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Briefcase

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ESE Bid to Black Out Casino Events Rejected
BOSTON — The state Gaming Commission has rejected the Eastern States Exposition’s (ESE) bid for recognition as a venue that would suffer financial damage from the $800 million casino that MGM Resorts International plans to build in Springfield. The commission voted 3-2 to deny the request on the condition that MGM impose a blackout on potentially competing events during the 17 days of the Big E, the fair that generates about 85% of the Eastern States Exposition’s revenue. If the 17-day blackout fails to protect the Big E, the exposition can reapply for status as an ‘impacted live entertainment venue, the commissioners said. Eugene Cassidy, president and CEO of the West Springfield-based ESE, said the nonprofit will consider filing a lawsuit against the commission to overturn the ruling. The had called for a longer blackout period, including 45 days before the fair and 30 days after, to offset MGM’s competitive advantage. West Springfield is still negotiating a surrounding-community agreement with MGM to mitigate the casino’s impact, as is Longmeadow. MGM has successfully negotiated surrounding-community mitigation agreements with Ludlow, Agawam, Wilbraham, East Longmeadow, Chicopee, and Holyoke. The agreements with Agawam and Chicopee call for each community to receive $125,000 up front with annual payments of $150,000. Ludlow, East Longmeadow, and Wilbraham are set to receive $50,000 up front with annual payments of $100,000. The Holyoke agreement calls for $50,000 up front and $1.28 million over 15 years.

State Issues Innovation Challenge Grants
BOSTON — Glen Shor, state Secretary of Administration and Finance, recently announced 37 projects slated to receive funding from the $4 million Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) grant program. Now in its third year, the program incentivizes and supports regionalization and other cost-saving initiatives that will change the way local governments do business to maintain service delivery and stretch every taxpayer dollar as far as possible. “The CIC program is a major component of the Patrick administration’s commitment to provide cities and towns with the tools to effectively manage resources and provide services to their residents,” said Secretary Shor. “This program provides an opportunity for neighboring communities to build partnerships, share services, and use their resources wisely.” Added state Sen. Steven Brewer, “investing in the relationships between local governments, school districts, and regional organizations is fundamental for growth and innovation in our state. The Community Innovation Challenge grant program has provided millions of dollars to unique projects around the Commonwealth, and I look forward to seeing the positive effects that it will have on the towns and organizations in my district.” As the most rural county in Massachusetts, the member towns of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments have long recognized the value of sharing services and expenses. “CIC grants have been a great and invaluable resource for the expansion of regionalization efforts in Franklin County,” said Linda Dunlavy, executive director of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments. “CIC funds have enabled us to open a regional dog shelter that serves 14 towns and has housed more than 200 dogs and adopted out 40% since its opening in late 2012. CIC funds have also created a regional health district that brings efficiency, accessibility, and professionalism to 10 small, rural towns. Including the 37 projects receiving funding this year, the Patrick administration has invested $10.25 million in 95 projects over a three-year period.

Diocese Announces Plan to Rebuild Cathedral High
SPRINGFIELD — The Diocese of Springfield confirmed last week that it will rebuild the tornado-damaged Cathedral High School, aided by approximately $29 million in federal disaster aid. Bishop Timothy McDonnell said in a press conference that the diocese will obtain demolition permits and move forward with design of the new school at that site in East Forest Park. A $38.5 million agreement was announced between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the diocese for damage to the school caused by a tornado on June 1, 2011. FEMA will cover about $29 million for tornado damages and related costs, and the diocese will cover the balance. The FEMA funds are earmarked for Cathedral and St. Michael’s Academy middle school and preschool, also damaged and relocated after the tornado. The diocese also recently reached a settlement of nearly $50 million with its insurance company, Catholic Mutual, for the Cathedral damage. Nearly $10 million more in insurance funds were issued for other diocesan buildings and costs. Cathedral has been located at a leased school in Wilbraham since the tornado, and St. Michael’s is currently housed in what used to be Holy Cross Elementary School in West Springfield.

State Awards $11 Million to Housing Authorities
BOSTON — Continuing the effort to preserve the state’s public housing authority portfolio and increase the number of affordable public housing units available, the Patrick administration announced nearly $11 million in funding to improve, preserve, and reoccupy the Commonwealth’s state-funded public housing units. The capital funding will be used for a number of initiatives, including supporting repairs required to get current vacant units back online, creating more accessible units for people with disabilities, and preserving the current housing stock by making the units more sustainable. “Affordable public housing is in high demand across the state,” said Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Aaron Gornstein. “These additional dedicated funds will provide local housing authorities with new tools and funding to extend the life of our current housing stock and also more quickly house seniors and families looking for affordable housing.” The four types of funding being awarded to 170 housing authorities are: $3,598,970 in sustainability funds to upgrade building components in order to save energy and water; $4,125,365 in health and safety funds to reduce site and common-area hazards that could pose a danger to residents; $721,053 in vacant unit funds to renovate and reoccupy units needing costly rehabilitation that have been vacant for more than 60 days; and $2,517,778 in accessible unit funds to help housing authorities make progress toward having 5% of their units fully accessible. 

Penn National Snags Slot Parlor License
PLAINVILLE — The state Gaming Commission awarded the state’s lone slots parlor license to Penn National Gaming for its proposed development at the Plainridge Racecourse in Plainville. The decision came down to Penn National or the proposed Massachusetts Live! slots parlor in Leominster. A third proposal in Raynham, known as Parx Casino at Raynham Park, was out of the running early. The planned slots parlor in Plainville will include 1,250 slot machines as well as a sports bar, a high-end restaurant, and a food court. Harness racing will continue at the track. Penn National had originally pursued a resort casino in Springfield’s North End, but Mayor Domenic Sarno close to back a larger, competing proposal by MGM Resorts International. The new Plainville parlor could open as soon as spring 2015, according to Penn National, but a temporary slots parlor may be constructed within the next six months at the track if the commission approves. The price of the license is $25 million and must be paid within 30 days.



Palmer Site Owner Seeks to Block Mohegan Sun Bid
PALMER — The owner of the Palmer property where Mohegan Sun had proposed a casino are seeking a court judgment to prevent the company from pursuing another gambling project at Suffolk Downs in Revere. Northeast Realty Associates, which controls 152 acres in Palmer, argues that the casino company violated contracts with the landholder by allegedly engaging in secret talks with racetrack representatives, then intentionally ran a lukewarm referendum campaign for the Palmer project, contributing to its defeat at the polls in November. The lawsuit came less than a week before Revere residents went to the polls to approve a citywide referendum on Mohegan Sun’s plans to build a $1.3 billion gambling resort on land belonging to Suffolk Downs. In a statement, Mohegan Sun said the Connecticut-based company “devoted over five years and more than $25 million to create a world-class resort casino proposal in Palmer. But on Nov. 5, 2013, the community made a decision, which we have respected.”

Employment on Rise for Manufacturing in U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Manufacturing jobs accounted for 18.6% of all employment growth in January, a sign of strength for the U.S. manufacturing sector, said Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM). “It’s still far from a resurgence, but the jobs picture in manufacturing is certainly better than it was last decade. And the latest jobs report offers fresh evidence that it is possible to create manufacturing jobs in America again.” However, he added, “we believe better public policies would bring about a real resurgence. That would mean balancing our trade in goods, investing in infrastructure and training, combating currency manipulation overseas, and boosting innovation. And even though manufacturing may be one of the brighter spots in this jobs report, we’re still well below the pace needed to achieve the president’s goal of adding 1 million such jobs in his second term.”

Hiring Outlook Brightens in Landscape Architecture
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Business conditions remained stalled for the landscape-architecture profession in the fourth quarter of 2013, but may be entering a turnaround, according a survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Although billable hours and inquiries for new work dipped during the fourth quarter, about half of all firms indicated plans to hire in early 2014 — a sign they are expecting more work. Some 75.7% of respondents reported stable to improved billable hours, a decline from the third quarter of 2013 (80.6%). Another 74.9% reported stable to higher inquiries from potential clients for new work, similar to what had been reported in the previous quarter (78%). Year to year, 81.5% of respondents indicated that fourth-quarter billable hours remained about the same or were higher. Additionally, 81.5% claimed steady or increased inquiries for new work compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. Of all firms with two or more employees, nearly half (48.5%) indicated they plan to hire in the first quarter of 2014. Half of all firms with 50 to 99 employees plan to hire an experienced landscape architect in the first quarter of 2014.

