golf Tournament, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Title Sponsor: United Bank. For morte information or to sign up, call Sandy Sorel at (413) 779-0075.

YPS-YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.springfieldyps.com
n June 9: Martini Magic, 6-9 p.m., Max’s Tavern at The Basketball Hall of Fame, 1000 West Columbus Ave., Springfield. Join YPS at Max’s Martini Magic and help support the Ronald McDonald House. The event will include a creative selection of cocktails, exquisite hors d’oeuvres, carving stations, and live music. Tickets: $65 per person.
A $10 discount will be given to YPS members who purchase their tickets before May 27. Tickets are limited. For reservations please contact AnnMarie Harding at [email protected]; or by phone at (413) 746-6299, Ext. 381.
n June 19: Lighthouse’s 1st Annual ‘Cue it up for Employment’ Billiards Tournament, 3 p.m., Smith’s Billiards, Worthington Street, Springfield. Doors open at 3; match play begins at 4. Sponsored by: Mercy Medical Center, Burger King, Sisco, and YPS. Tickets: $20 for players; $10 for spectators. Player tickets are limited. For reservations please contact Jeff Trant at [email protected], or call (413) 736-8974, Ext. 101. All proceeds benefit Lighthouse, a division of Human Resources Unlimited, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization serving disabled and disadvantaged adults.

Pic This

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2011

Departments Picture This

Send photos with a caption and contact information to: ‘Picture This’
c/o BusinessWest Magazine, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 or to [email protected]

Reading Aloud

Kensington Elementary School in Springfield recently hosted two guest readers as part of Link to Libraries’ ongoing read-aloud Program. At left top, BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien is seen with his fourth-grade class, while left below, Peter Rosskothen, co-owner of the Delaney House and Log Cabin, and a regular participant in the program, reads to another fourth-grade class.
The read-aloud program is presented six times a year by the nonprofit Link to Libraries, which brings in area business people to read to students in Springfield and Holyoke public schools. Students each receive a book and book bag to begin their own home library, and the school library receives between 175 and 200 new books.

Branching Out

The Polish National Credit Union (PNCU) staged a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 5 to celebrate the grand opening of its new full-service branch location at 25 East Longmeadow Road in Hampden. From left are: Jeffrey Ciuffreda, executive director of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield; PNCU President James Kelly; and state Rep. Brian Ashe, D-Longmeadow.

Check Presentation

Grainger Co. staff present a $5,000 check from the Grainger Foundation to STCC Student Activities Director Andrea Tarpey and STCC Foundation Director William Kwolek. The Grainger Foundation also presented $5,000, in checks of $1,000, to five local food pantries. More than 1,400 food items donated by the STCC community were divided among the food pantries.

Howdy Awards

The 2011 Howdy Awards for Hospitality Excellence, which honor frontline hospitality employees in the Pioneer Valley, were presented at ceremonies at the Log Cabin on May 10. At left, the winners are (from left) Amanda Malone of Chandler’s Restaurant at Yankee Candle Flagship in South Deerfield (Food category); Khia Eagan of the 7-Eleven store in Sunderland (Retail/Business category); Bob Aubrey of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield (Attractions category); Elise Wright of the Belchertown United Church of Christ (Public Service category); Melanie Smith of Six Flags New England in Agawam (Howdy Spotlight Award winner); Mary Mercier of the Yardhouse in South Hadley (Beverage category); Tony Rogers of the Comfort Inn & Suites in Ludlow (Accommodations category); Jason Guzman of Valet Park of America in Springfield (Transportation category); and Judy Brinn of Peter Pan Bus Lines in Springfield (Unseen Hero category). At below left, Melanie Smith, national tour and travel representative at Six Flags, is seen after receiving the Howdy Spotlight Award with Greg Chiecko of Eastern States Exposition (left) and Peter Rosskothen of the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House and the Delaney House. Smith was honored with the Spotlight Award for her ongoing efforts on behalf of the Pioneer Valley hospitality and tourism business. She also serves currently as chairman of the group tour committee for the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, a position previously held by Chiecko and Rosskothen.

Parking Lot Party

The East of the River 5 Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5) welcomed more than 100 people from the business community to a unique networking event, held in the parking lot of the Eastwood Shops in Wilbraham on May 12. The event, the ERC5 Parking Lot Party, was organized based on the belief that all the best business happens in the parking lot, after the official meeting has ended. The party included food, music, a mobile video-game unit, classic cars, a cyber café, and, of course, networking opportunities. From left top: Jocelyn Walker (left) of Turley Publications, Cheri Mills (center) of Webster Bank, and Maureen Turmel of the Gaudreau Group promote the Boston Road Business Assoc., an event sponsor; Eric Rackliffe of AT&T Mobility helps Barbara Kolosowski, from the Springfield Boys & Girls Club, check in on Facebook; Ed Nunez of Freedom Credit Union gears up for a round of Guitar Hero. Games2U served as the Game Time sponsor for the event.

Springfield’s 375th Birthday Bash

The City of Homes celebrated its 375th birthday in style on May 14 with a variety of events and activities, ranging from the annual pancake breakfast — still the world’s largest — to a parade that drew more than 1,500 marchers; from musical performances to Civil War re-enactments at the Springfield Armory; from fireworks to ceremonies involving the Massachusetts Army National Guard, which was also celebrating its 375th anniversary. Scenes from the day included, left from top, a look down Main Street as the pancake breakfast commences; Springfield High School of Science and Technology Director of Bands Gary Bernice, far right, who received a commemorative plate for his many contributions to the event, is seen with, from left, Brigadier General Paul Smith, assistant adjutant general of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, U.S. Rep. and former Springfield Mayor Richard Neal, and current Mayor Domenic Sarno; the contingent from Baystate Health makes its way down the parade route; Neal is seen with several graduates of Elms College, which staged commencement exercises at the MassMutual Center that morning.

More scenes from Springfield’s 375th birthday celebration: left, Donald D’Amour, chairman and CEO of Big Y World Class Markets, receives an honorary key to the city from Mayor Sarno (Big Y, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, sponsored the fireworks display); below, the contingent from ABC 40/Fox 6 makes its way down the parade route; at bottom, re-enactors prepare to shoot a cannon as part of the ceremonies at the Armory.

Photos from The Spirit of Springfield

Profiles in Business

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2011

Tom Burton, President and CEO of Hampden Bank

Features

He’s a Driving Force in the Business Community

Tom Burton, President and CEO of Hampden Bank

Tom Burton calls it “the Beauty.”
That’s the name he gave to a 1953 Buick Super he acquired more than 20 years ago and now displays at several car shows each summer. As he talked about it, Burton said it is most definitely not the kind of vehicle most Baby Boomers — and he’s among the older members of that generation at 65 — set out to put in their garage upon being bitten by the “old-car bug,” as he called it,
“This is not a car you dream of having as a kid; most guys think about the old muscle cars — the Camaros, Mustangs, Firebirds, or Chargers,” said Burton, president and CEO of Hampden Bank, adding that, while he also likes those hugely popular models that now carry big price tags, he never really looked at anything other than that huge, chrome-laden, four-door sedan. Part of the reason was a fairly limited budget for this pursuit, but there was much more to it, as he explained in a recent issue of the bank’s newsletter, which focused on the broad subject of hobbies.
“When I was 7, my father purchased his first brand-new car,” he wrote in a piece titled “The Last Buick.” “Tragically, when I was 10, he died of cancer. Needless to say, my mother was saddled with me and my two younger brothers and that Buick for many years. Without a breadwinner, there was little money to replace the Buick when it became tired and old, and upon turning 16, it was the vehicle I learned to drive.
“By that time, it was totally obsolete, and I was ashamed to take it out on a date,” he continued. “Fortunately, my teenage self-esteem was redeemed when it was replaced by a somewhat used, very uncool, but more presentable Chevy Nova. Although I didn’t appreciate the significance of the Buick at the time, when it came to making a choice on the purchase of a classic car, there was no other.”

“The Beauty,” making one of its summertime appearances outside its garage home.

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say Burton is a lot like the car that now has its own heated garage and gets regular pampering. Like the 58-year-old sedan, he represents stability, not flash; dependability, not speed — although he says the eight-cylinder Buick still has plenty of giddyup if one is so inclined, although the gas mileage is quite poor. “I don’t know what it is; I just know it isn’t good.”
Yet the bank president and the Super would both earn a good number of style points.
In his 18 years at the helm, Burton has overseen pronounced growth — from $150 million in assets to just under $600 million, and from four offices to 10 — while also orchestrating a change in operational mission, from a bond bank to one that now has a large portfolio of loans, both residential and commercial.
And he’s taken the bank public, a step he considered the best option to attain the capital needed to fuel an expansion plan that has taken the institution well beyond its roots in downtown Springfield.
Looking ahead, he said that Hampden, like all the banks in this region, have to essentially fight their way through this time of general sluggishness in the economy and be positioned for the day when the housing market rebounds and business owners regain the confidence needed to seek capital for expansion and new ventures.
“Loan demand has been very slow; it’s starting to pick up a little bit, but it’s nowhere near where it should be,” he explained. “There’s a hesitancy on the part of business owners to undertake expansions and hire employees, because they’re still uncertain about their future.”
For this, the latest in its Profiles in Business series, BusinessWest talked at length with a business executive who’s been a driving force, figuratively and it seems literally as well, in the region’s business community and, especially, the financial-services sector.

His Big Brake
Burton told BusinessWest that this is actually the second Buick Super he’s owned. The first was in relatively poor condition — “it was a lot junkier” — when he bought it, and he didn’t do much with it.
He found the second in North Carolina after a fairly lengthy search on an Internet that was then still very much in its infancy. After successfully negotiating a price, he had it shipped north. Burton said it doesn’t get out of that heated garage much — it still has only 44,000 miles on it — but he does display it at several area cruise-night gatherings, including a huge show in East Granby that features between 600 and 800 cars. He’s even won a few trophies at such events.
As hobbies go, this one can get fairly expensive — Burton has a plastic model of a 1953 Buick Skylark on the bookshelf in his office, a car that would fetch $125,000 to $150,000 on the open market because so few were made — but not all-consuming … if one keeps things under control, of course. “It can certainly become work if you have too many,” he explained. “At one time I had two cars, and that really became work, and I found that I can have one and thoroughly enjoy that one car instead of doing two or more.”
Besides, he has a number of other things on his plate at the moment, especially leadership of the bank through a period that, while it certainly doesn’t compare with the landscape-changing turmoil of the early ’90s, comes with its own set of more modest but still-intriguing challenges (more on them later).
Burton brings to this assignment an interesting background, one with its foundation in accounting, not banking. Indeed, he spent 23 years at KPMG, and didn’t even count banks among his clientele until he was roughly seven years into his tenure at the then-Big 8 firm’s Springfield office.
His “route,” as he called it, stretched from Hartford into Southern Vermont and New Hampshire, and eventually it included several financial institutions, including what was known then as Hampden Savings Bank.
In 1991, KPMG had a downsizing in its partnership ranks — about 25% of them left or retired. “And that left a lot of pressure on those who remained, including myself,” said Burton. “We went from four partners in our banking group down to two, and that was pretty stressful.”
Elaborating, he said he started to explore other career opportunities, including the opening in the president’s office at Hampden Savings.
“It was a small mutual bank, and I saw it as an attractive lifestyle change,” Burton said of his decision to pursue and eventually take the position after it was offered to him. “I knew banking … I had been working in it through tax and audit work and some consulting for a lot of years, and thought it would be a good opportunity for me.
“We were coming out of a very, very difficult recession at the time,” he continued, noting that banks tapping CPAs as presidents and other top executives was not uncommon during that turbulent period when financial stability was the top priority moving forward. “Prior to that time, the road to becoming a CEO at a bank was through the lending area, and having that lending discipline was important; what they found out was that the lenders didn’t do such a good job, so they said, ‘maybe we need some finance people.’”
The bank he took over didn’t look at all like the one he presides over now, an evolution he says is part of a much broader change that has come to the industry over the past two decades.
“This bank was very different then; it had only 29% of its assets in loans, and subsequently very few loan problems,” he explained, adding that the bulk of the holdings were in bonds. “Six weeks after the annual meeting in February 1994, there was a sharp rise in interest rates that led to the worst bond market since 1927; bonds just collapsed.”
In response, the bank expanded into residential and then commercial lending, with the latter being a pattern repeated at some other community banks, thus dramatically changing the business-lending landscape.
“The local savings banks that traditionally did just mortgages, except for maybe a few consumer loans, all got into business banking,” he explained. “So now, in this marketplace, they dominate the business-banking market — the Uniteds, Chicopees, Westfields, and ourselves are dominating that area.
“The commercial-banking landscape is diminished, and the savings banks have really taken over the commercial-banking realm,” he continued. “We filled a void; we needed to expand, and with the consolidation of the commercial banks, there was an opportunity for the savings banks, who filled that in. And all the commercial lenders we’ve hired, and that others have hired, came from commercial banks, so the players, the individuals, are very much the same people.”

Of General Interest
Hampden also expanded geographically, and boasts five branches in Springfield, (including one in Indian Orchard), two in Longmeadow, and one each in Agawam, West Springfield, and Wilbraham.
Such growth requires capital, however, and in 2006, Burton and the rest of Hampden’s leadership team decided the best course was to take the institution public, a move that mirrored several other area institutions and provided needed flexibility, said Burton.
One of the many aspects of taking a bank public is the resulting change with regard to the dissemination of information, said Burton.
“Transparent” was the word he used to describe how an institution must look and act. Among other things, this means that people like Burton are limited in what they can say and when they can say it.
“You have to let everyone know everything at the same time,” he explained, adding that this has been a learning process for those at the bank. And with that as a backdrop, he talked about the present and future in very general terms and with mostly predictable language.
“Our five-year plan is to simply grow the bank,” he said. “We’ve always done well in this marketplace, especially when there’s been turmoil.”
And by that, he meant mergers and acquisitions, or a further consolidation of the local banking community. Hampden, like most all community banks, fares well when regional institutions doing business in the area become part of much bigger regional or national banks.
As for whether Hampden might become part of such an acquisition, Burton would say only that the bank has been approached on several occasions, but there has been nothing but talk to date.
“We’re a very nice franchise, and we’re attractive to other institutions,” he explained. “We’d be offended if we weren’t invited to lunch every now and then. But our goal is to remain independent.”
Pressed for comments about the current state of the industry and what’s ahead for Hampden and the financial-services industry in general, Burton started by simply recalling a question from someone in the audience at a recent shareholders meeting — and his answer.
“He was asking when the bank was going to increase the dividend,” Burton recalled. “My response was, ‘when I feel comfortable that we can consistently have good quarters.’ My concern was that we’d have some quarters and we may have some that are not so good. The consistency isn’t there just yet.
“Things are starting to look a little better,” he continued, referring to banks’ bottom lines in specific. “Everyone seems to be posting profits — some of them of them are very small, but they are profits — and that should continue. We’re through the worst, things are starting to get better, but we’ve got a ways to go before companies start to feel really comfortable that they can make an expansion or they can hire employees and they won’t have to reverse those decisions.”
While working to help achieve that consistency he spoke of, Burton is keeping busy with many other things. He’s active in the community, with interests ranging from Western New England College (he’s an alumnus), where he has served on the board for many years, including a stint as director, to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, for which he’s also been a long-term board member. He also plays some golf; he’s a member of Longmeadow Country Club.
He’s also following the professional exploits of his three sons. Tom, the oldest, is an attorney in the Boston area specializing in alternative-energy companies; his middle son, James, is in retail, while his youngest, Sean, is a college music professor.
Which brings Burton to another intriguing subject, a trumpet that dates back to when his father bought the Buick. A Pan American model, the instrument, which has been passed down to several family members, has lost much of its plating, “but still has a lot of character.”
Burton said bank employees have made some several entreaties for him to play it at the jazz festival the bank sponsors each summer, but he has thus far rejected those invitations, and plans to continue that pattern.
“Most definitely not,” he said when asked if there might be an appearance this summer. “I wouldn’t embarrass myself or put people through that.”
And then, there’s the Buick, and the approaching summer, which is its time to shine — in more ways than one.