People on the Move

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Departments People on the Move

Thomas Newton

Thomas Newton

Thomas Newton recently joined the South Hadley-based advertising and marketing firm Allen Media Inc., as a Relationship Manager. Newton has customer-service skills and a background as a marketing and sales executive, and will work directly with clients to optimize their presence in the market by applying his expertise in marketing, branding, advertising, and communications. Previously, Newton was Vice President of Marketing and Operations at Point Software Inc. in East Longmeadow; Regional Marketing and Promotions Manager at Comcast Spotlight in Bloomfield, Conn.; Director of Marketing & Promotions at Saga Communications in East Longmeadow; and other senior management positions at Charter Communications, Starz/Encore Networks, and Continental Cablevision.
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Kevin O’Donnell

Kevin O’Donnell

BerkshireBanc Investment Services, an affiliate of Berkshire Bank, announced the promotion of Kevin O’Donnell, CFP to Vice President. O’Donnell is a Financial Advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, and started with Berkshire Bank’s trust department in April 2006 as an Investment Representative. In 2011, he was promoted to Financial Consultant/Associate Vice President at BerkshireBanc Investment Services. O’Donnell has logged more than 15 years of experience advising clients as a financial advisor at Bank of America Investments, UBS Financial Services, and Merrill Lynch. O’Donnell, who was recently named a “Top Next Gen Independent Broker/Dealer Advisor” for 2014 by REP magazine, graduated from Fairfield University’s School of Business with a BS in management, holds the FINRA Series 7, 31, 63, and 65 securities registrations, and has earned the Certified Financial Planner certification. He holds life, accident, and health insurance licenses.
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Dakin Humane Society recently welcomed two new members to its Board of Directors:
• Jean Deliso is President and Owner of Deliso Financial & Insurance Services, which specializes in comprehensive financial planning. A member of New York Life’s Chairman’s Council and a consistent qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table, Deliso is a 2013 Court of the Table Member and a member of the Chairman’s Council. She is a graduate of Bentley College; and
• Michael Simolo is an Estate Planning and Business Attorney at Robinson Donovan, P.C. Simolo, a graduate of Cornell Law School, has worked as an estate-planning, estate-administration, probate-litigation, and business attorney since 2003. With Robinson Donovan, P.C. since 2009, Simolo is a frequent speaker on estate-planning issues and is the president of the Pioneer Valley Estate Planning Council.
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Inspired Marketing recently announced the following changes at the Agawam-based marketing and events-planning firm.
• Jill Monson-Bishop, CIO-Chief Inspiration Officer, was recently chosen to serve on one of Springfield City Council President Michael Fenton’s new ad-hoc committees, the Workforce Development Committee;
• Stephanie Killian has been promoted to Senior Event Planner and Project Manager. She began with Inspired Marketing as an intern and has four years experience planning corporate events. Her specialties include nonprofit and corporate event management, creative marketing solutions, media planning/buying, and organization. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in event planning from Bridgewater State University;
• Lauren Mendoza has been hired as Executive Administrator and Event Assistant. Mendoza was previously with United Personnel and joined the Inspired Marketing team at the beginning of 2014. A graduate of UMass Amherst, she has a degree in business and management. She specializes in general project support, editing and proofing, media relations, and event assistance; and
• The 2014 Advisory Board structured to advance growth of the company includes the following board members: Michael Fenton, Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C.; David Ference, TD Bank; Nick Gelfand, NRF Real Estate; Bill Horowitz, AdviCoach Business Advisers; Regina Jasak, Jasak Independent Insurance; Scott Monson, Rock 102/Lazer 99.3; Marybeth O’Meara, Comcast; David Smith, H.L. Dempsey; Pamela Thornton, United Personnel; and Michael Weber, Minuteman Press.
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Jordan Diaz was recently named Information Technology Coordinator at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. Diaz will be responsible for tech support, computer inventory maintenance, and software/operating system upgrades. He works with Paragus Strategic IT to keep MBK on the cutting edge of the industry’s cloud-computing management system. Previously, Diaz worked as an IT Support Technician at ServiceNet Inc. in Northampton, and has a background in customer service. Diaz attended Springfield Technical Community College and is a CompTIA-certified Network and Security Technician.
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Steve Lowell

Steve Lowell

Monson Savings Bank recently announced that Steve Lowell, President and CEO, was elected to the Steering Committee of the Mass. Financial Education Collaborative (MFEC) and presented at the first annual State House Financial Capability Day on Feb. 27. MFEC is a group of nonprofits, private institutions, government agencies, and other entities from across Massachusetts that was established by former commissioners of the legislatively mandated Mass.Asset Development Commission. This statewide network of innovative organizations works together to increase economic stability in Massachusetts through financial education, personal savings, and access to wealth-building assets such as homes, cars, college educations, and small businesses. Lowell was appointed to the Steering Committee due to his leadership in developing Monson Savings Bank’s robust financial-literacy programs, which include teaching financial literacy in area schools; providing workshops on important financial topics; developing a portfolio of products and services for children, teens, and college students; and the bank’s soon-to-be formally announced partnership with MassSaves.
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Timothy Steffen

Timothy Steffen

Tia Allen

Tia Allen

Northwestern Mutual recently promoted Timothy Steffen to Director of Recruitment and Tia Allen to Campus Recruiter. Steffen has been with Northwestern Mutual since 2010 and was previously the Director of Campus Recruitment. As Director of Recruitment, he is responsible for coordinating and managing all district network office recruiting efforts, and oversees the campus recruiter. He is a UMass graduate. Allen, who joined Northwestern Mutual in May 2012, will lead the internship and recruiting effort as Campus Recruiter. She is a graduate of Worcester State University with a degree in business administration.
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Elizabeth Beaudry

Elizabeth Beaudry

Denise Perkins

Denise Perkins

NUVO Bank & Trust Co., a locally owned, independent, small-business bank in Springfield, recently announced the promotions of Elizabeth Beaudry and Denise Perkins, both with the bank since its opening in 2008. Beaudry, formerly the Senior Commercial Credit Analyst and Information Technology Administrator, now serves as NUVO’s Commercial Credit Officer and Information Technology Officer. She will supervise and review the credit-approval process, evaluate the financial condition of commercial-loan applicants, conduct cash-flow analysis, and assist with administration and maintenance of the bank’s commercial-lending portfolio. Additionally, Beaudry will maintain administrative duties for the bank’s main network and manage day-to-day technology tasks, including all hardware, software, network, and computer-related issues. Beaudry has worked for several local banks, including Woronoco Savings Bank, Westbank, Florence Savings Bank, and Berkshire Bank. She is an alumnus of Bay Path College, where she graduated magna cum laude with a BA in business executive management. Perkins, formerly NUVO Bank’s Corporate Secretary, now serves as the Corporate Administrative Officer. She is in charge of human resources, payroll, shareholder relations, as well as the administration of the board and other corporate-related functions at the bank. With 30 years of banking experience, Perkins’ career began at the Farm Credit Banks of Springfield, and in 1987, she joined the Springfield Institution for Savings (SIS), where she developed and administered a community-relations dropout-prevention program for at-risk youth, which received national attention, as well as leading other educational collaborative partnerships for the bank. In 1994, Perkins joined the Westbank corporate offices as the Executive Assistant to the President. Perkins is an alumnus of Cambridge College, where she completed a graduate studies preparation program.
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The Old Sturbridge Village Board of Trustees recently voted unanimously to extend the contract of the museum’s President and CEO, James Donahue, through June 2017. Donahue’s leadership of the nonprofit organization has been lauded since he began in 2007, due to his ability to prompt significant performance improvements, including stabilizing attendance, increasing education field trips, and fund-raising, positioning the museum for a brighter future. Donahue led the reopening of the historic 10-room Old Sturbridge Inn and 29-room Reeder Family Lodges at the village in 2013, expanding the village’s operations to include museum, dining, retail, and lodging. Donahue was formally recognized for leadership and achievements at the 26th annual Massachusetts Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism this past October when he was awarded the Larry D. Meehan Award, presented by Gov. Deval Patrick.
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The Ware-based Positive Path Counseling Center announced that Gary Blanchard has been awarded the Counselor of the Year Award from the Mass. Assoc. of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselors. The award is presented annually to an addiction counselor who demonstrates excellence.

Agenda

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Agenda Departments

Soul Food & Jazz Luncheon
Feb. 27: Springfield Technical Community College will present its annual Soul Food & Jazz Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the seventh floor of Scibelli Hall. The event will feature the smooth sounds of Rohn Lawrence. Tickets are $5 per plate at the door. All proceeds will benefit the STCC Warms Hearts Fund. The event is sponsored by the Diversity Council at STCC.

Dark Dining Room House Concert Series
March 1, April 5, May 3: This winter and spring, Dark Dining Room brings the warmth and coziness of your living room to the grandeur of Wistariahurst. Concert curators Matthew Larsen and Greg Saulmon will serve up several courses of local and national musicians over the first Saturdays of March through May. While no dinner will be served, there will be light refreshments provided by Tony Jones Catering, as well as a cash bar. Doors open at 7 p.m. for all shows. Reservations are suggested. Tickets cost $18 ($15 for members) and can be purchased online at wistariahurst.org or by calling the museum at (413) 322-5660. The March 1 concert features Heather Maloney, who boasts influences and roots in adventurous folk. Rosary Beard, whose intricately intertwined acoustic guitars skate a thin line between melancholy reflection and uplifting release, will open the show. On April 5, Dark Dining Room introduces Colorway, a power trio fronted by Western Mass. native F. Alex Johnson. Introspective songsmith and acoustic guitarist Mark Schwaber opens the show. The final concert on May 3 features acoustic guitarist David Berkeley, a Santa Fe-based troubadour who brings his version of Americana to the stage. Matthew Larsen and the Documents open the show with introspective piano pop layered with careful instrumentation and thoughtful harmonies. For more information about the Dark Dining Room House Concert Series, go to darkdiningroom.com. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Holyoke Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Celebrate Springfield Dinner Event
March 12: DevelopSpringfield will host its third annual dinner event in celebration of Springfield and the many accomplishments the community has achieved over the past year, along with the exciting new initiatives underway. The event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Festivities will include a reception with live music by the Eric Bascom Trio and a silent auction, followed by dinner, a brief program, and presentations. Specifically, DevelopSpringfield will present its Partner in Progress Award to recognize the outstanding contributions of three individuals toward revitalization in Springfield: Colleen Loveless, executive director of Rebuilding Together; Terry Powe, principal of Elias Brookings Elementary School; and Mark Tolosky, president and CEO of Baystate Health. Platinum sponsors of the event are MassMutual Financial Group, Baystate Health, and Health New England. All proceeds will support DevelopSpringfield’s redevelopment initiatives, projects, and programs. About 400 attendees — including federal, state, and city officials; leaders from the business and nonprofit communities; and local residents — are expected to come together in support of ongoing efforts to advance development and redevelopment projects, stimulate and support economic growth, and expedite the revitalization process in Springfield. Registration information is available at www.developspringfield.com or by contacting Paige Thayer at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected].