In the Driver’s Seat
On the day he talked with BusinessWest, Burton was readying for a trip to a Florida, where he and his wife, Kathy, have a condo and spend several weeks a year. He was also planning on bringing the Buick over to Robbie’s Auto Repair on the corner of State Street and Columbus Avenue in Springfield for some work on the master brake cylinder, which had been leaking.
“He [Robbie] takes a great interest in old cars — I think he likes working on them more than he does the modern ones,” said Burton, adding that he brings the Super in at least a few times a year for needed service and replacement parts to keep it running smoothly.
Just like the bank he leads.

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

Chamber Corners

By BusinessWest Staff May 10, 2011

Chamber Corners Departments

CHamber corners: Upcoming Events

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555
* May 12: ERC5 Parking Lot Party, 5–8 p.m., Eastwood Shops, Boston Road, Wilbraham. Cost: $10 for members; $20 for non-members.For more information, contact Sarah Tsitso, (413) 755-1318 or [email protected].
* May 13: ACCGS Legislative Steering Committee, 8–9 a.m., TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.
* May 18: ERC Board of Directors’ Meeting, 8–9 a.m., the Gardens of Wilbraham, Community Room, 2 Lodge Lane, Wilbraham.
* May 18: ACCGS Ambassadors Meeting, 4–5 p.m., EDC Conference Room, Springfield.
* May 18: Professional Women’s Chamber – Woman of the Year Banquet honoring Kate Kane, 6 p.m., Springfield Sheraton. Tickets: $50 per person. For more information or to reserve tickets, contact Lynn Johnson at (413) 755-1310; or [email protected].
* May 19: ACCGS Board of Directors’ Meeting, 8–9 a.m., TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700
* May 18: Chamber After 5, 5–7 p.m., Cherry Hill Golf Course, 325 Montague Road, Amherst. Cost: $5 members; $10 nonmembers. For more information, call (413) 253-0700.

Chicopee Chamber of Commerce
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101
* May 11: Global to Local; a Workshop Series/Part 2 Reinventing Your Business Model, 8–11 a.m., the Hampton Inn, Chicopee. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.chicopeechamber.org
* May 13: Annual Auction/Beer and Wine Tasting, 6–9 p.m., the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr. in Chicopee. Presented by Chicopee Saving Bank. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.chicopeechamber.org.
* May 18: Salute Breakfast, 7:15–9 a.m., Elms College, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.chicopeechamber.org.

Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414
* May 12: Networking by Night, Business Card Exchange, 5 to 7 p.m. Come see Easthampton’s Solar Net Zero community. Sponsored & hosted by Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Realty, Meadow River Valley Way, Easthampton. Hors d’ouevres, door prizes, host beer and wine. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members.
* May 15: Easthampton’s 11th Annual Big Rig Day, 9 a.m. To 3 p.m., rain or shine. Family fun with trucks of all sizes, construction equipment, safety vehicles, specialty cars and trucks. New location: Easthampton Municipal Building and Public Safety Complex, 32-50 Payson Ave., Easthampton. Free admission and parking. For more information, visit www.bigrigday.com.
* May 20: Wine & Microbrew Tasting, 6 to 8 p.m., One Cottage St., Easthampton. More than 50 wines and microbrews, fine food, raffle. Wine sponsor: Westfield Spirit Shop. Microbrew sponsor: Big E’s supermarket. Food sponsor: the Log Cabin and the Delaney House. Benefactor: Finck & Perras Insurance Agency. Cost: $30 in advance, $35 at the door. For more information, call (413) 527.9414. Purchase tickets online at www.easthamptonchamber.org. Proceeds to benefit chamber community programs.

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463
n May 20: Monthly Breakfast Series, 7:30-9 a.m., Greenfield Grille, 30 Federal St., Greenfield. Member spotlight on the Sandri Company. Main speaker: Secretary of Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. Sponsored by Greenfield Community College. Cost: Members: $12, Non-members $15.

Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376
* May 16: 43rd Annual Chamber Cup Golf Tournament 2011, starting at 11 a.m., Wyckoff Park, 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Registration and Lunch at 11a.m.; tee off at noon (scramble format); dinner following game with elaborate food stations catered by the Log Cabin. Cost: $125 per player includes lunch, 18 holes of golf, cart, and dinner. Winner awards, raffles, and cash prizes follow dinner. Tournament Sponsors: Log Cabin and PeoplesBank.
Corporate Sponsors: Dowd Insurance, Goss & McLain Insurance Agency, Holyoke Gas & Electric, Mountain View Landscapes, Holyoke Community College, Holyoke Medical Center, People’s United Bank, and Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll. For reservations call (413) 534-3376 or register online at holyokechamber.com.
* May 18: Chamber After Hours, 5–7 p.m., Pic’s Place/Highland Tap, 910 Hampden St., Holyoke. Sponsored by All Sales Consulting, LLC. Admission: $5 for members, $10 cash for non-members; (413)534-3376.

Northampton Area Young Professional Society
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900
* May 12: Party with a Purpose, 5–8 p.m., the Delaney House, 1 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Free for members, $5 for non-members.

South Hadley/Granby Chamber of Commerce
www.shchamber.com
(413) 532-6451
* May 20: Legislative Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., the Orchards Golf Club, South Hadley. Guest speakers: state Sen. Stan Rosenberg, state Rep. John Scibak, and others. Tickets: $15 per person. Space is limited. Must RSVP by Tuesday, May 17 to (413) 532 6451.

Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce
www.threeriverschamber.org
(413) 283-6425
* May 21: Palmer Pick-Up Day, 9 a.m. to noon; [email protected]. Contact Chamber President Fred Orszulak, 413-283-7400. Following the pick-up, the Three Rivers Chamber is sponsoring a lunch cook-out at noon at Hryniewicz Park (AKA the Three Rivers Common).

West of the River Chamber of Commerce
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880
* May 12: 2011 Annual Meeting and Breakfast, 7 a.m., Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern. Speaker: Jason Freeman, president of Six Flags New England. Presenting sponsor: Easthampton Savings Bank. Coffee bar sponsor: Environmental Compliance Services. Cost: Members $25, non members, $30. Highlights: introducing Chairman-elect Remo Pizzichemi. For more information, learn about sponsorship opportunities, or to RSVP call (413) 426-3880; or email [email protected].

Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618
* May 11: WestNet after 5:00 Networking, 5–7 p.m., Tekoa Country Club. Putting Contest to benefit GWCOC Scholarship Fund. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
* June 20: 50th Annual Golf Tournament. Register now by contacting Sandy Sorel at (413) 779-0075.

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield
www.springfieldyps.com
May 19: Great Golf Escape 2011!, Tekoa Country Club, Westfield. The YPS Great Golf Escape sells out each year, attracting 144 golfers along with 100+ additional attendees at our Third Thursday social event immediately following the tournament; 10:30 a.m. registration; 11:30 shotgun start; scramble format. Price: $50 per player includes 18 holes of golf, cart, greens fees, YPS golf shirt, goody bag, lunch, refreshments on the green, beer ticket, and admission to YPS Third Thursday immediately following tournament. Presented by: St. Germain Investment Management.

Fueling Speculation

By BusinessWest Staff May 10, 2011

Sections Supplements

Gas Prices Shroud Summer Travel Season with Question Marks

Mary Kay Wydra, left, and Michele Goldberg show off some of the advertising aimed at drawing people from the Boston area to Western Mass.

There are a number of traditions that are part and parcel to summer in this region — fireworks on the Fourth of July, family getaways to the lake, and stops for ice cream at roadside soft-serve stands, to name just a few.
Two more have been added in recent years: high gas prices, and seemingly endless speculation about the impact they will have on the local tourism industry. And those traditions will continue in 2011. Gas prices are already at $4 per gallon, and most analysts say they will go much higher. This has many restaurateurs and tourist-attraction managers understandably nervous, but there is also the sentiment that the fuel prices will keep people closer to home for their summer fun.
“For Americans, taking a summer vacation is a birthright,” said Mary Kay Wydra, director of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “People are going to travel, but they will probably make different choices. Based on the fact that it costs $60 to $80 to fill a gas tank, they may visit two attractions instead of three, and may eat at less-expensive restaurants.
“It’s very important this year that destinations show value to the customer,” she continued, hitting on a point that she and others would stress repeatedly as they assessed the approaching summer season.
And to that end, the bureau is teaming up with area venues to offer vacation packages that include hotel stays combined with discounts to hot spots such as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield and Six Flags in Agawam.
This year, another of the bureau’s goals is to capture the interest of people in the eastern part of the state. “Our feeder markets are Boston, Connecticut, and New York, and we are targeting our marketing efforts in the Boston area this summer,” Wydra said.
A number of marketing initiatives will kick off in June, including digital billboards, online advertising, and a free coupon book that will be distributed at Exit 6 and Exit 15 on the Mass. Turnpike for a weekend, with signs posted before the exit to alert drivers to the giveaway who might otherwise breeze through the fast lane.
“We are cautiously optimistic about the summer. Our visitor numbers are never as high as major metropolitan areas like Boston, but they are also never as low,” Wydra said. “We are a drive-to destination, so it is important that we do everything possible to respond to rising gas prices. Destinations that get creative and show value to consumers are the ones that are going to be successful.”
For this issue and its focus on tourism, BusinessWest talked with a number of people in this sector about what they expect this summer, and what factors will determine the volume of travel — and spending.

Current Events
Wydra said the area is fortunate to have upcoming events designed to draw large crowds, such as the enshrinement at the Basketball Hall of Fame on Aug. 12, not to mention the Hoop City Jazz & Art Festival (July 8-10), Indian Day at the Museum of Springfield History (July 17), a Mini-Grand Prix car race in downtown Springfield (July 23-24), and the Six Flags concert series. “And if you go farther north, there are outdoor attractions which include zip lines,” she said.
Michele Goldberg, director of marketing for the Visitor’s Bureau, agrees. “There are two zip lines and three whitewater-rafting businesses in Charlemont. Plus there is the Quinnetukut Riverboat cruise in Northfield, the Lady Bea cruise at Brunelle’s in South Hadley, and boating, hiking and fishing,” she said.
Wydra touts the views from the rivers as attractions in themselves. “They are incredible, and the rivers are a magnet that attracts people of all ages,” she said.
Cliff Stevens is cautiously optimistic about the upcoming season. He owns Moxie Outdoor Adventures in Charlemont, which offers white-water rafting, family float trips, and related river activities. He says weather is always a major factor in the business.
“But last year we had a good season and held our own. We are expecting to do about the same this year,” he said.
The downturn in the economy has affected his bottom line, but Stevens hasn’t raised prices in about five years because he knows it’s important to keep excursions affordable.
“I think it will be a good season for local tourism,” he told BusinessWest. “We are no more than a tank of gas away for many people, so I’m optimistic that families will get out and relax. The trips we offer include lunch and have held up during the recession because they are a good value. There are five campgrounds in Charlemont, and people can stay at them, take a hike, go rafting, and have a nice getaway weekend, which has helped us.”
However, the soaring cost of gas has affected his employees, who typically have full-time jobs and work as river guides on weekends because they enjoy challenging situations as well as being on the water. “Some come from Boston, and the first question they’re asking is if I will give them money for gas,” Stevens said. “They are more hesitant to work for a day even though that has been their tradition.”
He is honoring their request because it is difficult to find professionals with enough expertise to navigate waterways that can quickly become treacherous.

Tanks for the Memories
Kevin Kennedy says the geographic area that stretches from the Berkshires to Springfield is home to more than 700,000 residents. “That’s a good-sized audience of people who don’t have to drive more than an hour to get to us,” said Kennedy, staff liaison of Museums10, a collaboration of seven campus museums and three independent facilities that have joined forces to attract visitors. The consortium is facilitated by Five Colleges Inc., which provides administrative support from its Amherst office.
“Each one has a different audience and different strengths, but there is also a lot of overlap,” Kennedy said. He views times such as these when gas prices soar and travel becomes more expensive as an opportunity to reach out to local audiences.
The group conducts an annual survey based on zip codes to gauge the economic impact their visitors have on the economy. Most guests drive from locations less than 90 minutes away, with many coming from Boston, Albany, New Haven, and Brattleboro.
“Because it’s an easy drive, people don’t have to wince too hard when they fill their gas tanks,” Kennedy said. “We’re also seeing folks from Hampshire County who have lived here for years and have been to some of the museums, but not all of them. People are looking for opportunities in their own backyards, and I think it’s good to have an increase in local visitors.”
The license-plate survey, which began in 2007, shows the most notable shift in attendance is the percentage of people from Massachusetts. In 2007, 37.9% of visitors came from the Bay State. That number rose to 47.3% the following year, held fairly steady at 45.6% in 2009, and climbed to 51.9 % last year.
Museums10 is looking to add value to its visits, and although six of the 10 museums don’t charge admission, they do feature gift shops, so the consortium is thinking about creating a card that would offer people reduced admissions and/or gift-shop discounts.