Difference Makers 2014
March 20: The sixth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, honoring these five individuals and organizations: the Gray House; Colleen Loveless, executive director of the Springfield chapter of Rebuilding Together; the Melha Shriners, Paula Moore, teacher at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Academy and founder of YSET Academy; and Michael Moriarty, attorney and director of Olde Holyoke Development Corp. Their stories are told in the Feb. 10 issue of BusinessWest and online at www.businesswest.com. More details on the gala event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine, but tickets cost $60, and tables of 10 are available. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. Event sponsors include Baystate Medical Center, Health New England, First American Insurance, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, Northwestern Mutual, Royal LLP, Sarat Ford, and Six-Point Creative. For more information, call (413) 781-8600.

Employers Assoc. Management Conference
April 2: Accountability is a hot issue in today’s business world. At the Holiday Inn in Enfield, Conn., the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) will hold its 10th annual management conference, called “It’s All About Accountability.” The conference will address personal accountability and responsibility in achieving organizational results, based on Linda Galindo’s bestselling book, The 85% Solution. EANE is bringing to the area Kathleen Kelly, a master certified facilitator in ‘the Accountability Experience.’ She will teach supervisors and managers how to develop accountability and learn to accept no less than 85% responsibility for the outcomes of their actions. Conference breakout sessions will include: “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” “Taking the ‘Difficult’ out of Difficult Conversations,” “Tom’s Fired: Where Did Things Go Wrong?” “Taking Ownership for Your Own Professional Development,” “Digging Deep: Performance Improvement Through Real Coaching,” and “Ethical and Legal Obligations of Managers in Solving Workplace Issues.” For more information about the conference, contact Karen Cronenberger at (877) 662-6444 or [email protected]. To register, call (877) 662-6444 or visit www.eane.org.

Court Dockets

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Court Dockets Departments

The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Gabriel Davila v. FDAS Corp., d/b/a Car Credit 1st, and Frank DeCaro
Allegation: Breach of warranty pertaining to the sale of a used vehicle and violation of the Mass. Consumer Protection Act: $15,000
Filed: 2/3/14

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Mark A. Larace, et al v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee for ABFC 2005-OPT1 Trust, et al
Allegation: Wrongful foreclosure:
$7.7 million
Filed: 1/6/14

Paul J. Dellatorre v. Springfield Florists Supply Inc., Arthur Dellatorre, David Dellatorre, and Risa Teall
Allegation: Conversion of property: $306,520
Filed: 1/17/14

Scott Dunbar v. Accutech Insulation and Contracting Inc.
Allegation: Failure to pay wages, breach of contract, and retaliation: $150,000
Filed: 1/14/14

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Granby Heights Assoc. Inc. v. SVE Inc. d/b/a SVE Associates
Allegation: Plaintiff retained defendant to design wastewater-treatment system which repeatedly failed state environmental-permitting requirements: $250,000
Filed: 12/30/13

Safety Insurance Co. as subrogee of Marion Kennedy v. S.E. Sulenski Roofing & Siding Co. Inc.
Allegation: Subrogation action against contractor for negligence and breach of contract for building collapse: $89,000+
Filed: 1/29/14

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Sandra Nomakeo v. Fazzi Associates
Allegation: Breach of contract and unpaid wages: $614+
Filed: 12/31/13

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Jessica Morris v. Dunkin Donuts
Allegation: Unpaid wages and overtime: $6,600
Filed: 1/27/14

Teagno Construction Inc. v. McCarthy Properties Inc.
Allegation: Breach of construction contract: $3,493
Filed: 1/16/14

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Linda Johnson v. Phil’s Transportation Inc., Konstantin Tikhonov, and Svetlana Tikhonov
Allegation: Failure to pay wages and overtime, misclassification as independent contractor, and unjust enrichment: $20,000+
Filed: 1/8/14

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Atlantic Charter Insurance v. J. Hatchett Masonry, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of insurance premiums: $29,269
Filed: 1/30/14

Mind the Gap

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Insurance Sections
At Webber & Grinnell, the Devil Is in the Details

Bill Grinnell

Bill Grinnell says his job is to protect businesses, and education is a big part of that.

The sales pitch at Webber & Grinnell Insurance often comes down to one simple question: what are you not covered for?

“That’s part of our renewal process, focusing on what coverage is lacking,” said William Grinnell, who, along with Richard Webber, has led this Northampton-based insurance agency to steady growth for almost two decades. “Business owners get a sense of where they’re exposed, and what they really want to know is what they’re not covered for.”

Take, for example, the broad realm of business-practices liability.

“That’s a huge one,” said Mat Geffin, vice president of business development. “They think, if they’re sued by an employee, their general liability coverage protects them. It won’t. There are exclusions for employment-practices types of claims, like sexual harassment and wrongful termination — those are a totally separate type of policy, completely excluded under your general liability.”

And, in an ever-more-litigious society, that’s no small matter for an employer.

Those suits are frequent; my clients have seen a lot of those this year,” Geffin said. “The more employees you have, the more turnover, the more likely it is that these suits will occur.

“It’s a huge risk,” he added. “I’ve had clients who have done all the right things in terminating a problem employee, but nothing’s stopping them from going to Mark E. Salomone and filing a lawsuit. That’s where that employment-practices policy steps up to protect the company.”

Sometimes, Grinnell noted, employers think they’re doing everything right and don’t believe they’re exposed. “But anyone can sue for any reason, and defense is very expensive and time-consuming” — often to the tune of thousands of dollars small businesses just can’t spare.

Fortunately, he added, the agents at Webber & Grinnell are trained to think like underwriters; in fact, even the most dynamic salespeople won’t get hired if they aren’t able to dig into the fine print of an 80-page policy, understand its strengths and weaknesses, and make sure clients understand them, too (more on that later).

“We help them understand that everyone out there has different risk tolerances,” Grinnell told BusinessWest. “Our job is to help them make an informed decision about what insurance they’re going to purchase.

“Our obligation is, obviously, to protect those businesses,” he added. “They had better be protected right, or we’re exposed, too.”

Digging Deep

Grinnell said his agency focuses on the property/casualty market. “Our main lines of coverage are workers’ compensation coverage, commercial property, and general liability,” as well as home and auto insurance.

On the business side, he said, some nuances have changed the game over the past decade or so. For example, workers’ compensation has become much more complex, and many employers’ policies are fraught with mistakes in classification or experience modification calculations — although companies are becoming more savvy on these matters.

Mat Geffin

Mat Geffin says cyber liability is one of the hot insurance trends that companies of all kinds need to be aware of.

From a liability standpoint, said Geffin, there’s more of a trend toward cyber liability, with more companies, especially retailers, doing business online. “It’s an area of growth in the insurance industry — you see all these lawsuits; you see Target losing millions of customer records,” he noted. “What happens when small businesses in this area are being hit with some of those exposures? They’re not all covered for it, and that’s the new thing we’re talking to people about.”

On the personal-lines side, Grinnell said business is always changing. “It’s been ever-more competitive with the introduction of competitive auto rates several years ago, so we battle with that.”

In the midst of such competition, Geffin said, “I do believe a differentiator for us is our knowledge, being a pure coverage insurance agency. We’re not out there just hawking prices. We really do take a hard look at the coverage, talk intelligently, take an underwriter’s approach to it. Bill and Rich were both underwriters, and were trained to look at risks like underwriters.”

Indeed, Grinnell’s first job after graduating from college in 1984 was with United States Fidelity and Guarantee Insurance in Boston. He received in-depth training there, which provided him with advanced knowledge of how policies are constructed. Webber had similar training experience at Aetna as an underwriter, and Grinnell attributes most of the company’s success to an ability to carefully examine policies, because, while clients are expected to read their policies, he realizes that they don’t always understand them.

Grinnell purchased his father’s agency, then known as Woodward and Grinnell, in 1997, and soon after teamed up with Webber. Their relationship has been synergistic, with Grinnell focusing on sales, and Webber spearheading office adminstration, technology, and relationships with larger carriers. Last fall, Grinnell became the company’s sole owner, and Webber is now vice president of operations.

Unlike insurance agencies that use a cookie-cutter approach to policy writing, Grinnell said, his salespeople are required to take a highly individualized approach.

“Everyone has different problems, and you’ve got to identify what the issue is and then capitalize on it,” he explained. “It might be a service issue, it could be a problem they had with a claim, a coverage issue … any of these things.”

One of the firm’s advantages is the number of commercial markets it represents, he added, and the leverage that brings. “As opposed to a smaller agency, we have dozens of different commercial insurance companies to approach, and we can get a good, competitive package from one of them.”

Knowledge Is Power

But Webber & Grinnell brings knowledge and information to its clients beyond crafting their policies.

Significantly, the company sends clients something called Business Digest, a national insurance newsletter agencies personalize according to their own needs. “Sometimes it contains timely topics concerning insurance coverage,” Grinnell said, “and sometimes it focuses on insurers and best practices and what we’re doing well to manage a particular risk they might have in their business.”

Over the years, the firm has also established informational hotlines for OSHA and human-resources matters, a workers’ compensation hotline staffed by an attorney in that field, and seminars on topics ranging from sales fundamentals to hiring rights to corporate leadership — all these efforts geared toward moving beyond the insurance relationship and becoming more of a partner with clients, to help their businesses run smoothly.

All those efforts are part of growing Webber & Grinnell, both in size and in scope of services, Geffin said. “We have a lot more competition that has come in with the direct writers, like Geico and Progressive. But we’re trying to grow.”

One reason that’s a challenge, Grinnell said, is that the agency is extremely cautious in its hiring process. “We’re very selective about who we take on. We’re trying to find a salesperson who fits our culture, and it’s very difficult. We get a lot of people in the door, but we don’t take many.”

The reason has to do with the dual nature — personal and technical — of what the company demands.

“You’ve got to be bright, and you’ve got to work hard,” he told BusinessWest. “And you’ve got to be a person who’s able to handle the technicalities of the insurance world and all the little details in the policy, and, at the same time, get along with people, communicate well with people, and build firm relationships.”

Geffin agreed. “It’s very much a hybrid type of role,” he said. “A lot of salespeople are not good at the technical standpoint, that other side of reading the contract language and interpreting the contract language. There might be hundreds of pages, and 100 ways you can write it depending on the risk. You need a very special person, and it’s very hard to find that mix.”

Even for employees who don’t deal directly with clients, the standards are high, Grinnell said. “Internally, we’re looking for a slightly different skill set, but, again, we test everyone who comes in here, interview them several times, check their references. We’re very selective about hiring. And I think that gives us an advantage.”

Giving Back

With so many human needs in Western Mass., the company also has to be selective about its charitable efforts, which Grinnell said have long been a part of the agency’s culture. These days, for example, Webber & Grinnell heads up campaigns for United Way of Hampshire County and United Way of Pioneer Valley, among other efforts.

“I don’t know if this is true for a lot of agencies, but we do a lot philanthropically in the Valley,” Geffin said. “It’s a huge commitment. Bill and Rich have always led by example, by giving back to the community that supports us. I think that’s a good message.”

It’s just one more detail that this insurance company strives to get right.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Guaranteed Promise

By
Insurance Sections
Phillips Insurance Agency Specializes in Surety Bonds

Joseph Phillips

Joseph Phillips says the bonding process, while complex, should be considered an opportunity for businesses, not an obstacle.

Joseph Phillips is drawing a triangle to illustrate how a surety bond works. One leg is upheld by a contractor, and the other is held by a bonding company. The business owner, city, or agency that hired the contractor sits at the top.

The president of Phillips Insurance Agency in Chicopee explained that a surety bond is a type of guarantee, and if the contractor fails to complete a project, the owner can go directly to the surety bonding company to remedy the situation. “Surety is defined as a third-party guarantee, and the surety bonding company guarantees that the contractor will perform the work as stated in the contract,” he said, adding that this includes paying subcontractors and suppliers.

Although the concept is not difficult to understand, Phillip says confusion and misperceptions exist about the prequalification process required to post a bond. He admits it takes time and can be frustrating, but contractors who complete it have an edge in an industry that has become increasingly competitive. Bonds allow contractors to work in both public and private sectors and thus weather changes in the economy during an era in which more and more owners and banks require that projects are bonded.

Phillips is passionate about his work, and he and his 18 employees have spent close to two decades educating and helping clients complete the bonding process, which many don’t attempt because they consider it too complex or difficult.

But Phillips says it is a good investment of time. “People should not consider it an obstacle, but an opportunity to expand their business,” he told BusinessWest.

He has been dealing with surety bonds since he graduated from college, and today, due to his efforts, Phillips Insurance has become one of the largest bond and construction insurance writers in the Northeast. “We have the same expertise in surety bonds and risk management for contractors as our competitors in New York and Boston, and can respond to needs whether they are simple or complex,” he said.

Although his agency also writes automobile, home, and business insurance policies and serves 150 clients in 12 states, 80% of its work is with bonds.

Phillips does what it takes to attract and retain clients, and that includes meetings at 5:30 a.m. in a wide variety of places, including airports. “I’ve written bonds for contractors in Las Vegas whom I have never met,” he said.

Jocelyn Keech

Bond Administrator Jocelyn Keech is one of 20 employees at Phillips Insurance Agency in Chicopee.

He takes great pride and satisfaction in connecting clients with the companies that offer these third-party guarantees. What sets the company apart from the 38,000 other insurance agencies in the U.S. is that it is a member of the National Assoc. of Surety Bond Producers, Phillips said, adding that the organization has fewer than 500 members due to the difficulty of fulfilling its requirements. He is past president of the Surety Assoc. of Massachusetts, and has earned both his AFSB (associate in surety and fidelity bonding) and CRIS (construction risk and insurance specialist) designations.

Phillips advises contractors who are unfamiliar with the bonding process to visit his agency’s website — www.phillipsinsurance.com — and read the publication link titled “Your First Bond,” as well as other educational material posted there.

Changing Direction

Phillips Insurance Agency celebrated its 60th anniversary last year by giving $1,000 each to 10 nonprofits that were nominated by their clients, then voted on by the public. Winners included the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee, the Constanza Medical Mission, the Assoc. for Community Living, the Sisters of St. Joseph, Camphill Village USA, and others. In addition, the agency donated $1 to Shriners Hospital for every ‘like’ it received on its Facebook page.

The company dates back to 1953, when Joseph’s father, Cornelius Phillips, purchased the William J. Fuller Agency in Chicopee. The Fuller Agency had been in business since 1898, and Cornelius renamed it and chose to focus on auto and home insurance.

A major shift occurred when Joseph took the helm after his father’s death in 1997 and put his focus on the surety bond market.

He had worked for Fidelity and Deposit Co., which is the oldest bonding company in the U.S, after graduating from college, then was employed as a bond writer for Liberty Mutual before he returned to Chicopee to join his father in business.

The company has always valued its employees, and when Joseph joined his father, there were only two employees. They included 52-year-old Jeanne Jones, who was employed by Cornelius at age 16 and is still working at the agency.

“We also have three employees who work remotely,” Phillips said, noting that he chose to keep these individuals when they moved from Western Mass. to distant states.

Phillips also places a high value on education, so the agency’s website contains a wealth of information about the bonding process. In fact, he finds great satisfaction in helping people obtain their first bond.

“It’s intimidating for small companies — the process can be confusing, and many people don’t think they can get a bond,” he said, adding that the agency receives a number of referrals from local certified public accountants and commercial lenders. “But if the person goes through the steps and understands what is required, they leave behind a slew of competitors who failed to do what is required to bid on public projects.”

Phillips said surety bonds resemble an extension of a line of credit at a bank, and the practice of issuing them dates back to ancient Egypt. They have been used throughout U.S. history as well. In fact, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was bond manager for Fidelity and Deposit Co. in New York from 1921 to 1928 before he was elected president in 1932. Three years later, passage of the Miller Act in the U.S. made it a legal requirement for a bond to be issued for all federal public works projects that exceed $100,000.

Phillips admits that trying to get a bond for the first time can be a frustrating process for people who don’t understand what is needed. “When a surety company underwrites a new account, they are looking for the three Cs  — capital, capacity, and character — or the moral and ethical nature of an individual or business entity,” he said. He defines ‘capital’ as a measure of the contractor’s ability to do the work, their working capital, and bank support; ‘capacity’ as their ability to perform a job, which includes their experience, people, and equipment; and ‘character’ as the contractor’s moral or ethical nature and reputation.

In order to gather that information, his agency becomes deeply involved with clients. “We learn the history of their company, their financials, their capabilities, and their failures and successes. We become trusted advisors, like certified public accountants or attorneys, and we have a very high retention rate,” he said.

After the agency gathers all it needs from the person or company, employees analyze and review the material. When that is complete, Phillips determines which bonding company will best serve the client’s needs. “We have the experience to see that the client is placed with the bonding company that matches up best with their type of construction, size, program, and financial position,” he said.

The final step involves submitting a recommendation and the required documents to the chosen bonding company and working out a program for the client. Phillips has access to most of the top 25 surety companies in the country and also offers complimentary products such as builders’ risk, railroad protective coverage, pollution liability, and more.

Projects for which Phillips Insurance recently executed bonds include:

• An $11 million bond guaranteeing the reconstruction of the William F. Davitt Memorial Bridge in Chicopee on behalf of the Mass. Department of Transportation;
• A $10 million bond for the Central Campus infrastructure project at UMass Amherst;
• A $35 million bond for a state utility company for an infrastructure project;
• An $11 million bond written for the masonry portion of the $100 million Commonwealth Honors College Complex at UMass Amherst; and
• A $12 million bond written for a HUD housing project in Greenfield.

Phillips has also written bonds for clients on projects nationwide. They include various clients at the $10 billion Global Foundries project in Malta, N.Y., as well the granite contractor at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.

“We’ve bonded projects from $100,000 to $50 million, and have written bonds for subdivisions, landfills, and solar projects,” he said.