Soar Subject

Mike Desrosiers says he’s optimistic about the year ahead at the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Meanwhile, things seem to be on the upswing at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. And Marketing and Media Representative Mike Desrosiers thinks this will be a good season.
“If the recent spring vacation was any indication of how the summer will play out, we are very hopeful,” he said, referring to April school-vacation week. “We had an attendance level that trumped what we’ve done in the past few years, and that is always encouraging.”
Officials at Yankee Candle Flagship in South Deerfield are also optimistic, but their confidence stems largely from measures they have taken to attract visitors.
“We typically see 1 million to 1.5 million people every year,” said Jim Ovitt, director of retail operations. Most guests are within a 2 ½-hour drive, and when gas prices rose in 2008, Yankee Candle Flagship saw more local traffic and fewer visitors from outlying areas.
Its strategy has been to implement a continuous stream of new offerings that keep the attraction fresh and provide more reasons for visits.
“Several years ago when gas prices rose, we looked at what we could do strategically around key events that would drive traffic to this location,” said Ovitt, adding that such efforts have kept the company’s numbers stable. “The fact that we have free admission and offerings for every age makes us very attractive to families of two or more.
“We try to change things to make newness part of the excitement,” he continued, “with events, entertainment, and attractions within the store such as our Wax Works, where people can create their own candles from wax beads with layers of fragrances. It has been so popular, we had to renovate the area twice to add more capacity.”
The candy shop is under renovation, and will reopen as Yankee Candy, while Santa’s Toy Shop is being expanded in line with its successful marketing strategy.
The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Conn. has not experienced the same success. Although the facility is only about 20 minutes from downtown Springfield and a member of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the attraction has not been faring well, said Assistant Director Debbie Reed.
“The state line seems to scare people off,” she said. “It’s almost like a barrier, and we don’t know why.”
Museum officials hope to reverse this trend via a radio-advertising campaign aimed at the Springfield market. There is optimism, but administrators are adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
“January was terrible because of the weather; the last three months have been OK, but there is uncertainty because of the gas prices,” she said. “This season could be good, or it could be bad; we don’t know what to expect.”
However, a number of special events are also on their menu, including the annual Space Expo, which typically draws visitors from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, and parts of Western Mass.

The Bottom Line
Looking ahead to the summer season, the ever-optimistic but also realistic Wydra said there are a number of question marks hanging over the tourism sector — another tradition of sorts.
But while there is a good dose of concern about whether gas prices will temper visitation to area attractions and overall spending, there is widespread optimism that this sector will withstand that challenge and post solid numbers.
But as Wydra and others said many times, it all comes down to providing value.
“The term ‘new’ is so important, as new elements keep people coming back,” Wydra said. “And our attractions are always reinventing themselves.”

Doing Business in: Northampton

By BusinessWest Staff May 10, 2011

Crist Myers, president and CEO of Myers Information Systems

Features

Working in Paradise City Certainly Has Advantages

Crist Myers, president and CEO of Myers Information Systems, says the company’s Northampton location helps to enhance the creativity of its employees.

Six years ago, the owners of Myers Information Systems Inc. relocated the broadcast-software company from Holyoke to Northampton.
“We don’t do business locally or regionally,” said President and CEO Crist Myers as he explained that decision. “We moved here because we wanted to offer our employees the very best atmosphere we could find to enhance their creativity.”
The business is adjacent to the Norwottuck Rail Trail so employees can take a stroll or ride their bicycles on it. They can also walk downtown, which Myers said is a wonderful option when they need a break from work. “They don’t have to jump in their cars to go somewhere to have lunch. They can interact with people downtown where there is a blend of academics and professionals,” he said, adding that employees also take advantage of the many events and offerings available after hours and on weekends, which range from concerts to performances, restaurants, and pubs.
The fact that Northampton is the hub of the five-college area also made the city an attractive choice of mailing address, Myers said. “When you’re in the software business, it is important to have young, professional talent, and this area is conducive to attracting that kind of employee. We seem to get a higher quality of résumés here and can take advantage of the local college graduating classes.”
His rent is higher than it would be in surrounding communities. “But without a doubt, it’s worth it,” he told BusinessWest. “It is a nicer environment for employees, and in the long run, that is a positive for them and for an employer. They enjoy being here because it’s safe and quiet and there is alternative transportation — buses and walking and biking trails, which cuts down their expenses. Some of our employees ride their bicycles to work, which they couldn’t do before.”
There are many business owners in Northampton who use similar words to describe why they’re located in Paradise City, said Suzanne Beck, executive director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce. She agrees that Northampton is very appealing to young people and professionals because of the lifestyle it offers.
“It combines rural and urban characteristics and has everything from farmland to a vibrant downtown commercial district,” she said. “It’s also very easy to get to, and there are no traffic jams at any time of the day.”
Although rents downtown can be pricey, Beck says there are many different price points throughout the city, particularly for office space. And entrepreneurs thrive in all areas. “Entrepreneurs are attracted to Northampton because there is a very strong entrepreneurial character which is visible due to the mix of retail stores and commercial and professional businesses downtown. The entrepreneurial spirit is tangible here,” Beck said.
In addition, Northampton’s residents are well-rounded. Teri Anderson, the city’s economic development coordinator, says 91% have a minimum of a high-school diploma, and 50% have a bachelor’s degree or higher, making for a highly skilled and educated workforce.
“We also have a very good public-school system and offer business-development assistance through our office to help with site selection, resource and referrals, financial assistance, and business counseling sessions,” she told BusinessWest.
The single tax rate, set at $12.96 per thousand of assessed valuation, is another attractive draw. “It’s pretty low compared to a split tax where commercial and industrial property is taxed at $35 to $40 per thousand,” Anderson said, citing figures from surrounding communities. “And the proximity of the five colleges offers strong research capabilities and access to students for internships.”

Center of Attention
Northampton has a number of business hubs, including its downtown district, King Street and Pleasant Street, the I-91 Industrial Park, Village Hill, Florence Center, and the smaller Leeds Center.
“We have manufacturing and technology here, as well as a strong independent retail and restaurant sector,” Anderson noted. “Plus, Northampton’s commercial property values seem to hold their value even during recessions.”
Space is available for small and medium-sized businesses throughout the city, and opportunities exist at Village Hill, which occupies the grounds of the former Northampton State Hospital, which has been the subject of an ongoing reuse project for more than 20 years.
“Kollmorgen relocated to the village, and there is another 100,000 square feet available on smaller sites; it’s a good spot for small retailers and restaurants,” Anderson said, noting that there is a ready-made market of employees and residents who live in the 90 units on the property.
The downtown area is thriving and sees a steady stream of both foot and vehicular traffic. “We have one of the strongest downtowns in Western New England,” said Anderson. “We’re known as a cultural destination and have a large number of art organizations, businesses, and cultural events which range from art shows to music and concerts. In fact, Northampton has been listed among the top 25 art destinations in the country since 2000 by American Style magazine.”
The Three County Fairground, which serves as a showcase for cultural and agricultural exhibitions, also attracts tourists. “The Paradise City Arts Festival brings thousands of people to Northampton each year from all over New England and New York. It is important to downtown, as it is very beneficial to the retailers and restaurants,” Anderson said.
Pat Goggins has owned Goggins Real Estate for 30 years, and does most of the commercial rentals and sales business in Northampton. He said his job is made much easier because of the town’s well-deserved reputation as a cultural, retail, and culinary center.
“All people have to do is drive through the downtown area to see that it is thriving,” he said. “And the Business Improvement District, led by Dan Yacuzzo, helps make that happen.”
King Street and Pleasant Street benefit due to a ripple effect, he continued. “While they don’t have the same walkability as downtown, they lead directly there and are able to satisfy what the downtown area can’t in terms of demand.”
Meanwhile, Florence offers a village setting and is quieter than the downtown area, which some people appreciate. “It has its own business center and an industrial section in the old mill buildings, where space is available,” Anderson said.
Goggins concurred, and said Florence “has more of a service-based downtown but people love the quaintness and pace there.”
The industrial park is another attractive option. It is home to a wide range of ventures, including VOmax, which makes performance apparel for a number of sports, and relocated there from Plainfield in February of 2007.
“The top three reasons we moved here are access to a trained labor force, access to a major highway and metropolitan areas such as Boston and New York, and available space — we didn’t have the space to expand in Plainfield,” explained owner Michael Restuccia. “And the local access to art and design culture has certainly helped influence some of our newer products and designs.”
He said VOmax has taken advantage of the intelligent, well-skilled college population in the area. “We’ve hired a number of interns to help with initiatives, and have also engaged a local marketing and consulting firm to help build our brand,” he said. “They’ve helped us sign license agreements with the National Basketball Assoc., the National Hockey League, and Major League Baseball teams.”
The city is also becoming known as a prime location for green businesses and companies such as Environmental Compliance Systems Inc., which recently opened a new division in Florence in the Nonotuck Mill.

Thrive Time
Beck said one of the factors that attracts such companies is that the majority of Northampton business owners share similar values. “There are a lot of businesses here that are dedicated to supporting the community as well as their employees,” she said. “They are family-friendly.”
And while business owners and their employees support Northampton, it supports them as well, providing an attractive blend of commerce, activity, the arts, architecture, and, in a word, energy.
For visitors and business owners alike, it is truly paradise found.

Meghan Rothschild: 27

By BusinessWest Staff April 26, 2011

40 Under 40 The Class of 2011

Development and Marketing Manager, Food Bank of Western Mass.

Meghan Rothschild

Melanoma, a common skin cancer, can kill quickly. Beating it gave Meghan Rothschild a new outlook on life — and a mission.
“I’m a stage 2 melanoma survivor,” she said. “I was diagnosed at age 20, in college, and basically, it was because of some poor decisions I made in my teenage years to be outside without sunblock and to use tanning booths.”
As a journalism student at Roger Williams University, Rothschild wrote about her experience in a Rhode Island newspaper, and that opened more doors.
“A year after the initial diagnosis,” she said, “I decided this had happened for a reason, and that it was an opportunity instead of a negative thing, and I started speaking out about my diagnosis.”
She eventually founded SurvivingSkin.org and has shared her message of sun safety in a variety of media, inclouding Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan magazines, various fitness publications, WebMD.com, Inside Edition, and World News with Charles Gibson, among other outlets. In her former marketing position with Six Flags New England, she founded an annual melanoma day that raised thousands of dollars for the Melanoma Foundation of New England.
“I’ve also done a lot of work with the American Academy of Dermatology as their national spokesperson. It’s been wonderful to speak at schools, mostly in New England, and at colleges across the country,” she said. “The whole point is to talk about making right choices and really paying attention to your skin. It’s the largest organ in the body, and we really don’t pay enough attention to it.”
As development and marketing manager at the Food Bank, Rothschild is bringing attention to yet another often-neglected need.
“I oversee all the special events and campaign fund-raising and try to bring in financial sponsorships to help us continue our mission. I do some corporate relations as well,” she said.
“Every dollar we collect brings in $13 worth of food. It’s been very rewarding work. All the money and food we raise stays local. To know that I’m investing my time every day in something that’s making a difference for Western Mass., it’s a really great feeling.”
— Joseph Bednar

Nancy Buffone: 37

By BusinessWest Staff April 26, 2011

40 Under 40 The Class of 2011

Executive Director of External Relations and University Events, UMass Amherst

Nancy Buffone

Nancy Buffone likes to say that she owes a lot to UMass Amherst. She met her future husband, Mark, there, and has three degrees, including a master’s and a doctorate in education, from the university, which has also been her employer since she earned the first of those diplomas in 1995.
But to say that she’s repaid that debt would be a huge understatement.
Indeed, as executive director of External Relations and University Events, Buffone is playing a large role in improving the university’s relationship with Amherst and helping the school increase not only its visibility, but also its influence across the region.
In this job, she keeps one eye on the present — and initiatives such as the Gateway project, a joint economic-development initiative between the town and the university to develop a parcel on North Pleasant Street — and another on the future and events large and small.
Often that future is months down the road, with celebrations such as commencement, which Buffone has helped redesign into a two-day event, or Founders Day. But sometimes it’s years off, and milestones such as the school’s 150th anniversary, coming in 2013.
“We’ve already started planning for it, and the background research work began a while ago,” she said. “It’s going to be a fun year; we’re planning a lot of things and still working out many of the details.”
Buffone’s career at UMass started while she was still a student, in the provost’s office. A month after she graduated, her boss retired, and the provost hired her to fulfill some of that role. “I remember thinking, ‘this is great … I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life, so I’ll do this for a year until I figure things out.’ Soon, I’ll mark my 16th year — I love it.”
Her involvement in the community reflects her current job description — she’s on the steering committee of the Amherst Business Improvement District, a board member of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Amherst Future Committee.
She balances all that with work at home, and especially her two sons, Jack, 9, and Ben, 7.
— George O’Brien

Briefcase

By BusinessWest Staff April 26, 2011

Briefcase Departments

State Adds 3,200 Jobs
in March
BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development recently reported the total unemployment rate in March was 8%, down two tenths of a percentage point from the February rate. The rate remains below the national rate of 8.8% and is seven tenths of a percentage point less than the rate in March 2010. The preliminary March job estimates show 3.213 million jobs in Massachusetts, an increase of 3,200 jobs. The private sector added 4,400 jobs. The largest gain in employment occurred in leisure and hospitality, while construction had the largest growth rate. Job gains were also posted in professional, scientific and business services, information, manufacturing, and education and health services. Trade, transportation, and utilities; government; financial activities; and ‘other services’ lost jobs. The March job gain follows a revised 14,400-jobs gain in February, previously reported as a 15,400-job gain. Over-the-year, jobs are up 34,100 (+1.1%) with private-sector jobs up 38,600 (+1.4%). Jobs have now been added in each of the past six months. The three-month average seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate was 8.2% and the six-month average was 8.3%. Over-the-year, 31,100 more residents were employed, and 21,500 fewer residents unemployed. Trends for the labor force, unemployed residents, employed residents, the unemployment rate, and jobs continue to indicate improvement for the Commonwealth’s economy. The March estimates show 3,221,700 Massachusetts residents were employed and 281,800 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,503,500. The labor force increased by 2,100 from 3,501,400 in February, as 8,400 more residents were employed and 6,300 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.