And new work is expected after a license to build a casino in Western Mass is issued, as widely expected. “We’re excited about it. It will be a $500 million-plus project, and if the owner decides to protect the project by bonding the contractors working on it, we will benefit,” said Phillips. “We’ve also seen a lot of activity in solar-field construction, which we expect to be a big part of our bond writing over the next three years.”


Promising Outlook

The Phillips agency’s business in surety bond premiums increased by 30% last year from the year before, and it continues to acquire new accounts.

Phillips wants to expand across the nation, and to that end, he is creating a new website — mybonddept.com — to help agencies that lack the expertise to serve clients who need bonds. “We want to split the commission without taking the business away from them.”

He acknowledges that bonding is a rigorous underwriting process and says an annual review is important. “But I tell new clients to hang in there, because once you accomplish this, you have an unlimited ability to work. It opens up so many doors.”

Are You Protected Against Cyber Theft?

By
Insurance Sections
If the Answer Is ‘No,’ the Consequences Could Be Costly


By MICHAEL LEVIN

When it comes to cyber security and data breaches, no system is infallible. Some of the largest companies in the world have been victims of data breaches.  Recently, the Swansea, Mass. Police Department contracted the CrytoLocker computer virus, and paid ransom to gain access to their files.

While large breaches like those at Target, Neiman Marcus, and Yahoo! receive great media attention, smaller breaches occur daily without much fanfare. A common misconception is that malicious hackers target only large companies. However, small and mid-sized companies are often perceived — for good reasons — as easier targets due to their limited IT resources.

What is the incentive for criminals to steal data? There is a large black market for stolen identities. Some estimates put the value of stolen personal identifiable information (PII) and personal health information (PHI) at $5-$10 per record, depending on the information. Malicious hackers who gain access to computer systems have the potential to modify accounts-payable data and change bank routing numbers.

Human Error

Another common misconception is that most breaches result from a hacker sitting behind a computer in some foreign country. Malicious hacker activity has and will continue to occur; however, some studies estimate that approximately 50% to 60% of breaches result from simple human and system errors.

For example, unencrypted laptops and smartphones that are lost or stolen pose a large threat, as do data backups brought home by an employee for off-site storage. Lost or weak passwords continue to be an issue as well. It’s fairly common to see a sticky note on an employee’s computer monitor with their username and password to access the enterprise software system (hopefully not the controller).

In addition, people often mistakenly send e-mails to someone other than the intended recipient. How many times have you replied to an e-mail that started with, “I think you meant to send this to another person?” If the e-mail contains PII or PHI, this may be a breach.

Not understanding the technology in your office can also result in a breach. Affinity Health Plan Inc. settled with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for $1.2 million when it returned leased photocopiers with 344,579 personal health-information records on the copier’s hard drives (yes, modern copiers have hard drives that store data).

Human error breaches are not limited to digital data. Improper disposal of documents that contained PII or PHI has led to breaches. The list of exposures on the human-error side alone is limited only by one’s imagination.

Cyber Risk Management

Implementing preventative measures, best practices, and a strong backup solution help reduce, but not eliminate, the risk. An incidence-response plan that details responsibilities and vendors is crucial to quickly address a breach and to avoid panic buying. Many state laws have time deadlines for certain actions.  The clock is ticking once a breach has been identified. A written policy and plan detailing security measures will be of assistance should you be interviewed by the Office of Civil Rights, HHS, or the state attorney general.

Potential Cost of a Cyber Incident

Expenses from a data breach or a cyber incident vary and can be quite high. Beyond the intangible cost associated with the loss of consumer confidence, organizations may face lawsuits, regulatory expenses, regulatory-defense costs, notification costs, and business-interruption losses.

In order to limit the damage, organizations often hire public-relations firms, outsource call centers, provide credit monitoring for at least a year (required by law in some states), and provide identity-fraud insurance.

Forensic specialists may be required to identify and remediate the source of a breach that results from an organization’s computer systems. Again, the clock is ticking. Not finding and resolving all the issues with a system creates further exposure down the road.

As discussed earlier, part of a comprehensive cyber risk-management program is to have a good backup solution and to monitor it regularly to ensure that data is consistently backed up. Without a solid backup strategy, organizations may incur data-restoration and computer-program-restoration expenses — assuming the data and programs can be restored.


Cyber-liability Insurance

It is important to understand that a general-liability insurance policy typically does not respond to cyber exposures. Available cyber-liability insurance coverages include network and information-security liability, security-breach remediation and notification, hacker damage, crisis-management expenses, business interruption, cyber extortion, media, data restoration, and computer fraud.

Today’s cyber-insurance policies are flexible so that you can choose coverages based on your unique needs, exposures, and risk tolerance. Developing a meaningful cyber-insurance program requires an understanding of an organization’s IT systems, data-security best practices, and level of employee education.

In Summary

Whether or not they realize it, most organizations, no matter the size, have some sort of cyber-security or data-breach exposure. If you store personal identifiable information or personal health information, your risks increase exponentially. And these risks are here to stay.

There are far too many cyber-security exposures to be covered in a single article. It is important to work with an insurance agent who is capable of understanding your exposures and who can match insurance coverages and carriers to meet your unique needs. A properly structured cyber-liability insurance policy can be an important element to an organization’s overall cyber-risk-management program and long-term sustainability. n


Michael Levin is an account executive at the Dowd Insurance Agency, a full-service agency providing personal, commercial, and financial-planning needs, with six offices in Western Mass.; (413) 538-7444; [email protected]

Word Up

By
Sections Technology
As Speech-recognition Technology Improves, More Applications Emerge

SpeechRecogSpeech-recognition technology, which instantly translates human speech into a digital document or command, has been around in some form for about two decades. But constant improvements in performance — as well as a broading of its applications — have users excited about the future.

That performance is typically measured in accuracy and speed, but various factors have complicated the former, from the vocabulary size of the software to the rate of speech; from accented or disjointed speech to background noise.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking, produced by software developer Nuance, has long been considered the gold standard in minimizing such issues.

“At first, speech-recognition packages were more like frustrating toys with maddening limitations, but they have steadily improved over time,” writes Lamont Wood in Computer World, in a discussion about NaturallySpeaking 12, the newest Dragon product. He said the utility of speech recognition didn’t outweigh its limitations until about a decade ago, but even then, speech recognition was more reliable with long words than with short ones, misinterpreted words were often rendered as commands, and the software occasionally got confused to the point that it stopped listening.

With version 12, he notes, “these factors have faded into the background (although they they haven’t entirely disappeared). For example, you can dictate effectively at about half the speed of an auctioneer — should you prove able to do so. Assuming that you stay focused while dictating, the error rate is now trivial.”

That’s important for people who use speech recognition in a variety of fields, including:

• Healthcare. The technology speeds up the transcription process by allowing a medical professional to dictate into a speech-recognition engine and cleaned up by an editor on the back end.
• Military. Speech recognition has been tested successfully in fighter aircraft, with applications including setting radio frequencies, commanding an autopilot system, setting steer-point coordinates and weapons-release parameters, and controlling flight display.
• Air-traffic control. Many air-traffic-control training systems require a person to act as a pilot and dialogue with the trainee. Speech recognition could potentially eliminate the need for that pseudo-pilot, thus reducing training and support personnel.
• Aerospace. NASA’s Mars Polar Lander used speech recognition in some applications.

Other uses are common as well, including court reporting; assistive devices for automobiles, such as OnStar and Ford Sync; hands-free computing; robotics; video captioning for television; and interactive video games — just to name a few.

Taming the Dragon?

Dragon isn’t the only player in the field, however. “Simpler or less expensive (if not quite as powerful) options are carving out little fiefdoms,” writes Mark O’Neill in PC World. “The more choices, the better, too, given that using voice commands can stave off or reduce repetitive strain injuries. The spoken word also suits some projects better than typing.”

Among the lesser-known options are:

• Windows Speech Recognition, which arrives preinstalled with newer versions of Windows. “Performance could stand some improvement,” O’Neill notes. “I found the accuracy level dipped when I dictated long texts into a MS Office doc. Nor did it respond well to my German accent, so other accents may stymie it as well.”
• Google Voice Search, which works on a Google Chrome browser, which is “fairly good at recognizing what you said.”
• TalkTyper, an online app with far fewer features than Dragon. “Even when I spoke clearly, it tripped up on some of the words, and I wasn’t exactly dictating rocket science. TalkTyper should be used only for simpler stuff, shorter spoken content — maybe an email or a tweet here and there.”
• Tazti, an app that goes beyond simple transcription. “Rather than taking dictation, Tazti takes orders. It helps you control games, open apps, and even use the command line,” O’Neill notes. “However, Tazti’s one big drawback is it won’t let you dictate text to a document. It’s not that kind of voice recognition.”

Using voice recognition for commands is increasingly common in automobiles. Although these systems are largely user-friendly, drivers still have to rely on set commands when summoning a phone number or searching through music. But Nuance says systems that recognize true natural language with 95% accuracy are probably no more than three years away.

“I believe the biggest gains to be made are going to be in conversational speech and understanding the intent of what the user is trying to accomplish,” Brian Radloff, the company’s director of Automotive Solution Architecture, told Satellite Radio Playground. “We’re starting to see that in telephony in the mobile space.”

He said strides will come when car makers treat their infotainment systems more holistically, with screen graphics properly tying into speech control. “The bulk of the focus over the next five years in the automotive space, and in voice in general, is going to be, how do we take this experience that is very good for a certain group, and make it very good for a large swath of the car-buying public?”