$1.5M Gift Establishes Research Center at PVLSI
SPRINGFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute, a scientific partnership involving UMass Amherst and Baystate Medical Center, has received $1.5 million from the Rays of Hope Walk Toward the Cure of Breast Cancer to establish a new center devoted to breast cancer research. The donation to create the Rays of Hope Center for Breast Cancer Research will be delivered over five years beginning this year, and is intended to broaden and expand the breast cancer research already taking place at PVLSI. With new technology now in use at the institute, researchers can generate, capture, and analyze data on a much larger scale, making it possible to integrate and coordinate the work of multiple investigators for greater and more rapid progress in answering research questions. “The naming of this center is yet another indication of the enduring legacy that Rays of Hope and all its participants have created in our community,” said Carol Baribeau, director of annual fund and events for the Baystate Health Foundation, in a statement. “On the basis of their own experience, our Rays of Hope walkers are creating hope for future generations by supporting research that could take us much closer to a cure for the disease.” Breast cancer affects one in eight women. A major research goal of the new center is examining links between obesity and breast cancer. It is believed that obesity and metabolic syndrome, a complex illness whose symptoms include obesity, hypertension, and early indications of diabetes, can increase breast cancer risk; given increasing obesity rates in the U.S., there is concern about an accompanying increase in breast cancer diagnoses. “We are just beginning to unlock clues as to whether obesity and breast cancer may be linked, and what those links could mean for prevention, diagnosis, and management of the disease,” added UMass Amherst faculty member Joseph Jerry, science director for PVLSI and co-director of the new center. “With this more robust support to our continuing research, we are provided significantly improved tools for answering important questions about the cellular and metabolic processes that cause lesions and tumors to develop.” One of the strengths of the new center will be its multidisciplinary approach, combining Baystate Medical Center’s resources and expertise in medical specialties such as oncology, endocrinology, and pathology with UMass Amherst’s strengths in polymer and other sciences and bio-epidemiology. Bringing these strengths under one roof allows researchers to approach the complex and intertwined biological processes behind diseases like obesity, diabetes and breast cancer in an integrated and disease-focused fashion, rather than breaking out individual pieces and causative factors and looking at them one by one.

Constellation Energy Partnering with Holyoke G&E
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Gas & Electric Department (HG&E) and Constellation Energy of Maryland recently announced the development of a new 4.5-megawatt solar installation that will generate electricity for the municipally owned utility’s 18,000 customers in Holyoke. The system, which is scheduled for commercial operation this summer, will be among the largest solar installations in New England and the largest in Western Mass. Constellation Energy will build, own, and maintain the system, and HG&E will purchase all of the electricity generated from the solar panels under a 20-year power purchase agreement at a fixed cost that is less than projected market rates. “HG&E is committed to continuing to provide our customers with cost-competitive and clean electricity,” said James M. Lavelle, manager, HG&E, in a statement. “HG&E currently offers its customers some of the lowest retail electric rates available in the Commonwealth and has a carbon footprint that is 25% of the average New England utility. Through this solar-power-purchase agreement with Constellation Energy, we are able to ensure affordability and price stability for our customers, and promote Holyoke as a more attractive location for new and existing industry, with no upfront capital expenditure.” HG&E’s solar power system will be comprised of 18,400 SolarWorld photovoltaic ground-mounted panels at two locations, and is expected to produce nearly 5.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. Generating the same amount of electricity using non-renewable sources would result in the release of 3,950 metric tons of carbon dioxide or the equivalent emissions from 755 passenger vehicles annually. “Large-scale solar generation is an attractive option for municipal utilities to manage volatile energy costs for their customers and meet renewable energy goals,” added Michael D. Smith, senior vice president of green initiatives for Constellation Energy’s retail business. “In states like Massachusetts with strong market-based incentive programs, Constellation can provide solar power to municipal utilities at a rate that is significantly less than electricity from other generation sources, which benefits both the environment and power customers’ bottom lines.” Constellation Energy, a Fortune 500 company, currently owns and operates approximately 60 megawatts of solar installations that have been completed or are under construction throughout the country. For more information, visit www.constellation.com.

State Workers’ Compensation Rate Saves Businesses $65M
BOSTON — The Patrick-Murray Administration’s vommissioner of Insurance Joseph G. Murphy has signed an agreement that holds workers’ compensation rates at current levels, saving businesses $65 million in proposed increases. The agreement between the Workers’ Compensation Rating and Inspecting Bureau (WCRIB), the Division of Insurance’s State Rating Bureau, and the attorney general’s Office holds rates at current levels until at least September 2012. The WCRIB had originally asked for an overall 6.6% increase. “Our goal at the Division of Insurance is to make sure that these rates are fair, they protect workers, and that they do not overly burden employers,” said Commissioner Murphy in a statement. “This agreement does all of those things.” Last year, an agreement with WCRIB cut overall rates 2.4%, instead of increasing them 4.5% as originally requested. That agreement also saved approximately $65 million in annual workers’ compensation insurance premiums. Traditionally, WCRIB files rate proposals every two years, but last year’s agreement included a required filing in the next year. Holding down workers’ compensation rates complements other efforts by the Patrick-Murray Administration to bring down insurance costs. The administration’s work to contain health insurance costs saved small businesses and working families $106 million in the last year. The three-year-old reform of auto insurance has delivered hundreds of millions of dollars in savings to drivers across the Commonwealth.

MMWEC: Connecticut Energy Tax “Unfair Burden”
LUDLOW — A proposed Connecticut tax on electric generation is “at the very least unfair” because it would cost Massachusetts consumers more than $9 million a year while Connecticut consumers pay nothing, according to the Mass. Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC), which owns 4.8% of Millstone Unit 3, a nuclear power plant in Connecticut. Proponents of the tax, which is being proposed to address a Connecticut budget shortfall, say that the tax will not be passed on to Connecticut consumers by the electricity generators required to pay it. The proposed tax, which is working its way through the Connecticut General Assembly, would tax nuclear generation from Millstone at 2 cents/kilowatt hour, raising about $330 million a year in tax revenue for Connecticut from Millstone. Other proposed taxes on power plants that use oil and coal would raise about $10 million a year. MMWEC resells its share of electricity from Millstone Unit 3 at cost to 27 Massachusetts municipal utilities. Those 27 utilities provide electricity to approximately 265,000 customers in Massachusetts. Based on the electric output of Millstone Unit 3 and MMWEC’s ownership share of that output, the proposed tax on Millstone generation would cost MMWEC, its Millstone project participants and their consumers approximately $9.3 million a year, according to David Tuohey, director of communications and external affairs at MMWEC. Because MMWEC and its municipal utilities are nonprofit, public entities with no profits to absorb the tax, the Connecticut tax would be a direct pass-through to consumers, Tuohey said.

Howdy Award Finalists Named
SPRINGFIELD — More than 40 individuals from across the Pioneer Valley are finalists for the 2011 Howdy Awards for Hospitality Excellence, sponsored by the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (GSCVB). The finalists were recently honored at a reception to recognize front-line employees in the hospitality industry for providing outstanding service to their guests and customers. The finalists, who represent a variety of businesses, organizations and activities from throughout Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties, now move up to the next level of competition — judging by a group of recognized industry professionals from outside the region. The winners will then be announced and honored at a gala dinner and awards presentation on May 10 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. A Spotlight Award, which recognizes individuals or organizations that have made a significant contribution to the tourism industry in the Pioneer Valley, will also be presented that evening. Tickets to the gala are $65 per person, and $625 for a table of 10. For more information, call the GSCVB at (413) 755-1345. The GSCVB, an affiliate of the Economic Development Council of Western MA, is a private, nonprofit destination marketing organization dedicated to promoting the Pioneer Valley for meetings and conventions, group tours and leisure travel. For more information, visit www.valleyvisitor.com.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff April 26, 2011

Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• May 3: Springfield Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Meeting, noon–1 p.m., TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.
• May 4: Business@Breakfast, 7:15–9 a.m., Ludlow Country Club, Ludlow. Cost: $20 for member; $30 for non-members. To reserve tickets, visit www.myonlinechamber.com, or contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1313, [email protected].
• May 12: ERC5 Parking Lot Party, 5–8 p.m., Eastwood Shops, Boston Road, Wilbraham. Cost: $10 for members; $20 for non-members.For more information, contact Sarah Tsitso, (413) 755-1318 or [email protected].
• May 13: ACCGS Legislative Steering Committee, 8–9 a.m., TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.
• May 18: ERC Board of Directors’ Meeting, 8–9 a.m., the Gardens of Wilbraham, Community Room, 2 Lodge Lane, Wilbraham.
• May 18: ACCGS Ambassadors Meeting, 4–5 p.m., EDC Conference Room, Springfield.
• May 18: Professional Women’s Chamber – Woman of the Year Banquet honoring Kate Kane, 6 p.m., Springfield Sheraton. Tickets: $50 per person. For more information or to reserve tickets, contact Lynn Johnson at (413) 755-1310; or [email protected].
• May 19: ACCGS Board of Directors’ Meeting, 8–9 a.m., TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• May 18: Chamber After 5, 5–7 p.m., Cherry Hill Golf Course, 325 Montague Road, Amherst. Cost: $5 members; $10 nonmembers. For more information, call (413) 253-0700.

Chicopee Chamber of Commerce
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• May 6: Global to Local; a Workshop Series/Part 1 ‘Trends & Opportunities,’ 8–11 a.m., the Hampton Inn, Chicopee. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.chicopeechamber.org.
• May 11: Global to Local; a Workshop Series/Part 2 Reinventing Your Business Model, 8–11 a.m., the Hampton Inn, Chicopee. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.chicopeechamber.org
• May 13: Annual Auction/Beer and Wine Tasting, 6–9 p.m., the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr. in Chicopee. Presented by Chicopee Saving Bank. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.chicopeechamber.org.
• May 18: Salute Breakfast, 7:15–9 a.m., Elms College, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.chicopeechamber.org.
• May 25: Business After Hours, 5–7 p.m., the Robert E. Barrett Fishway at the Holyoke Dam. Hosted by Holyoke Gas & Electric.
• May 27: Global to Local; a Workshop Series/Part 2 Growth Strategy: A New Approach, 8–11 a.m., the Hampton Inn – Chicopee. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.chicopeechamber.org

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463

n May 20: Monthly Breakfast Series, 7:30-9 a.m., Greenfield Grille, 30 Federal St., Greenfield. Member spotlight on the Sandri Company. Main speaker: Secretary of Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. Sponsored by Greenfield Community College. Cost: Members: $12, Non-members $15.

Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

n May 3: Business Person of the Year Award Dinner Honoring Douglas A. Bowen, president and CEO of PeoplesBank. Social Hour at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7, Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Tickets are $50. For reservations call the Chamber Office at (413) 534-3376 or register online at holyokechamber.com.
n May 16: 43rd Annual Chamber Cup Golf Tournament 2011, starting at 11 a.m., Wyckoff Park, 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Registration and Lunch at 11a.m.; tee off at noon (scramble format); dinner following game with elaborate food stations catered by the Log Cabin. Cost: $125 per player includes lunch, 18 holes of golf, cart, and dinner. Winner awards, raffles, and cash prizes follow dinner. Tournament Sponsors: Log Cabin and PeoplesBank.
Corporate Sponsors: Dowd Insurance, Goss & McLain Insurance Agency, Holyoke Gas & Electric, Mountain View Landscapes, Holyoke Community College, Holyoke Medical Center, People’s United Bank, and Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll. For reservations call (413) 534-3376 or register online at holyokechamber.com.
n May 18: Chamber After Hours, 5–7 p.m., Pic’s Place/Highland Tap, 910 Hampden St., Holyoke. Sponsored by All Sales Consulting, LLC. Admission: $5 for members, $10 cash for non-members; (413)534-3376.
n May 25: Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, 4–7 p.m., Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Business session, 4-5, followed by social get-together; (413) 534-3376.

Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

n May 4: May Arrive @5, 5–7p.m., King & Cushman, 176 King St., Northampton. Sponsored by King Auto Body, Pioneer Saab Volvo & United Bank. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

Northampton Area Young Professional Society
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900

n May 12: Party with a Purpose, 5–8 p.m., the Delaney House, 1 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Free for members, $5 for non-members.

Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce
www.qvcc.biz
(413) 283-2418

South Hadley/Granby Chamber of Commerce
www.shchamber.com
(413) 532-6451

n May 20: Legislative Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., the Orchards Golf Club, South Hadley. Guest speakers: state Sen. Stan Rosenberg, state Rep. John Scibak, and others. Tickets: $15 per person. Space is limited. Must RSVP by Tuesday, May 17 to (413) 532 6451.

Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce
www.threeriverschamber.org
(413) 283-6425

n May 21: Palmer Pick-Up Day, 9 a.m. to noon; [email protected]. Contact Chamber President Fred Orszulak, 413-283-7400. Following the pick-up, the Three Rivers Chamber is sponsoring a lunch cook-out at noon at Hryniewicz Park (AKA the Three Rivers Common).

West of the River Chamber of Commerce
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

n May 12: 2011 Annual Meeting and Breakfast, 7 a.m., Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern. Speaker: Jason Freeman, president of Six Flags New England. Presenting sponsor: Easthampton Savings Bank. Coffee bar sponsor: Environmental Compliance Services. Cost: Members $25, non members, $30. Highlights: introducing Chairman-elect Remo Pizzichemi. For more information, learn about sponsorship opportunities, or to RSVP call (413) 426-3880; or email [email protected].

Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

n May 11: WestNet after 5:00 Networking, 5–7 p.m., Tekoa Country Club. Putting Contest to benefit GWCOC Scholarship Fund. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
n June 20: 50th Annual Golf Tournament. Register now by contacting Sandy Sorel at (413) 779-0075.

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield
www.springfieldyps.com

May 19: Great Golf Escape 2011!, Tekoa Country Club, Westfield. The YPS Great Golf Escape sells out each year, attracting 144 golfers along with 100+ additional attendees at our Third Thursday social event immediately following the tournament; 10:30 a.m. registration; 11:30 shotgun start; scramble format. Price: $50 per player includes 18 holes of golf, cart, greens fees, YPS golf shirt, goody bag, lunch, refreshments on the green, beer ticket, and admission to YPS Third Thursday immediately following tournament. Presented by: St. Germain Investment Management.

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff April 12, 2011

Company Notebook Departments

Tighe & Bond Plans ‘Centennial Project’
WESTFIELD — As part of its 100th-anniversary celebration in 2011, Tighe & Bond is lining up a series of events to give back to its communities, recognize its clients, appreciate its employees, and publish a book on the firm’s history. As part of the firm’s “Centennial Project,” two worthy projects for nonprofit agencies that are in need of Tighe & Bond’s services will each receive $50,000 worth of pro bono engineering services, according to Fran Hoey, senior vice president, who is overseeing the project. To identify potential projects for these services, Tighe & Bond has developed a request for proposals that nonprofit organizations can complete if they are interested. Tighe & Bond will be considering projects in the primary regions that it serves — Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Preferably these will be projects that are in the planning stages and have a targeted construction date. “Tighe & Bond is looking forward to giving back to the community at large in a significant and meaningful way,” said Hoey in a statement. “We have a passionate and generous staff that believes strongly in helping others in need, so this is only natural.” For more information on the nonprofit project, visit centennialproject.tighebond.com. Submittals are due by April 29.