Meanwhile, Wells Fargo recently began testing voice-recognition technology that banking customers can use to check their spending habits and account level. In addition, U.S. Bank has been testing the technology among its employees, and some insurance companies, including Geico and USAA, have incorporated voice recognition in their applications, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Shirley Inscoe, a senior analyst with Aite Group, a national research and advisory firm, said such advances are closely tied to the rise in mobile devices and consumers demanding to do more with them. “There’s a big desire to improve customer service. They know we as consumers don’t go anywhere without our mobile phones. It really is a way to tie a customer more closely to the financial institution.”

Other advances in voice recognition go well beyond finance and leisure activities. For instance, two MIT students recently spent their winter break in New Jersey developing a device that could give paralyzed people the ability to call for help with the sound of their voice or change the settings on their wheelchair when no one is around. They were inspired by retired physics professor Michael Ogg, who has multiple sclerosis.

“My real limitation now is because of MS. I’m completely quadriplegic. I’m just not able to move my arms and legs at all,” Ogg told the Asbury Park Press.

He relies on home health aides for daily assistance, but when he is alone, he cannot reach an alarm by his bed to summon aid. “In the case of … being able to call for help,” he said, “this is potentially life-saving technology.”

Speak Clearly

Whichever voice-recognition software one uses, Wood offers a few tips to make the technology easier and more effective, including enunciating carefully and speaking slowly enough so that each word gets its due; watching the results on the screen as you go along, which can enhance accuracy; and taking heed of background sounds.

“Background silence is best, but droning ventilators hurt recognition more than office chatter,” he writes. “Meanwhile, if you don’t mind being overheard on the phone, then you won’t mind being overheard while dictating. You can use about the same volume for the phone and for speech recognition.”

Put that way, the ever-improving realm of speech recognition can be thought of as just another office function, as it’s increasingly assimilated into many corners of the world, from gaming to aviation to healthcare — a life enhancer for some, but for others, potentially a life-saving development.


— Joseph Bednar

The Melha Shriners

By
Class of 2014 Difference Makers
Their Investments in the Lives of Children Are Paying Huge Dividends

Al Zippin, left, past potentate, and current Potentate William Faust.

Al Zippin, left, past potentate, and current Potentate William Faust.
Photo by Denise Smith

Howard Newman was relating the story of how he and his wife, Cindy, ultimately decided to adopt a 2-year-old Russian boy suffering from what’s known as ‘limb deficiency’ — the child was born missing part of his thigh bone and fibula, and had a foot where his short leg ended.

He started by recalling what he could of a conversation the couple had with an orthopedic specialist practicing not far from where they lived in the Albany, N.Y. area. Essentially, the Newmans were looking for insight into what this boy was up against, what care he would need, and what kind of life he could expect.

And the doctor answering their questions wasn’t exactly filling them with hope and optimism.

“He tried to discourage us from doing this,” Howard recalled. “He said that a boy like this may never walk. He was giving us all the negatives, saying things like ‘think about having to carry a 20-year-old up and down steps.’”

But the Newmans were not to be easily deterred. They had the same discussion with more specialists, and eventually gained enough confidence to buy two plane tickets to Russia — and three for the ride home.

When they picked up the child, they had a talk with the Russian doctor administering the physical that was required to complete paperwork for the American embassy. He had what amounted to a question wrapped in the form of a plea.

“He said, ‘you are taking him to Shriners, aren’t you?’” said Howard.

To make a long story somewhat shorter, they did. Specifically, they took him to the Shriners Hospital for Children on Carew Street in Springfield, and they’ve been bringing him back periodically for more than 16 years.

His care there started with the amputation of his foot, leaving young Isaac in a body cast for six weeks. He was then fitted for a prosthetic leg, the first of several he’s needed over the years.

“As I grow, I need new legs,” said Isaac, adding that there were years when he went through two.

As he talked with BusinessWest on a cold Friday morning in late January, he was at the hospital to be fitted for the latest of these prosthetic limbs, all provided free of charge.

“I’ve pretty much stopped growing now — they’re replacing this one because it’s faded,” said Isaac, who walks with a slight limp and can run with his fellow classmates during gym class.

He leads what Dr. David Drvaric, who performed the amputation surgery and has cared for Isaac since he first arrived at the hospital, called a normal life. “He just has to put his leg on every day.”

Howard Newman said Isaac’s experiences with Shriners went a long way toward convincing he and Cindy to adopt another Russian child with similar problems, a girl named Chloe. She is also a regular visitor at the hospital, and, like her brother, has gone through a number of prosthetic limbs.

Isaac Newman, seen here with his father, Howard

Isaac Newman, seen here with his father, Howard, has been coming to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield for more than 16 years.

It isn’t written down anywhere, but it is the unofficial mission of the Melha Shrine Temple, based on Longhill Street in Springfield, to help script more success stories like those involving Isaac and Chloe.

The Melha Shriners, like other temples across the U.S. and around the world, raise money to fund the 22 Shriners Childrens Hospitals in this country and now also Canada and Mexico. But equally important, they work tirelessly to raise awareness of these facilities and the critical, compassionate work that goes on at each one, while also dispelling the misperceptions that exist concerning them.

And there are many, said Chuck Walczak, administrator for both the Springfield hospital and another facility in Erie, Pa., starting with the commonly held belief that the hospitals care only for the children of Shriners, or that there are other limitations on who receives services. There’s also the notion that, because the care provided is free — although the hospitals will now ask patients’ families to use their insurance, if they have it — it is not of the highest quality. Even physicians practicing behind the former Iron Curtain know that’s not the case.

“Unfortunately, we’re a best-kept secret, and that’s not what we want to be,” said Walzcak, who credited the Melha temple with excellent, and ongoing, work to help rid the facility of that distinction.

And as the Shriners carry out that important work, they do it with a distinctive style and attitude, if you will — one focused on fun. The most visible manifestations of this are the annual Shrine Circus at the Big E and the ever-present clown unit, but those qualities permeate each of the 14 units, from bands to the many motorized vehicles, and each parade they appear at.

Al Zippin, long-time member of the Melha Temple, past potentate, and unofficial historian, summed it all up nicely.

“As Shriners, we’re investing in the future, and the reason I say that is our investment is in children — if we improve the quality of their lives, the future gets brighter for everyone,” he said, striking at the heart of the reason why the Melha group has been chosen as a Difference Maker for 2014.

Fun — with a Purpose
As he talked with BusinessWest at the Shriners facility, one of the many mansions on Longhill Street that have been retrofitted for other purposes, Zippin said the Melha Temple is now 115 years old.

It boasts members from across Western Mass., from the New York border to Worcester, and also from Northern Conn. There are roughly 1,400 members now, down from about 3,500 three decades ago, and perhaps 5,000 in the ’60s, he noted, adding that, like many fraternal organizations and service clubs, the Shriners are challenged with the task of convincing members of the younger generations to make the requisite commitments of time and energy to the organization.

But while smaller in size, the Melha Temple remains very active and quite impactful, said Zippin, who used that term to describe everything from the many forms of support given to all Shriners hospitals, and especially the Springfield facility, to participation in events and the staging of the circus, to the way in which this organization inspires its members to continually find ways to give back to the community.

“Once you get a taste of this,” he said, deploying that word to describe all of the above, “you don’t restrict yourself to the Shriners.

“That’s what happened to me,” he went on, adding that he became involved with groups and causes ranging from the Children’s Study Home to the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Masonry’s lessons lead you down that path — being aware of the needs of other people, being tolerant of others, and maintaining values and standards.”
There are 14 units within the Melha Temple, including the clowns (some of whom will make more than 100 appearances a year); a number of bands, including the popular Highlanders (bagpipers), a military band, a drum corps, an oriental band, and others; a host of motorized teams; and other units assigned specific projects. One orchestrates the circus, for example, while another, the so-called Directors Staff, offers tours of the Springfield hospital each weekend.

The performing units take part in a number of parades, including the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the July 4 event in East Longmeadow, and many others, said current Potentate William Faust, adding that the latest addition to the calendar is one in Winchendon.

There are also a number of events, such as the Chowder Bowl Football Classic involving local high-school stars, the annual Springfield Carnival, the temple’s annual game dinner, and others, all of which are designed for family involvement.

And that’s especially true of the annual Shrine Circus at the Big E.

The four-day spectacle, which debuted in the ’30s and has now continued for 60 consecutive years, draws thousands of attendees annually, said Zippin, and boasts a number of ongoing traditions.

Chief among them is the so-called Community Services Show, the Friday-afternoon performance, for which the Shriners donate all 4,700 tickets to area human-services agencies that work with children.

The Shriner clowns

The Shriner clowns have historically been one of the most visible manifestations of the Melha Temple’s huge presence in the community.

Zippin noted that he’s now seen three generations of the same family grow up with the event — and often come back together each May.

“People ask me what I do at the circus,” he said. “I tell them by the time it starts, my work is essentially over, so what I do is walk around and just look at the generations, the families, just having a great time; it’s incredibly rewarding.”

But while the circus and the parades bring revenue to the Melha Temple and, in turn, its units entertain and inspire people of all ages, such community outreach is undertaken for one reason — to bring important exposure to the Shriners’ philanthropy, its children’s hospitals.

“I’m a nut about exposure and PR, and I look at the circus and the parades as ways to simply remind people we’re here and that we have a great purpose,” said Zippin. “People will say, ‘boy, you have a lot of fun,’ and we can have fun because we look at the hospital up on Carew Street, and we know why we’re here.”