Hampden Savings Bank Foundation Donates to Link to Libraries
The Hampden Savings Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Hampden Bank, announced recently that it has awarded $1,500 to Link to Libraries Inc. Celebrating its third anniversary this May, Link to Libraries has thus far donated more than 26,000 books to area schools and nonprofits in Western Mass. and Northern Conn. Link to Libraries’ newest initiatives include the Link Senior Project with Loomis Communities and the Welcome to Kindergarten Project, which will supply Link to Libraries literacy packets (a book and bookbags) to 1,200 kindergarten children entering Springfield Public Schools this August on screening and testing day. “We are deeply grateful to Hampden Savings Foundation for their support to our mission.” said Susan Jaye-Kaplan, president and co-founder of Link to Libraries. “We are delighted this much needed assistance to our Read Aloud Programs is being made possible through the generosity of Hampden Bank.” Link to Libraries is a not-for-profit organization based in Western Mass. Its mission is to collect and distribute to public elementary schools and nonprofit organizations throughout Western Mass. and Northern Conn. new books to enhance reading, literacy, and language skills for children of all cultures.

Mahoney Place Construction Underway
HOLYOKE — A construction kick-off was held April 7 by Cunningham Equities, LLC for the development of Class A medical offices for the Sisters of Providence Prenatal Clinic and Tapestry Health at the former home of Charles Koegels & Sons Co. The manufacturing facility at 306 Race St. will be renovated to a first-class office building, with the first tenant, Sisters of Providence Prenatal Clinic, expected to take possession in June.

United Bank Foundation Pledges $83,500
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The United Bank Foundation recently awarded $83,500 to organizations and initiatives designed to benefit children, families, students, and schools in the Greater Springfield and Worcester regions, according to Dena Hall, foundation president. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County Inc. received a grant for $10,000 to support Chicopee youth in the community-based Mentoring Expansion Project. Also, a $25,000 grant was made to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield for its Raise the Roof Capital Campaign building expansion plans. Families will benefit from the foundation’s $4,500 award to the Community Music School of Springfield for a family concert Series. A grant of $10,000 to the Holyoke Community College Foundation will support the Community Technology Center located at the new Holyoke Transportation Center. In Ludlow, the Boys & Girls Club was awarded $5,000 to be used for scholarships and to provide access to subsidized child care for before- and after-school programs and summer camp for qualified families. Rebuilding Together Springfield was awarded a grant of $10,000 to support home repairs, modifications, and rehabilitations for low-income Springfield homeowners. The Western Mass. Council Inc., Boy Scouts of America received $5,000 for its Scoutreach Initiative for involving low-income urban youth in scouting. The YWCA of Western Massachusetts was awarded $5,000 to support renovations and the construction of additional rooms at its Clough Street facility. Also, Westfield Public Schools received a $2,000 grant. A $1,000 grant from the foundation to the Springfield Vietnamese American Citizens Assoc. will help the Family Empowerment Program provide educational support to Vietnamese students and families in Greater Springfield. With its $1,000 grant from the Foundation, Links to Libraries will provide new books to area preschools and elementary schools to promote language and reading skills. In Worcester, the foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to University of Massachusetts Medical School to support the UMass Labs Program for Worcester high school students. The foundation has awarded nearly $1.4 million in grants since it was established in 2005 as a permanent source of funding to benefit communities in United Bank’s market area.

Stitches & Ink Makes a Home at Fran Johnson’s Golf & Tennis
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Starting with embroidered hats and shirts, Tim and Rae Crary have built an apparel business into a growing offshoot of TC Sales. Calling on customers as a print broker, Tim Crary responded to customer requests to provide decorated apparel, and as the business grew, a decision was made to find a retail location. An open house was recently celebrated for Stitches & Ink at Fran Johnson’s Golf & Tennis on Riverdale Street. The new showroom includes two Brother 9100 embroidery machines, a Brother 782 digital garment printer, and a Logo Jet printer. Cindy Johnson, owner of Fran Johnson’s, noted that the opportunity for customers to get decorated apparel adds to the services already available at her store. “Customers can now get just about anything printed with their name, picture, or business,” said Johnson. “This now makes shopping for golf tournaments or special events even easier, and the no-minimum [policy] is significant.”

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff April 12, 2011

Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS

www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• April 13: ACCGS After 5, 5 to 7 p.m., Balise Lexus, Riverdale Road, West Springfield. Cost: members $10, non-members $20.

• April 20: ERC Board of Directors’ Meeting, 8 to 9 a.m., the Gardens of Wilbraham, Community Room, 2 Lodge Lane, Wilbraham.

• April 20: ACCGS Ambassadors Meeting, 4 to 5 p.m., EDC Conference Room, Springfield.

• April 21: ACCGS Executive Committee Meeting, noon to 1 p.m., TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield

www.springfieldyps.com

• April 21: Ice Breakers, 4 to 5 p.m., 350 Grill, Worthington Street, Springfield. YPS’ first networking workshop will show how to make a positive first impression at a networking event and how to take the first steps toward building relationships that produce referrals.
Cost: free to members of YPS, NAYP, and HYPE. $20 for non-members, which includes admission to both the session and the Third Thursday event that follows at Adolfo’s from 5 to 8 p.m. Free parking. Space is limited. To sign up, email Jack Toner at [email protected].

Chicopee Chamber of Commerce

www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• April 20: Salute Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., Kittredge Center/PeoplesBank Conference Center, Holyoke Community College. Pre-registration cost: members $18, non-members $25.

• April 27: Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Marcotte Ford, Main Street, Holyoke. Pre-registration cost: members $5, non-members $15. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce

www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463

• April 16 and 17: Franklin County Home Show and Green Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Franklin County Fairgrounds, Greenfield. Sponsors: Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, Greenfield Business Assoc., Franklin Community Cooperative. Cost: $2 donation at the door.

• April 22: Monthly Breakfast Series, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Greenfield Community College. Program TBD. Sponsored by Greenfield Savings Bank. Cost: members $12, non-members $15.

Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce

www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• April 29: 19th Annual Great Northampton Chamber Auction, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Pages Loft Restaurant and Events, Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, Atwood Drive, Northampton. Sponsored by Coca-Cola Refreshments. Entertaining evening with food, a silent auction of more than 250 items, and a live auction. Cost: $45 in advance, $50 at the door.

Northampton Area Young Professional Society

www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900

• April 14: Northampton Area Young Professionals Party with a Purpose, 5 to 8 p.m., hosted and sponsored by Fitzwilly’s Restaurant & Bar, Main Street, Northampton. Cost: members free, non-members $5.

South Hadley/Granby Chamber of Commerce

www.shchamber.com
(413) 532-6451

• April 25: Reception at MHC President’s House, 5 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by Mount Holyoke College. Special guests and speakers. Opportunity to talk with Lynn Pasquerella, president. Free.

Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce

www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• April 14: WestNet, a business networking event, 5 to 7 p.m., the Ranch Golf Club, Sunnyside Road, Southwick. Cost: members $10, non-members $15. Table tops available for $25. Cash bar, free hors d’oeuvres. Walk-ins welcomed.

Difference Makers Celebration 2011

By BusinessWest Staff April 12, 2011

Difference Makers

BusinessWest’s Program Spotlights the Many Ways People Can Make an Impact

More than 350 people turned out at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House on March 24 for a lavish ceremony to honor the Difference Makers for 2011. Attendees, including area business and civic leaders, as well as friends, family, and colleagues of the five honorees, were treated to fine food, entertainment, thoughts from event sponsors, introductions of the winners, remarks from each recipient, and an update on the ongoing initiative known as Project Literacy.
Following an hour of networking, members of the Maurice A. Donahue School in Hoyoke kicked off the formal program with several patriotic songs. The evening’s events were punctuated with words of praise for the Difference Makers and inspirational thoughts from them about ways others can and must give back to the community. “It was an incredible night,” said Kate Campiti, associate publisher and advertising manager of BusinessWest. “Our honorees showed the many ways in which one can make a difference here in Western Mass., and provided inspiration for everyone to find their own ways to make an impact on the community.”

•••••••• Click here to view images of the March 24 celebration ••••••••

Doing Business In: West Springfield

By BusinessWest Staff April 12, 2011

Features

West Side’s Story Is One of Access and Diversity

When it came time to launch his own business, Kevin Kousch says, it made good sense for him to stay in West Springfield.

These days you have to be ready to go boldly forward when it comes to strengthening your market position, Kevin Kousch told BusinessWest. And he should know.
He’s the owner of A Formal Affair, what he calls the “largest in-stock tuxedo rental this side of Boston,” and you might remember him from his days with the now-defunct clothier Yale Genton, also in West Springfield. Kousch was referring to the challenging circumstances facing everyone in business, and how his venture has wholeheartedly embraced new media, as well as good old-fashioned word of mouth, to secure a place as a go-to, top-of-the-line formalwear outfitter for the area.
In many ways, his comments were echoed by other business owners in this town, long a commercial destination for many in the region, due to the popular and thriving Riverdale Street thoroughfare. Cindy Johnson, owner of Fran Johnson’s Golf and Tennis along that strip, said that, since her much-publicized economic difficulties and comeback in 2010, she’s taken some creative steps to broaden the seasonal nature of her store’s offerings.
“It’s what you have to do in order to stay afloat,” she said, while describing an exciting new way for her customers to enjoy the game of golf — simulators that enable someone to play Pebble Beach without leaving the 413 area code.
But while there are businesses in town that are readily embracing new techniques to stay vital in a challenging economic time, there is one signature venue in West Springfield that believes it’s also important to keep in mind the past, and how history, specifically with regard to agriculture, is a key link to the future.
And where else could an agrarian industry be better represented than at the 17-day Eastern States Exposition, the Big E, held every September for almost 100 years along the town’s Memorial Avenue? Wayne McCary has been president of the Big E since 1991, and he told BusinessWest that “I think it’s important to know that we will continue to make sure that agriculture remains a part of this facility’s soul.”
With annual visitors to both the Big E and other events at the site totaling more than 2 million individuals, he also stressed the importance of the facility’s power to be an important agent for West Springfield, for both the town itself and the business community.

Go with the Flow
When asked what was happening in his office these days, Joseph Laplante, West Springfield’s Community Development director, said, “quite a bit, actually.”
The big news these days is forward momentum at the West Springfield Trade Center, a 5.750-acre parcel along Western Avenue that the town has been working on for several years. The property is adjacent to the CSX rail yards, said Laplante, adding that the town has just finished demolition and cleanup at the property, and now the redevelopment authority can proceed with a marketing plan.
An attractive aspect of the site is that proximity to CSX, which is also putting steam to a $10 million expansion and upgrade of its West Side yards, LaPlante continued, adding that the plan is to attract a new business, preferably in manufacturing, that will create new employment and a new tax base for the community.
“We’re trying to avoid, more or less, a warehousing operation, which doesn’t bring many new jobs in,” he said.
Additionally, he mentioned a project currently in the design phase to improve clearance at a railway underpass along Union Street, which will significantly impact larger tractor-trailer traffic flow to the south side of town, “which doesn’t exist right now.”
That $15 million project, with an estimated completion date in 10 years, will improve load-heavy traffic flow outside of the historic city center and some of the residential neighborhoods in town. But, he added, not all the good news is years away.
Some signs of economic recovery are coming from large stores along Route 5 that are in remodeling stages — Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and the Stop & Shop, all in the Riverdale Shops. And near that plaza, construction of a town canoe ramp this spring will offer visitors access to the river — and increased visibility for the stores there.
“I think that people find it easy to come to West Springfield,” Laplante said, “because there is more of a small-town atmosphere, and it’s a safe and easy place to stop off and do business.”

Tailor Made
After working at Yale Genton for many years, Kousch said, it made good sense to stay in West Springfield when the time came for him to start his own business venture.
“I’ve been here for the majority of my professional career,” he explained. “When you come from a company that was in business for over 75 years, and you’ve devoted a lot of your time to the community, I don’t think it’s fair to uproot and go somewhere to start fresh where you don’t have any roots. You build relationships with people, and then, in turn, those people know that they can count on you when they need your services.”
The economy has put a dent in business, he said, adding quickly that he is confident in his strategies for keeping both his business and his clientele in the black — quite literally.
“Every customer here is custom-fit,” he said. “And because all of our stock is right here, we don’t deal with any of the issues that the competition does, where they have to get their merchandise from a warehouse and then try to navigate any complications.”
Solid word-of-mouth referrals are a key part of Kousch’s marketing strategy, but embracing Facebook and e-mail-blast advertising help keep a company on point. “You have to be with the times for a business to succeed,” he continued.
And as prom season approaches, Kousch said that he was employing another strategy for success — lowering his prices for 2011. “It doesn’t do me any good to have the stock sitting here on hangers; we’d rather rent it.” His old sign from Yale Genton — and those historic prices — are right out in front of his shop.
For those folks who might ‘like’ AFA on Facebook as they consider who will be their prom date this spring, he added, “there’s going to be lots of specials starting in mid-April; we’re expecting to be very, very busy.”
That’s something that Cindy Johnson is also happy to report.
She said the new Tee2Green2 high-definition golf simulators that Fran Johnson’s purchased last November represent a “welcome opportunity to be busy during the winter months, which is a first for me in about 30 years.”
Using these high tech video displays, customers can choose to ‘play’ 18 classic courses, from Pebble Beach to Casa de Campo. “They use their own clubs, play with real golf balls,” she said. “It’s completely different from something like PlayStation.”
While in the past, Fran Johnson’s suffered through the winter months when dedicated duffers couldn’t be on the links, the simulators have finally turned her operation into a year-round destination.
But as the area courses get ready for the approaching season, Johnson said that she’s excited to begin fitting customers for clubs — both new and used sticks. “You want to make sure your old clubs still have the right loft and lie for your swing. As with everything else, things change over the course of a few years.
“Then you can take your newly fitted clubs and try them out on the first hole at Doral,” she added.

Farmer’s Almanac

The Big E established a trust fund for the city in 1994 that has amassed more than $2.3 million to date.