This mindset applies to the circus as well, even though the proceeds from those shows go toward operating the temple and the Longhill Street facility, not the hospital.

“The more visible we can be, the more we can bring the hospital story out to everybody,” he told BusinessWest. “And we need to keep doing that, and the circus really puts us in the public eye.”

Faust agreed. “Each year, the potentate has to come up with a slogan for the year,” he said. “My slogan is ‘Melha Shriners: having fun and helping kids,’ and that really says it all. We go out there and have fun at all our events, but it’s fun with a purpose.”

Care Package
When asked to put the Shriners — meaning the organization and its mission — into perspective, Zippin relayed a sentiment he’s probably expressed hundreds of times and in front of all kinds of audiences.

“When we have people who are thinking of becoming Shriners or who just recently joined, I always say to them, ‘how many organizations do you know where you can go in, and simply by being a member and paying your dues, you can have an impact on a child’s life — indirectly, but an impact?’” he said, while shifting the conversation about the organization back to where he thought it belonged: the hospitals.

There are 22 of them, 19 in the U.S. The operation in Springfield, one of two in Massachusetts, was originally opened in 1925. That hospital was replaced by the current facility on Carew Street in 1990. There are three major components to the Springfield facility:

• The Orthotics and Prosthetics Department, which custom-designs prosthetic adoption devices;
• The Motion Analysis Laboratory, which is involved in the study and application of biomechanics and gait analysis, including the use of a 3-D body scanner to measure body shape; and
• The Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic, which follows 360 patients through treatment options for cleft lip and palate repair.

Overall, the Springfield hospital, one of several that focus on muscular-skeletal disorders, has 12,000 active patients, who can receive care there until they are 21. They are treated for everything from chest-wall deformities to hip disorders; knock knees to limb deficiency; scoliosis and other spine deformities to spina bifida. As with both Isaac and Chloe Newman, patients are offered care over a number of years, said Walczak.

One ongoing challenge for the hospital, as he mentioned, is creating awareness of its presence, specialties, track record, and policies for admitting anyone whose condition meets its scope of services, free of charge.

“We’re narrowly scoped, but steeped in our expertise — we’re a specialty hospital,” he explained. “We don’t have the same resources and market identity as larger facilities.”
There is a new national marketing slogan — “Love to the Rescue” — that has been created to help brand and promote the hospitals as a group, he went on, “but within each of our markets, it’s very difficult to get the word out in a way that reaches everyone the way we would like.

“We don’t put a lot of money in our marketing budgets — we try to put every dollar toward patient care,” he continued, adding that this is why the multi-faceted support of the many Shrine temples, and especially Melha, is so critical to the hospital’s success moving forward.

The statue outside the Shriners Hospital

The statue outside the Shriners Hospital in Springfield pays homage to the Shriners and their work with children.

Shriners serve the facility in a number of ways, Walczak said — everything from those aforementioned tours to serving as volunteer drivers to pick up and drop off patients, to serving on the hospital’s board of governors.

“It’s a very collaborative relationship,” he said of the temple and the hospital, adding that tours are just one example of this phenomenon, but an important one because they usually bring out the passion the organization has for the hospital.

“We have a contingent of gentlemen who know this place inside and out, and they love to come here on weekends, nights, whenever, and show off this facility,” he said. “The gentlemen of Melha and the other shrines are so proud of these places; I’ve seen them come into this place crying because they’re just so proud of it. The passion, the loyalty, and the intensity is like something I’ve never seen in any place I’ve been in.”

Life and Limb
Isaac Newman will be graduating from high school next year.

That orthopedic specialist in Albany with whom his parents-to-be consulted all those years ago could not have been more wrong about his fate and the quality of life he would enjoy. And the same is true for his sister.

As Dr. Drvaric noted, Issac’s is a normal existence, apart from having to put his leg on every day. He and his family owe that to the Shriners around the world, and especially those at the Melha Temple, who have made the children’s hospitals their philanthropy — and their reason for being.

And for that, all those who have served the organization are worthy to be called Difference Makers.

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

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of January 2014.

AGAWAM

Kondreanu Family Promoter
19 Harding St.
G & D Kondreanu

S & H Daily Music
124 Main St.
Maria Duducal

Trend Sound Promoter
33 Valley St.
Vyacheslav Sholopa

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Urgent Care
1505 Memorial Dr.
Ahmed Elmogy

Concierge Enterprise
92 Stonina Dr.
Felix Maldonado

Lamode
619 McKinstry Ave.
Joslie Otero

GREENFIELD

Adam & Eve
18 Main St.
Scott McGregor

Alan’s Auto
10 Montague City Road
Alan Owseichik

Currie’s Lawn Care
104 High St.
Michael Currie

Extreme Styles
395 Federal St.
Linda Peters

Fitz, Vogt, & Associates
1 College Dr.
Mark Fortino

Hillside Woodworking
1173 Bernardston Road
Robert Callahan

New England Camper Repair
1399 Bernardston Road
Jeffrey Ennis

Prospective Planning
3 Grinnell St.
Wendy Marsden

HOLYOKE

City Pizza, LLC
420 High St.
Adam Kaplan

Coamo Fashion
343 High St.
Alberto Berrios

Westfield Wealth Management & Insurance Group
330 Whitney Ave.
Sean A. Torres

PALMER

2000 Food and Fuel
1239 Park St.
Muhammad Waseen

Chmura’s Bakery
1240 Park St.
Rocky Salundor

Cutting Corner Inc.
1372 Main St.
Carol Henriques

Des Woodworking
1132 Thorndike St.
Dustin Smith

Healing Hands for Body & Mind
54 South St.
Patricia Wheelock

SPRINGFIELD

Bay Street Bottles
836 Bay St.
Khanh H. Nguyen

Baystate Builders
44 Bither St.
Gino Decesare

Beyond Shoes & Accessories
10 Kendall St.
Vito C. Resto

Big Daddy Boomerangs
88 Coral Road
Jeffrey N. LeBeau

Bosslife Inc.
2383 Main St.
Rafael Nazario

CCNE
27 Carver St.
Monica J. Caldwell

Concentra Advanced
140 Carando Dr.
Joan O. Lenahan

Fragrant Elegance
13 Lawn St.
Malachi Tresch

Holyoke Nail II
471 Boston Road
Tho H. Nguyen

J. Horne Photography
143 Main St.
Jesse E. Horne

J.J. Knox Food Market
17 Knox St.
Jabir Khan

Jay Harland Corporation
504 St. James Ave.
Richard M. Black

Knots Indeed
63 Lakevilla Ave.
Rita F. Bartholomew

Lizet Land Photography
219 Gifford St.
Lizet Land

M.S.M. Enterprises Inc.
766 Liberty St.
Mark Flagg

WESTFIELD

Alla’s
3 Scarfo Dr.
Alla Y. Khivuk

Cadence Aerospace
35 Turnpike Industrial Road
Larry Resnik

EMN
19 Oakdale St.
Nadia Mocan

Genkas Trend Sound
33 Buschmann Ave.
Gennadiy Laba

KG Heating & Air Conditioning
44 Forest Ave.
Kenneth Garrett

iLab Trend Sound Promoter
30 Buschmann Ave.
Inna Laba

J. Shea Enterprises
243 Elm St.
J. Shea Enterprises

Lurii Covileac
21 Parkside Ave.
Lurii Covileac

Valentin Trend Sound
77 George St.
Valentin Bidyuk

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Akim Construction
455 Union St.
Timofiy Akimov

Bel-Air Inn
387 Riverdale St.
Richard Harty

Boosted Shades
193 Cayenne St.
Devan C. French

Bueno Y Sano
935 Riverdale St.
Robert A. Lowry

China Bodywork Center
2009 Riverdale St.
Xiuping Gao

Epco NBF Group
10 Central St.
James Marcus

La Prestiges Salon and Spa
553 Union St.
Tatyana Gitsman

Larry’s Painting
79 Lathrop St.
Lawrence P. Kelly

Make it Yours
237 Morton St.
Valentina Shyshla

Supreme Brass and Aluminum
210 Windsor St.
Domenico R. Rettura

YNS International
1521 Westfield St.
Yegor Stefanstsev

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

YMCA Annual Dinner
Feb. 12: Community members will gather at Mill 1 at Open Square for the Greater Holyoke YMCA’s 2014 Annual Dinner. The dinner celebrates and honors those who give unselfish gifts of time and energy to the community. This year’s Louis F. Oldershaw Community Service Award recipient is Attorney Mark Beauregard. The Oldershaw Award is given to an individual who has made significant volunteer contributions to the community and emulates a high standard of excellence in his or her life, professional achievements, and community service. The Y will also recognize the generous volunteer contributions of Joanne and Scott Harper of South Hadley, recipients of the Y’s 2014 Distinguished Service Award. The Harpers have volunteered with the Y’s Viking Swim Team for many years and have been instrumental in the team’s success. The Annual Dinner is $40 per person. Those interested in attending may either call the Y to register at (413) 534-5631, ext. 126, or visit the Y’s website at www.holyokeymca.org to register and pay in advance.