For 17 days a year, said McCary, the Big E becomes one of the largest cities in the state.
“We’re fortunate to be located in West Springfield where we have built these significant bridges with people who have to play a critical role in the outcome,” he said, “especially when it comes to public services and safety.”
The Big E is one of the few fairs of its kind in the nation not heavily subsidized by state government, and as a nonprofit, he emphasized the importance of those bridges within the town.
“One of the unique things here, and I think this is a model way for a nonprofit to behave in a community, is the Big E West Springfield Trust Fund, which we created in 1994,” he explained. “It cements the relationship with people in the community, and it provides a very important revenue stream, especially in these times when municipalities and states are economically hard-pressed for resources. Through 2010, we have contributed more than $2.3 million, through 1% of our gross annual revenues.” That’s in addition to contracting the town’s services — its largest vendor, adding an additional $1.2 million to the city’s coffers.
But, he added, the Big E — as an exposition and a multi-use facility for those other 11 months of the year — is very aware of the business community nearby.
With many thousands of vendors descending on Memorial Avenue throughout the year, McCary stressed the importance of marketing West Springfield’s private sector to visitors from outside the environs.
“We encourage people to patronize business in the area,” he said, adding that “our marketing department creates a directory of local enterprises. We’re trying to channel those individuals to look into the service stream on Memorial Avenue.”
The Big E is a nonprofit, though, and McCary highlighted the importance of economic strength for the facility itself. “The other 11 months are absolutely critical to maintaining the economic stability of the exposition,” he said. “No matter how successful the fair is in 17 days, in today’s world, in order to maintain a first-class physical plant of 175 acres with more than 30 buildings, it’s a challenge.
“These year-round events contribute very significantly not only to the overall economy of the Big E, but to all the area services we’ve been talking about,” he continued. “That’s important to our own economy, and our own health, but I think it’s critical to the Big E as an economic engine; there’s no question about it.”
But the message he likes to drive home, he said, is that, since 1916, agriculture has always been the heart and soul of the Big E.
“We are an important forum to bring together young people from 4H and Future Farmers of America, who have commitments to being in the food industry for their livelihood,” McCary said. “As many as 17 states send kids here to compete in the different fields of agriculture.
“While we’re talking about economics, and how important they are,” he added, “without agriculture, none of us could continue to exist.”

Briefcase

By BusinessWest Staff March 29, 2011

Briefcase Departments

Multiple Factors Drive Construction Prices Higher
WASHINGTON, D.C. — For the fifth consecutive month, prices for construction materials increased, rising 1.1% in February, according to the March 16 Producer Price Index (PPI) report by the Department of Labor. Year-over-year, construction materials prices are up 6.1%. A number of categories experienced significant increases in materials prices in February. Steel-mill product prices jumped 4.7% for the month and are up 13.3% year over year. Iron- and steel-producer prices were up 2.8% in February and are up 16.8% over the last 12 months. In addition, prepared asphalt, tar roofing, and siding increased in cost by 0.6% for the month and are up 2% over the past 12 months. Categories in which prices declined include softwood lumber, down 2.7% in February, but up 0.2% compared to the same time last year. Crude-energy prices increased 0.9% for the month and are unchanged from the same time last year. Overall, the nation’s wholesale prices jumped 1.6% in February, the largest increase since June 2009. Year over year, wholesale finished-goods prices are up 5.8%. Anirban Basu, chief economist at Associated Builders and Contractors, noted that the data reflects a weakening U.S. dollar, ongoing expansion in the global economy, and unrest in the Middle East. He added that the current data does not reflect the recent events in Japan.

Gender Gap
Widening in
Retirement Confidence
SPRINGFIELD — Retirement plan investors had a “good year overall”; however, it appears that economic uncertainty and market volatility have contributed to lower levels of investing confidence and generally more conservative investing behavior among participants. MassMutual’s Retirement Services Division conducted an online survey between Nov. 15, 2010 and Jan. 15, 2011 of 1,517 participants in retirement plans on the MassMutual platform. MassMutual’s data indicates that men believe the stock market will improve vs. decline in the next 12 months at a ratio twice that of women. Overall, only 37.3% of participants are confident in making their own investment decisions. However, women were significantly less confident in making their own investment decisions (25.9%) compared to men (44.1%). At the same time last year, the percentages were 32.8% for women and 47.8% for men. The survey indicates that anxiety about having adequate savings to retire is increasing. Among participants who made a change in their approach to investing in the last 12 months, 61.7% became more conservative compared to 38.3% who became more aggressive.
‘A Closer Look at the Berkshires’ Contest
PITTSFIELD — The Quality Printing Co. is once again sponsoring “A Closer Look at the Berkshires” photography and art contest. The 2012 full-color calendar will feature the top 12 winners of the contest. Application forms are available at most Berkshire County libraries, as well as area Chambers of Commerce, the Prime Outlets in Lee, the Berkshire Mall, the Berkshire Visitors Center in Adams, and numerous photo and framing-supply stores throughout the region. Full-color photos, transparencies, slides, paintings, and digital images with a horizontal format are being accepted. Cash prizes totaling $1,050 will be awarded, and all entrants will receive a 2012 calendar. The deadline for submissions is April 29. For more information, contact June Roy-Martin, manager of communications, at (413) 442-4166, ext. 119, or [email protected].

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff March 29, 2011

Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• April 5: ERC5 Marketing/Membership Committee, 8 to 9 a.m., Reminder Publications, East Longmeadow.
• April 5: Springfield Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, 12 noon to 1 p.m., EDC Conference Room, Springfield.
• April 6: ACCGS Business@Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., the Delaney House, Holyoke. Cost: members $20, non-members $30.
• April 8: ACCGS Legislative Steering Committee, 8 to 9 a.m., TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.
• April 13: ACCGS After 5, 5 to 7 p.m., Balise Lexus, Riverdale Road, West Springfield. Cost: members $10, non-members $20.
• April 20: ERC Board of Directors’ Meeting, 8 to 9 a.m., the Gardens of Wilbraham, Community Room, 2 Lodge Lane, Wilbraham.
• April 20: ACCGS Ambassadors Meeting, 4 to 5 p.m., EDC Conference Room, Springfield.
• April 21: ACCGS Executive Committee Meeting, noon to 1 p.m., TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield
www.springfieldyps.com

• April 21: Ice Breakers, 4 to 5 p.m., 350 Grill, Worthington Street, Springfield. YPS’ first networking workshop will show how to make a positive first impression at a networking event and how to take the first steps toward building relationships that produce referrals.
Cost: free to members of YPS, NAYP, and HYPE. $20 for non-members, which includes admission to both the session and the Third Thursday event that follows at Adolfo’s from 5 to 8 p.m. Free parking. Space is limited. To sign up, email Jack Toner at [email protected].

Chicopee Chamber of Commerce
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• April 8: Shining Stars Banquet, 6:30 to 10 p.m., Castle of Knights, Memorial Drive, Chicopee. Honoring the Business of the Year, Chicopee Electric Light; Citizen of the Year, Jeff Sattler/NUVO Bank & Trust Co.; and Chamber Volunteer of the Year, Marie Laflamme/Centennial Insurance Agency Inc. Cost: $60.
• April 20: Salute Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., Kittredge Center/PeoplesBank Conference Center, Holyoke Community College. Pre-registration cost: members $18, non-members $25.
• April 27: Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Marcotte Ford, Main Street, Holyoke. Pre-registration cost: members $5, non-members $15. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463

• April 1: Communities That Care Coalition Meeting, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Great Falls Discovery Center.
• April 1: Green River Festival Performer Line-up Release Party, Bart’s Café, Main Street, Greenfield.
• April 16 and 17: Franklin County Home Show and Green Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Franklin County Fairgrounds, Greenfield. Sponsors: Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, Greenfield Business Assoc., Franklin Community Cooperative. Cost: $2 donation at the door.
• April 22: Monthly Breakfast Series, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Greenfield Community College. Program TBD. Sponsored by Greenfield Savings Bank. Cost: members $12, non-members $15.

Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• April 6: April Arrive @5, 5 to 7 p.m., sponsored and hosted by Lia Toyota, King Street, Northampton. Cost: members $10, non-members $15.
• April 29: 19th Annual Great Northampton Chamber Auction, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Pages Loft Restaurant and Events, Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, Atwood Drive, Northampton. Sponsored by Coca-Cola Refreshments. Entertaining evening with food, a silent auction of more than 250 items, and a live auction. Cost: $45 in advance, $50 at the door.

Northampton Area Young Professional Society
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900

• April 14: Northampton Area Young Professionals Party with a Purpose, 5 to 8 p.m., hosted and sponsored by Fitzwilly’s Restaurant & Bar, Main Street, Northampton. Cost: members free, non-members $5.

South Hadley/Granby Chamber of Commerce
www.shchamber.com
(413) 532-6451

• April 25: Reception at MHC President’s House, 5 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by Mount Holyoke College. Special guests and speakers. Opportunity to talk with Lynn Pasquerella, president. Free.

Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• April 14: WestNet, a business networking event, 5 to 7 p.m., the Ranch Golf Club, Sunnyside Road, Southwick. Cost: members $10, non-members $15. Table tops available for $25. Cash bar, free hors d’oeuvres. Walk-ins welcomed.

Rock Solid

By BusinessWest Staff March 29, 2011

Sections Supplements

Pioneer Landscapes Strives to Be a One-stop Resource

Brian Campedelli says Pioneer Landscapes tackles a wide variety of projects both residential and commercial.

Seeds of Success
Campedelli was buoyed by his early success. “The first 10 years, business doubled every year in gross volume, then we leveled out a bit,” he said, adding that business was starting to accelerate again a few years ago when the Great Recession hit, and “contracting came to a screeching halt. Usually we’re going from one job to the next, but we had an eight-month period with nothing.
“But this year, we’ve got a couple of nice jobs going,” he continued, citing the Center at Lenox shopping plaza and Butternut Farm, a residential complex in Amherst, as two examples. “We’re noticing there’s a lot of new jobs coming down the pike.”
He noted that schools are active in the landscaping market again, which in past recessions has been a reliable harbinger of recovery.
While most of the industry’s pain has been on the commercial side, Campedelli said, residential work hasn’t been as badly affected by the economy, particularly when it comes to higher-income customers. “Rich people are still rich, and those jobs didn’t slow down. We’re still doing some huge residential installs — anything from custom decks to fireplaces and firepits to pergolas and pavilions.”
The past decade has seen an upswing in reinvesting in the home, he said. “We’re trying to make it so that, when you come home, you’re on vacation. That’s definitely a trend.”
While outdoor kitchens and other projects to create indoor-outdoor spaces used to be popular mainly in warmer climates — “in the New England region, it used to be a faux pas to spend that kind of money on a three- or four-month season” — that’s no longer the case, and outdoor fireplaces and firepits, which range from simple to very elaborate, have stretched the warm season to seven months or more for many families.
“You can start as early and quit as late as you can stand,” Campedelli said. “Firepits are really popular; they’re one of the more inexpensive ways to get out and enjoy your yard. We see a lot of built-in grills, too.”
Taken together, these improvements — landscaping, hardscapes, outdoor kitchens and fire features — are meant to give people the feeling of coming home, walking outside, and not feeling like they’re at home, he told BusinessWest.
“There aren’t many words to describe that feeling. No matter what happened at work, whatever kind of day you had, you and your family can go out to this nice area, and it makes you feel like you’re not even in New England,” he continued, noting that one customer told him he feels like he’s having dinner in Hawaii. Another recent client, a well-known business owner in Northampton, told him, “I’ve used my backyard more in the last three weeks than I have in three years.”
That sort of talk gratifies Campedelli, who strives to create such experiences. At a recent trade show, he said he was situated near about 15 other landscapers, all of whom offered brick and block hardscapes, “but what I want to give you is a lifestyle.”

Growth Pattern
At the same time, he’s looking to raise the profile of his company, expanding into a 5,500-square-foot office and storage building on his current property, as well as planning educational events to teach people various aspects of DIY landscaping. He’s also planning fund-raisers for charitable organizations, and donates mulch for annual cleanup efforts in Easthampton.
Campedelli is also committed to work-life balance for his staff. “Our mission is pretty unique,” he said. “I believe in the safety of our employees and family first. A day lost with your kids can never be found again. I’m in a good place right now, and I want them to have the same quality of life I have as I grow my business.”
And whether commercial or residential, he said he wants to be a one-stop source for customers’ landscaping needs, continuing to grow the company by creating more loyal clients.
“We want to be the vendor for all your needs, whether it’s fertilizer, sprinkler systems, parking-lot issues, gazebos and patios, and other enhancements of the property, because the first impression is curb appeal.”
Campedelli told BusinessWest that 2011 began on the right note, with a January for the ages when it comes to snow — and people needing snow removal.
“We were going out every two days,” he said with a laugh. “Now we’re back to normal paychecks, but we really appreciated that month.”
With the spring thaw well underway, Campedelli will soon see if the rest of this year brings as much green promise.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Profiles in Business

By BusinessWest Staff March 29, 2011

Peter Straley President and CEO of Health New England

Features

He’s Leaving the Nation’s Poor Health in His Wake

Peter Straley President and CEO of Health New England

Peter Straley was talking about the Connecticut River — specifically, a winding stretch in Northampton — and how almost no one knows that it’s an ideal spot for waterskiing.
Or didn’t know.
“Maybe I should keep quiet about this,” he said with a laugh, adding that one of the things that makes this spot perfect is a lack of congestion, which he expects will continue even though he’s effectively blown his cover. Waterskiing isn’t a hugely popular sport in these parts, and it’s not something one enters into easily.
Although maybe they should, said Straley, president and CEO of Health New England, adding that he started with this activity in his youth — his grandparents built a summer camp on a lake in the Adirondacks the year he was born (1954) — and continued through his life. But it became much more than a summer-vacation pursuit when he discovered that stretch of the Connecticut River many years after one of his many career twists and turns (they’ll be chronicled later) brought him to Western Mass.
He considers it perhaps his favorite way to put the pressures of the day aside for an hour or two, and physically and mentally reboot.
“I remember a performance coach telling me, ‘Peter, you’re expected to be on all day, every day — people don’t expect the CEO to ever have a bad day or ever be in a bad mood — and of course, no one can do that,’” he explained. “She said, ‘when you have a 7 a.m. meeting followed by a full day of internal meetings, and then a 7 p.m. event, you have to carve out a time when you can let down and be offstage, because if you don’t, you’re just fooling yourself; no one can sustain that continuously.’
“She told me that, if I was passionate about something, whether it’s waterskiing or running or whatever, I should carve out an hour and just go do it; I’d come back renewed,” he continued. “And so I do try to leave here and go off and do something, and often, it’s waterskiing.”
Before and after he takes this time to relieve stress and stay fit, Straley does a lot of things that, collectively, work to diffuse the notion of the “big, bad insurance company,” as he called it on several occasions. This includes everything from being very visible in the community to inviting guests to his office to take a few minutes on his ‘Bogo Board,’ a contraption designed to help improve one’s balance.
The perception of large health-insurance companies has taken a number of hits over the years, especially as rates continue to climb and companies of all sizes struggle to meet this necessary but often-perplexing cost of doing business. The most recent controversies involved Blue Cross Blue Shield paying $8.6 million to CEO Cleve Killingsworth after he resigned roughly a year ago, and revelations that Blue Cross and other insurers paid their board members five-figure stipends at a time when relatively few nonprofits did so (the practice has since been halted at Blue Cross, and the others are considering a similar tack).
“When these people [at Blue Cross] look at the scope of their company — it’s a multi-billion-dollar corporation — and compare themselves to the for-profit world … there’s lots of people making that kind of money,” Straley said of Killingsworth’s departure package. “So when they do objective compensation analysis, which everyone does, from that truly rational perspective, with rational meaning objective, you get there. But then, when you say, ‘how does that play out in the environment we’re in today, in the state we’re in today, with the increased levels of scrutiny they have?’ — it just doesn’t work.”
Straley had much more to say about the reasons why he believes health care costs, and especially insurance, continue to soar. Chief among them, he said, is a propensity among many Americans to simply make bad decisions when it comes to their overall health and well-being. And as he said this, he referenced his father, who died the day he turned 51.
“While I don’t know this for a fact, I believe that he could have lived a much longer, more productive life, and I would have known him much better had he made different choices in his life,” said Straley, noting that his father was a heavy smoker, drank more than he should have, didn’t have a good diet, and didn’t do enough to avoid or deflect the stress that came with a high-pressure job in the insurance business.
His father’s death at a young age — and the causes of it — have prompted Straley to take words and advice from his mother and compose them into a white paper he drafted last fall called “My Mother’s Health Plan — Everything I Need to Know About Good Health I Learned from My Mother.”
“Health care is extremely complex, and therefore you may believe that the solutions to decreasing health care costs are also complex,” he writes. “However, my mother’s health plan offers a simple solution to bending the cost curve in the right direction.
“When you take a moment to think about it, you can summarize the important components of good health into three categories: 1) physical activity/exercise, 2) good nutrition, and 3) practicing prevention,” he continued. “These are all things your mother told you do to. It most likely sounded like ‘turn off the TV and go out an play,’ ‘eat your vegetables,’ and ‘wash your hands and brush your teeth!’ Thinking back, this message was about taking responsibility for my own health and well-being.”

Fruits of His Labor
As Straley talks about this responsibility, one can clearly see that he is passionate, if not obsessed, with his desire to see individuals make smarter choices, become healthier — and, perhaps most importantly, have the workplace become a real force for helping people down this road.
His father’s early death has something to do with this, obviously, but he says an equally impactful catalyst came with the events of 9/11, or, to be more specific, with an exercise Health New England, headquartered on floors 15-17 in Monarch Place, had undertaken just a few days after the terrorist attacks.
“That’s when I realized you could change things from work,” he explained. “I heard all these stories about people who couldn’t be rescued [from the Twin Towers] because they couldn’t make it down the stairs. Shortly thereafter, we decided we should have a fire drill here, because we’d never had one.
“Well, we did — and it was scary,” he continued. “People just couldn’t make it down the 15, 16, or 17 flights of stairs. I realized that, if this was real and all 25 floors of this building emptied out at once, people would have been trampled just like they were in New York.
“That’s when I decided that we just had to do more,” he went on, adding that HNE already had programs in place to promote healthier living, but they weren’t “grabbing people,” as he put it. “So we set off on a journey back then, thinking, ‘if what we’re doing isn’t really affecting everyone, then we have to try more, we have to do different things, and we have to take some harder positions.”
Thus began an initiative that goes well beyond walking programs, reimbursements for gym memberships, and participation in Weight Watchers.
Referencing his father one more time, Straley tapped the side of his head a few times as he talked again about choices, responsibility, and doing the right things.
“He knew up here that all those things were not good for him,” he explained. “But knowing something isn’t enough to motivate behavioral change. I believe — and I’m wrong in a lot of my beliefs, so I may be wrong about this one, too — that the workplace is the best place to motivate change. And this is a radical idea for a lot of people.
“They think, ‘I go to work, I do my job, I’m myself, you can’t change me, and I go home and I live my life,’” he continued. “I believe the workplace is where you can make these kinds of changes; you’re there eight, nine, 10 hours a day … it’s a pretty self-contained biosphere, and, generally speaking, it’s a supportive environment.”
How Straley arrived at the corner office at HNE and eventually led the company to its current leadership role in health and fitness is an intriguing career-development story, one he says has no “rhyme or reason,” and starts at Vermont’s Middlebury College, where he majored in a subject far removed from both health care and insurance — geology.

Stone’s Throw Away
“It really worked well for me, because it was a blend of outdoor work and intellectual work — this was the early ’70s, when tectonic plates were first discovered,” he recalled. “So the science was going through a revolution, and this is a recurring thing for me; I’ve always been attracted to things where you don’t have to be an expert to have a contribution. In most aspects of science, you had to have a Ph.D. and 30 years of research before you could actually contribute something new. But this was new — the research didn’t matter anymore; as an undergraduate student working with an inspired professor, you could contribute something.”
But job opportunities in this field were limited, he said, adding that, fortunately, he was also making strides in another field coming its own — computer science. He took every computer course Middlebury offered (two), eventually landed a job in a computer lab on campus, and took his first career step as a systems analyst for Squibb in New Jersey.
Later, he held several positions, including vice president of R&D for Amherst Associates, a Amherst-based firm that developed software for the health care industry. While there, he earned an MBA at UMass, and eventually went into management-consulting work at the Northampton office of a firm called Jennings, Ryan & Kolb.
“It was fast-paced, exciting work, and I really enjoyed it,” he recalled. “You’re sitting in this room with the board of directors, and you’re a 30-year-old kid. And you had to be right. You couldn’t be saying, ‘I think you do this — you had to prove that this is what they should be doing. It was a great experience.”
In the course of that work, Straley worked with a number of hospitals, including Baystate Medical Center, where the assignment was to form Bay Care Health Partners, a three-hospital, 720-physician managed-care contract organization serving Western Mass. “I had actually developed an expertise in building these things,” he said. “Why? Because no one else was doing it; it was a new thing, you could jump in really quickly and be an expert on it. I wrote the book on it — actually, I edited the book on it.”
After he set it up, Baystate asked him to run it, which he did for three years, essentially following the advice that he had been giving to others as a consultant. And when there was an opening at Health New England in 1997, he said he was brash enough to aggressively pursue the position.
“I didn’t know coming here what the challenges were going to be,” he continued. “I didn’t know that health care was going to implode and there would be all this national stuff. But I did know that I had enough faith in my ability to run a business, I knew a lot about health care, and I could figure out the parts I didn’t know.
“And it’s a job that’s allowed be to use all my skills,” he continued. “We’re a big IT company here, and we‘re trying to figure out how to redesign the health care system, so that consulting background is helpful, and we’re a service organization, and we’re about health. It was not my plan to come here, but it’s turned out to be a great place for me personally, and I think the company’s done pretty well under my tenure.”

The Shape of Things to Come
Straley told BusinessWest that he’d lived in Western Mass. for many years before waterskiing suddenly became a much bigger part of his life.
“Through my kids, I met a guy who had a boat on the river, and it turned out that he was an avid waterskier; I’d never even heard of anyone waterskiing on that river,” he said gesturing out his office window to the Connecticut. “Our kids played soccer together, and I remember asking him if I could invite myself to go waterskiing some day; I wasn’t shy about it.
“We’ve been skiing together ever since,” he continued, adding that, unbeknownst to most in this region, a section of the river near the Oxbow provides ideal conditions for this sport.
“What you want is glass,” he explained, referring to calm conditions and little traffic from other boats. “You don’t want other people around — you want it all to yourself. The other thing that makes it good is that this river is long and narrow and it curves; if there’s a wind out of the west, the river curves, and you can find a place where you’re not into the wind and there’s no chop. No matter which direction the wind is coming from, you can find a place that’s calm.”
Several years ago, Straley bought his own boat, one he says is good for one thing and one thing only, and that’s pulling waterskiers in a straight line. “You have to get people out of the water quickly and without a lot of effort, so you need a powerful engine,” he explained. “The second thing you have to do is not create a wake, because a wake is disruptive, and the third thing is that it has to be highly maneuverable so you can go where you want to go.”
The waterskiing is part of Straley’s work to alleviate the stress and burnout that claimed his father more than 30 years ago and threaten many business owners and managers today as they try to pack work and life into what always seems like too few hours.
“Sometimes I’ll leave at 4:30, go ski for an hour, put my suit back on, and go to a 7 o’clock event,” he said. “I’ve been off having a complete release of mind, body, and soul, and I’m really happy when I come back; I’m a lot happier than anyone else in the room because I got away.”
He finds other ways to find these releases, such as jogging and biking. The common denominator is putting the pressures of the day aside for a while, knowing that they’ll be there when you get back, but you’ve managed to spend at least an hour away from it all.
“The most important thing is relaxing your mind,” he told BusinessWest. “When your body is moving, and when your body is engaged in doing what it knows how to do, your mind is then free to think and to imagine, and I get more good ideas by not trying to think about good ideas. If you occupy your body in a fun, productive, challenging thing, your mind is free to imagine.”
One of these good ideas, he believes, is “My Mother’s Health Plan,” co-authored by Lynn Ostrowski, director of brand and corporate relations at HNE, and distributed at various events in recent months, including the Affiliated Chambers’ Outlook luncheon, attended by roughly 1,000 people. As he talked about it, Straley summoned a term most Baby Boomers would be familiar with, although it hasn’t been used much lately.
“The boob tube — your mother was always telling you to turn it off and go outside and play,” he recalled. “That was pretty good advice that people have gotten away from. People of all ages need to get outside and play more. And they need to eat their vegetables — something else their mother told them to do — and brush their teeth.”
All this brings him back to the high cost of health care, and how doing all these things can move the needle in the right direction. It can be done, he told BusinessWest, but it won’t be easy, because changing individuals’ behavioral patterns is quite challenging.
“We try everything,” he said of HNE’s efforts to promote health and well-being. “And each thing grabs one more person and brings them along, but no one thing grabs everybody, so you have to be committed to meeting people where they are right now and just get them to take the first step.
“The reason I think people don’t sustain the change is that they actually know up here that they should do it,” he continued, tapping his temple again for effect, “but the task is so daunting, there are so many moving parts, and their lives are so complex and fast-paced right now, they can’t figure out the first step. If we can help them with that first step, and they have success, then it’s easier to take that second step.”

The Bottom Line
Straley’s white paper, dated November 2010, is identified as “Volume 1, Number 1,” a strong hint that there are more of these to come.
The next installment may involve thoughts on personal responsibility and how to assume some, he said, adding that this assignment involves people of all ages and social strata — and employers as well.
And it is one of the foundations of a multi-pronged approach that he firmly believes will bring down the cost of health care in this country.
“I don’t expect the 15th floor of Monarch Place to be the epicenter of change,” he said, “but we do expect to have an impact, and we do expect that we’ll export that impact to any place else that will listen.”
He seems quite willing to do everything in his power — and that of his company’s — to make a real difference in this matter.
And that includes letting everyone in on his favorite spot for waterskiing.

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

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff March 15, 2011

Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• March 16: Professional Women’s Chamber Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., MassMutual Room, Max’s Tavern at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Speaker: Libby Pidgeon, vice president of Human Resources for Big Y Foods Inc. Cost: members $25, non-members $35. To register, contact Lynn Johnson at (413) 755-1310 or e-mail [email protected].

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
www.amherstarea.com

• March 16: After 5 joint event with Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, 5 to 7 p.m., Magic Wings Conservatory and Garden, Deerfield. Sponsored by Greenfield Cooperative Bank and Yankee Home Improvement. Cost: members $5, non-members $10.

Chicopee Chamber of Commerce
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• March 16: Salute Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., MassMutual Learning & Conference Center, 350 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Cost: members $18, non-members $25.

• March 23: 17th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, presented by the Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. More than 175 exhibitors. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (members only). Attendee cost: $5 in advance, $10 at door. Contact above chambers for more information or tickets.

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463

• March 16: Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Magic Wings Conservatory and Garden, Deerfield. Co-hosting with Amherst Area Chamber of Comerce. Networking, refreshments, door prizes. Bring business cards. Cost: members $5, non-members $10.

• March 24: GBA Member Showcase, 5 to 9 p.m., Greenfield Grille, 30 Federal St., Greenfield. Refreshments, door prizes, tabletop displays. Cost: free for members of the Greenfield Business Assoc., $5 for the public.

• March 25: Breakfast Series, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Deerfield Inn, Old Deerfield. Theme: “Taking the Risk Out of Business” with Henry Shterenberg, Step-Up Venture University. Music by the Academy at Charlemont. Sponsored by People’s United Bank and the Academy at Charlemont. Cost: members $12 members, non-members $15. Call (413) 773-5463 for reservations.

Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• March 17: St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon, 12 to 2 p.m., Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, One Atwood Dr., Northampton. Honored guest: Shealyn Berube, Greater Easthampton Jr. Miss. Sponsored by Easthampton Learning Foundation and Finck & Perras Insurance Agency. Cost: members $21.95, non-members $23.95.

• March 23: 17th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, presented by the Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. More than 175 exhibitors. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (members only). Attendee cost: $5 in advance, $10 at door. Contact above chambers for more information or tickets.

Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• March 17: St. Pat’s Salute Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by PeoplesBank and Holyoke Mall. Cost: $20. Call (413) 534-3376 for reservations.

• March 23: 17th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, presented by the Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. More than 175 exhibitors. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (members only). Attendee cost: $5 in advance, $10 at door. Contact above chambers for more information or tickets.

• March 29: Table Top Expo, 5 to 6:30 p.m. (snow date: March 30), Holiday Inn, 245 Whiting Farms Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by Ross Insurance Agency Inc. Social Media and Digital Marketing Seminar. Cost: members $15, non-members $20. Includes hot appetizers and cash bar. Call (413) 534-3376 to register, or register online at www.holyokechamber.com.

Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• March 17: St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Pages Loft Restaurant and Events at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 1 Atwood Dr., Northampton. Cost: $17 per person, $170 for a table of 10.

• March 23: 17th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, presented by the Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. More than 175 exhibitors. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (members only). Attendee cost: $5 in advance, $10 at door. Contact above chambers for more information or tickets.

Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• March 18: Annual St. Patrick’s Day March Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Scanlon Hall, Westfield State University, 577 Western Ave., Westfield. Sponsored by premium members Westfield Bank, Noble Health Systems, Westfield State University, and Westfield Gas and Electric. Cost: members $25, non-members $30. There are several different member chamber sponsorship levels available to have your company recognized. Contact Marie Quinn for more information, to reserve tickets, or if you have questions, at (413) 568-1618 or [email protected].

Editorial

By BusinessWest Staff March 15, 2011

Opinion

The Challenge Facing Our Chambers

The board of directors for the East of the River Chamber of Commerce voted late last month to continue its relationship with the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, a move that brought a dose of stability to an agency that sorely needed some.
The ACCGS, as it’s called, lost its long-time director, Russell Denver, in January, and soon thereafter saw a 40-year-long affiliation with the West of the River Chamber (Agawam and West Springfield) come to an abrupt, if not unpredicted, end.
This short but tumultuous chain of events brought with it no end of speculation about Denver’s departure, the future of the ACCGS, the apparently larger presence of the Massachusetts Chamber of Business and Industry (now managing the West of the River group), and the prospects for chambers as a whole.
The East of the River vote has calmed the waters somewhat, although there are still questions and some uncertainty about what happens next.
What we hope happens is some kind of workable balance between the need for regionalism, for the Western Mass. business community to speak with one voice, and also community pride and independence, in the form of chambers representing individual cities and towns across this area. This will be a difficult assignment for sure.
But let’s back up a minute. The ACCGS was formed to give the comparatively small chambers in this region (in communities like Ludlow, West Springfield, Agawam, Longmeadow, and East Longmeadow) a louder, stronger voice, and also an opportunity to better-serve members through services that the Affiliated Chambers could offer (like a dedicated legislative watchdog) and the smaller chambers couldn’t.
And, for the most part, it worked out. Just how well it worked depends on who gets asked that question.
Problems, if they can be called that, arose when the Holyoke and Chicopee Chambers were invited to join the ACCGS and further this concept of a regional chamber, and said, in essence, ‘thanks, but no thanks’ and remained independent. Meanwhile, Westfield, courted in a similar fashion, said ‘yes,’ tried it for a few years, and then went back to an independent state, claiming that something (mostly a degree of its business identity) was lost in the translation.
Things became more complicated after the economy turned south in a big way. Businesses pressed to keep the lights on and meet payroll shed many expenses they deemed non-vital, and, in many cases, that meant the chamber and, more specifically, the ACCGS.
The organization has struggled considerably over the past few years, and quality of service has been impacted, leaving affiliates exploring and, in the case of the West of the River Chamber, exercising other options.
Where does all this leave us? In a somewhat difficult spot, one where communities like Amherst, Easthampton, Westfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, and Northampton want and need a chamber to call their own, but the region needs a strong voice if it is to compete globally.
Can both goals be met? Perhaps, and it is in the best interests of all the chambers and their respective boards to try to find a way. There can be independence and a sense of identity (a chamber office on most cities’ Main Street) but also a larger, more powerful force that can have an impact on regional economic-development efforts. But this can only come through cooperation, not competition and territoriality.
The bottom line is that chambers exist, or should exist, for one reason and one reason only — to effectively serve their members and the business community (however broad or narrow that term is defined geographically) as a whole. Doing this is becoming increasingly difficult as chambers become smaller and resources thinner.
The challenge moving forward is to find new and better ways for chambers to keep their identities while also working together to better-serve members, attract many new ones, and thereby strengthen their organizations and the region. Maybe now that we’ve restored at least a sense of stability, there can be movement in this direction.

Regional Approach

By BusinessWest Staff March 15, 2011

Features

Chambers Assess Value of ACCGS During Time of Transition

ACCGS President Jeff Ciuffreda

With its leadership in transition and having endured one high-profile defection, the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield got a needed break when the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce recently decided to remain under its umbrella. The work is only beginning, however, for new ACCGS President Jeff Ciuffreda, who is committed to forging a new vision for the organization, improving communication among members, and finding new ways to demonstrate the value of a regional voice in the business community.

For the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, this was a decidedly precarious spot.
With the ACCGS already in transition mode — Jeff Ciuffreda succeeded long-time President Russell Denver in the head chair — the ACCGS endured a high-profile defection in January when the West of the River Chamber of Commerce, which represents West Springfield and Agawam, cut its ties with the regional organization.
Now it waited for a decision from the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5). If that body — representing Ludlow, Wilbraham, Hampden, Longmeadow, and East Longmeadow — defected as well, the Affiliated Chambers would suddenly be a shell of its former self.
However, after a four-month review of its situation, balancing the pros and cons of staying versus striking out on its own, the ERC5 chose not to defect, but instead to remain under the ACCGS umbrella.
“One of our tasks in going through this was to review all processes and make sure they’re working efficiently for all members,” said Tammy Bordeaux, branch manager at PeoplesBank in East Longmeadow and chairman of the East of the River board. “I can tell you that the board finds great value in being part of the ACCGS.”
The decision was a massive relief to Ciuffreda. Losing the ERC5 would have drained another 240 members after the exodus of 230 with the West of the River loss, leaving only the 550-member Springfield Chamber and the much smaller Professional Women’s Chamber.
The contrasting decisions across the Connecticut River highlight a clear divide in perceptions of the ACCGS and the value it provides as a regional chamber voice. Ciuffreda said the ERC5 recognized that value in three areas.
“One was networking opportunities — the opportunity to sell their product, if you will,” he told BusinessWest. “And then our legislative activities always rank very high. And the third thing is just the opportunity to be a good corporate citizen with some of the events the chamber puts on. Those were the major things the chambers wanted to hear about.”
Relief, however, gives way to new challenges for the new president — namely, fortifying the Affiliated Chambers’ connections, improving communication among current members, and forging a new vision going forward. And Ciuffreda says he’s excited to tackle all three.

New Alliance
Soon after its defection, the West of the River Chamber (WRC) announced its new affiliation with the Massachusetts Chamber of Business and Industry. But Debra Boronski, MassCBI president, said the move wasn’t about switching allegiances, but about gaining autonomy, and that her organization simply provides valuable benefits to independent chambers.
“If anything, the Massachusetts Chamber stepped in to help the West of the River Chamber. We have services we can offer that are similar to those of the ACCGS,” Boronski said, adding that the WRC wanted to be an independent organization and use its resources locally, but still appreciated the statewide networking and lobbying power the MassCBI provides.
Dale Mazanec, chairman of the West of the River Chamber, said its board of directors also spent a great deal of time examining its past activity within the ACCGS and how that larger body benefited its members, and decided it would be better served by breaking away and affiliating with the MassCBI, an organization created just four years ago by Boronski, a former ACCGS executive.
“You still have the opportunity to network locally if this is what you enjoy,” Mazanec told his members in a statement after the decision. “Most importantly, your membership in the WRC now gives you a base membership in a state chamber of commerce which will provide you with up-to-date information and active advocacy on issues that impact your bottom line.”
“We are a lobbying organization,” Boronski said. “Our primary concern is working with lawmakers on issues affecting all businesses in Massachusetts; we take positions with a statewide perspective.”
She and Mazanec both noted two recent law changes that the MassCBI promoted, one being an increase in small-claims limits from $2,500 to $7,500.
“We increased the ability of businesses to get back what they would have received from businesses that are not paying their bills,” she said. “That is worth millions and millions of dollars. Springfield alone had 6,000 small-claims cases last year, so if the cap goes from $2,500 to $7,500, that’s potentially $30 million returned to the business community.”
In addition, “we also had change in the state procurement law so that now, government agencies have permission to give Massachusetts corporations preference when bidding on state contracts,” Boronski said. “It’s not a mandate, which we wanted, but they’re being given permission.”
By focusing on statewide advocacy, she said the MassCBI gives local chambers a connection to statewide resources while letting them operate their day-to-day business independently — a preference shared by the Holyoke and Chicopee chambers, which have rejected invitations to join the ACCGS, and the Westfield chamber, which was affiliated for a few years before striking out on its own again.
At the same time, though, Boronski stressed that Western Mass. is a unique part of the Commonwealth, one that deserves special attention from the MassCBI. To that end, the chamber has developed a program called the Western Mass. Chamber Presidents Forum that will bring together chamber leaders throughout the region on a regular basis. The first event will be held on March 30 in conjunction with the Westfield Chamber of Commerce.
“There are 14 chambers of commerce in Western Mass., and all of them are unique and independent, but all of them agree that a regional voice and an opportunity to meet monthly would be of great value, so the Massachusetts chamber has stepped in to facilitate the development of that program,” she explained. “We’ll offer them information and resources so they can develop positions or statements on programs that fit the need of their demographic in Western Mass.”

Support System

Tammy Bordeaux says the ERC5 finds value in the regional resources it can access through the Affiliated Chambers.

Despite the departure of the West of the River chamber, Bordeaux said her board is pleased with the autonomy East of the River members have as part of the Affiliated Chamber. “The ERC5 has its own individual chamber, but has the ability to access all the resources the ACCGS has to offer.
“We see value in the extended networking powers we get with Outlook, the Business Expo, and all the After 5s and breakfasts our members have the ability to attend,” she continued. “From a marketing standpoint, it extends our marketing ability from the 240 members ERC5 has to 800; our board members see that the ACCGS allows our individual communities access to the regional-level information and regional-level advocacy. We certainly have confidence in Jeff, and we look forward to working with him.”
Ciuffreda said the ERC5 also appreciates having its executive director, Sarah Tsitso, working full-time in the ACCGS offices, giving those communities a constant connection to the regional body’s activities and decisions.
“They have a dedicated person to respond to their changing needs or priorities,” he explained, “and behind that person, because of our regional structure, is a team to do the legislative advocacy and event management.”
Bordeaux agreed. “Certainly, one of the positive aspects is shared resources, and Sarah is extremely dynamic for us. Those shared resources allow our board and committees to use their time to the best of their ability helping businesses grow.”
Ciuffreda stressed, however, that chambers aligned with the ACCGS can still forge their own identity, and is pleased that the East of the River chamber feels comfortable with the level of independence it has.
“They have their own board, so if they want to sponsor a golf tournament that benefits a scholarship fund, we’re able to do that for them,” he said. “It’s their unique brand in their communities, but at the same time, they realized that they were able to reach out with a regional organization to a larger audience.”
For example, “in legislative affairs, we can reach out to Springfield legislators and explain to them, say, the importance of Ludlow Mills, that it’s not just a Ludlow project, but that a lot of their workers will cross the bridge and go to work there. It’s a regional concept; what’s good for one community either benefits the other or wouldn’t be possible without other communities. I think they saw that they could preserve what makes their communities unique, but also the value of acting in a regional manner.”

Forward Thinking
Ciuffreda said the proposal he prepared for the West of the River Chamber was a strong one, but he was unable to present it in time. Still, he stands by the value and relevance of the Affiliated Chambers in its current form.
He admitted there are ways the ACCGS can improve how it serves its members, and said the change in leadership and the recent challenge of keeping its members on board (or losing them) provides an opportunity to rethink some of its procedures.
For example, “I’m not sure we communicated to the board and to our members enough, so I think we’ll be sharing more information,” he said. “I’ll use the word ‘transparent’ — to make our board meetings more interactive, to be sure that any questions are responded to immediately. We’re going to listen.”
Ciuffreda and ACCGS leadership will also spend the next few months engaging in strategic planning to create a vision of what the organization should be going forward. There’s plenty to consider, he said, from outreach to companies that have not participated in many chamber activities to the growing profile of nonprofits in the regional business community.
“We have to get a better ebb and flow of information to and from our members,” he said. “Everything is on the table.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Incorporations

By BusinessWest Staff March 1, 2011

Departments Incorporations

The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties and are the latest available. They are listed by community.

CHESTER

Big Picture Agency Inc., 86 Chester Road, Chester, MA 01011. Kim Baker, same. Marketing and graphic design services.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Baystate Deaf Senior Citizens Inc., 328 Main St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Carol Murray, 61 Kennedy Dr., Enfield, CT 06082. Promote educational and social relations with the deaf community.

F & I Coach Inc., 280 North Main St., East Longmeadow, MA 01027. Michael Wilkins, 160 Stone Hill Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Sales of automobile after-market service contracts.

GREENFIELD

Colrain Street Inc., 130 Colrain St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Brenda Ament, 520 South Shelburne Road, Greenfield, MA 01301. Real estate development.

HOLYOKE

Adminicus Inc., 903 Dwight St., Holyoke, MA, 01040. David Anthony Caputo, same. Charitable organization organized for educational purposes.

Evolution GS Inc., 20 Hadley Mills Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Robert Beaulac, 246 Pine Orchard Road, Brandford, CT 06405. Commission merchant-wholesale and retail.

INDIAN ORCHARD

Enhjr Ventures Inc., 93 Grochmal Ave., Lot 117, Indian Orchard, MA 01151. Ernst Harris Jr., same. E-commerce of electronics.

LONGMEADOW

D & D Industries Corp., 95 Dunsany Dr., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Brian John Dahahey, same. Wholesale of adhesive products.

Guideway Inc., 32 Homecrest St., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Richard Golber, 3170 South Ocean Blvd., Unit 504 North, Palm Beach, FL 33480. Marketing and product branding services.

PITTSFIELD

Coha Automotive Group Inc., 130 Pittsfield-Lenox Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201. George Haddad, 150 Blythwood Dr., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Automobile dealership.

SPRINGFIELD

295 Allen St. Inc., 295 Allen St., Springfield, MA, 01103. Yasir Osman, 197 Florida St., Springfield, MA 01103.

Above the Rim Inc., 34 Leatherleaf Circle, Springfield, MA 01109. Steve Anthony James, 9001 South Braeswood Blvd., Apt. 104, Houston, TX, 77074. Celebrates the history of the game of basketball through educational programs, player interviews, and documentary presentations.

American Institute of Historic Preservation Inc., 21 Clarendon St., Springfield, MA, 01109. Ward Hamilton, 5-56th St., Newburyport, MA 01950. Historic preservation forum.

Covenant Realty Inc., 1111 Main St., 2nd Floor, Springfield, MA 01103. Richard Hanks, 85 Cleveland St., Springfield, MA 01104. Real estate services.

Ed Detailing Inc., 122 Chestnut St., #410, Springfield, MA 01103.Ed Valle Jr., same. Car-detailing services.

WESTFIELD

Building Autistic Community Inc., 24 Sunbriar Dr., Westfield, MA 01085. Kate Wallace, 21 Searle Road, Huntington, MA 01050. Avocation and support services to persons on the autism spectrum, their families and allies.

Cloverleaf Realty Group Inc., 110-112 Elm St., Westfield, MA 01085. Thomas Dineen, 11 Woodland Dell Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Real estate services.

Environmental Forensics Inc., 4 School St., Westfield, MA 01085. Nancy Baenziger, same. Provides comprehensive and professional data gathering, scientific analysis, documentation, reasoned substantiation and factual assessment of corporeal sates or material events.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff March 1, 2011

Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• March 2: Business@Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. Speakers: Sheriff Michael Ashe and Springfield Police Commissioner n William Fitchett. Cost: members $20, non-members $30. For reservations, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1313 or [email protected].

• March 9: After 5, 5 to 7 p.m., Café Lebanon, Shaker Road, East Longmeadow. Cost: members $10, non-members $20. For reservations, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1313 or [email protected].