ACCGS Outlook Luncheon
Feb. 24: Join the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield for the region’s largest legislative event, discussing the most pressing local, regional, and federal issues of the day. The luncheon is slated for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the MassMutual Center. The keynote speaker is Ed Henry, White House correspondent for Fox News. Presented by Health New England and sponsored by Eastern States Exposition, MassMutual Financial Group, PeoplesBank, United Personnel, Western Massachusetts Electric Co., Chicopee Savings Bank, and Verizon, as well as reception sponsors Comcast, the Sisters of Providence Health System, and the Republican, Outlook typically attracts more than 700 guests. Area elected officials will also be in attendance to participate in this discussion of front-burner issues. Tickets are $50 for ACCGS members and $70 for general admission. Reserved tables of 10 are available. Reservations must be made in writing and in advance by Feb. 14. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com, by e-mailing Cecile Larose at [email protected], or by faxing a reservation request to (413) 755-1322.

Dark Dining Room House Concert Series
March 1, April 5, May 3: This winter and spring, Dark Dining Room brings the warmth and coziness of your living room to the grandeur of Wistariahurst. Concert curators Matthew Larsen and Greg Saulmon will serve up several courses of local and national musicians over the first Saturdays of March through May. While no dinner will be served, there will be light refreshments provided by Tony Jones Catering, as well as a cash bar. Doors open at 7 p.m. for all shows. Reservations are suggested. Tickets cost $18 ($15 for members) and can be purchased online at wistariahurst.org or by calling the museum at (413) 322-5660. The March 1 concert features Heather Maloney, who boasts influences and roots in adventurous folk. Rosary Beard, whose intricately intertwined acoustic guitars skate a thin line between melancholy reflection and uplifting release, will open the show. On April 5, Dark Dining Room introduces Colorway, a power trio fronted by Western Mass. native F. Alex Johnson. Introspective songsmith and acoustic guitarist Mark Schwaber opens the show. The final concert on May 3 features acoustic guitarist David Berkeley, a Santa Fe-based troubadour who brings his version of Americana to the stage. Matthew Larsen and the Documents open the show with introspective piano pop layered with careful instrumentation and thoughtful harmonies. For more information about the Dark Dining Room House Concert Series, go to darkdiningroom.com. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Holyoke Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Difference Makers 2014
March 20: The sixth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, honoring the five individuals and organizations featured in the special section of this issue. More details on the event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine, but tickets cost $60, and tables of 10 are available. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. Event sponsors include Baystate Medical Center, Health New England, First American Insurance, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, Northwestern Mutual, Royal LLP, Sarat Ford, and Six-Point Creative. For more information, call (413) 781-8600.

Court Dockets

By
Court Dockets Departments

The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Stephen Pinero v. 17 Sumner Avenue Associates Inc.
Allegation: Negligence in property maintenance causing injury: $2,335
Filed: 12/27/13

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Denis Menard v. Rick Ward d/b/a Quality Builders
Allegation: Breach of contract for failure to construct a roof in a good and workmanlike manner: $20,630
Filed: 11/12/13

Weslee Secard v. GE Capital Retail Bank
Allegation: Negligence in opening fraudulent charge account: $8,321.57
Filed: 11/20/13

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Clinton v. Carroll v. PAB Management Co., LLC and Hugo S. Bernal
Allegation: Breach of contract for property management: $75,000
Filed: 11/25/13

Jordan Picot ppa Gabriella Diaz and Andres Picot v. Jennifer Lemelin and Giggle Gardens Inc.
Allegation: Jennifer Lemelin, while in the course of her employment, physically abused Jordan, causing serious physical and emotional harm: $75,740.30
Filed: 12/10/13

Michael D. Goldberg and Mill Street Innovations Housing v. Morrill Stone Ring, Lauren Ring, Attorney David Farka, Attorney Alan Vanaria, and Gold & Vanaria, P.C.
Allegation: The defendants interfered with plaintiff’s existing contract with a reach and apply, causing contract to be terminated: $1.3 million
Filed: 12/20/13

Theresa Perrault v. BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. and True Innovations Inc.
Allegation: Plaintiff attempted to sit in a display chair, and the seat of the chair tipped, causing injuries: $500,000
Filed: 12/16/13

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
David Pinkham v. 11 South Gallery Workshop and Pamela Pieropan Adorro
Allegation: Plaintiff sustained personal injuries as a direct result of exposure to toxic fumes and exhaust from the use of ceramic kilns in his place of residence: $30,000+
Filed: 12/26/13

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Beacon Sales Co. v. Keith Hutchings d/b/a Old Harbor Homes, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $4,030.07
Filed: 12/18/13

Edna Tart v. Aqua-Matic Lawn Sprinkler & Irrigation Inc. and Steven McCombe
Allegation: Negligent operation of a motor vehicle: $7,795.15
Filed: 12/19/13

Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. v. Ned G. Terault d/b/a NGT Carpentry
Allegation: Non-payment on workers’ compensation policy: $8,478.76
Filed: 11/27/13

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook Departments

FieldEddy Launches New Operating System
EAST LONGMEADOW — FieldEddy Insurance recently launched its new computer operating system, Applied Epic. The change in systems has been a 10-month, hands-on training process instituted as a way to better serve clients and optimize the day-to-day operations, said Timm Marini, president of FieldEddy Insurance, adding that Applied Epic is the insurance industry’s fastest-growing agency-management system, chosen by agencies to enhance business for growth and to build stronger client relationships. “About three years of planning comes to an end with the launch of the new Epic software,” said Marini. “The two systems that were used prior were becoming more outmoded and couldn’t seem to keep up with the level of growth and productivity that the agency is seeing. We knew it was time to research and institute a new system that would be a better fit and one that would generate high-performance results. We are happy and confident that Epic is the best and right choice for us.” All 79 employees have been expected to participate in detailed training sessions in order to be well-prepared and knowledgeable about the interface prior to the launch. The system will allow agents to streamline workflows and operational tasks, manage policies in a consistent manner to minimize risk, reduce operating expenses, and drive sustainable growth and profitability. Along with these benefits, employees in all four offices will now be using the same computer program. Prior to this, there were two different programs being used, both of which will now not be used with the implementation of Applied Epic. “It has been a significant financial investment, and I can’t wait to see the results,” Marini said. “Our focus has always been the customer, and this new program will certainly provide exceptional customer service.”

Valley Vodka Experiences Eighth Year of Growth with Record Sales
HADLEY — Valley Vodka Inc., a Western Mass.-based company founded by Paul Kozub, has experienced its eighth consecutive year of sales growth with record sales in 2013. The company’s sales increased more than 10% from 2012, said Kozub, adding that Valley Vodka also realized a 60% increase in net income for that period as it took back full distribution of all of its products. Previously, United Liquors in Braintree had distributed V-One Vodka. Valley Vodka is the parent company of the V-One Vodka brand, which was launched in 2005 with an initial shipment of 1,000 cases. Kozub started Valley Vodka with a $6,000 inheritance from his Polish grandfather. He began this journey at age 28 after leaving a successful career with TD Bank, where he was vice president of Small Business Loans. In 2010, V-One Vodka won the prestigious Double Gold medal at the World Spirit Competition in San Francisco, beating out some 256 other vodkas and adding the vodka to a list of other international honors. V-One has also won four other medals at the World Spirit Competition since 2007 and was awarded a prestigious 95 points by Wine Enthusiast magazine.

DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology Honored
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Modern Salon has named the 2013 class of Excellence in Education honorees in its annual program recognizing leadership and best practices among cosmetology schools. DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, based in West Springfield, was chosen to represent excellence in the categories of school culture (unique programs offered to enhance the cosmetology-school experience and to foster the personal development and growth of students) and community involvement (participation in local and regional philanthropic activities that elevate a school’s position as a positive, professional contributor to the community). Hundreds of entries were submitted from cosmetology schools across North America, in eight categories ranging from marketing to placement to school culture. Honorees were determined based on school size or number of locations, with one overall honoree from all applicants named for each category. Modern Salon Publisher Steve Reiss announced the honorees during the American Assoc. of Cosmetology Schools 2013 convention in Las Vegas. Paul DiGrigoli, owner and CEO of DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, said, “I’m extremely proud of all of our instructors and students, who contributed toward us receiving these prestigious awards. We pride ourselves on having a culture of excellence for many reasons, but I believe that one of the most important of them is that our people not only get along, they look out for each other. We always share with our students how important it is to volunteer and to contribute to our community. They have done that so well within this past year. People often ask me what makes DiGrigoli different, and I always give the same answer: expectations. When our students’ learning ability and their expectations are consistent, it allows them to absorb information and to gain knowledge at the highest level.”

People on the Move

By
Departments People on the Move

Gomes, Dacruz & Tracy, a Ludlow-based certified public accounting firm, recently hired James Crabtree as a Tax Accountant. Crabtree has 10 years of accounting experience and is a graduate of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.
•••••
The Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau recently hired two associates:

Leah MacPherson

Leah MacPherson

Luke Trahan

Luke Trahan

• Leah MacPherson will serve as Hospitality and Sales Coordinator. She will fulfill hospitality requests for incoming convention and group tours to the Pioneer Valley, manage a 25-member volunteer group that provides assistance to GSCVB member events, and recruit teams of volunteers for incoming sports tournaments and events. MacPherson is a 2013 graduate of Saint Leo University and was previously employed by Embassy Suites Tampa Airport; and
• Luke Trahan will serve as Sports Sales Manager for the newly developed Western Mass. Sports Commission. He will pursue and handle bookings for sports tournaments and events, in addition to conducting bid presentations and site inspections for sports-related business. Trahan is a graduate of the University of Hartford and was previously employed by Poyant, Brasseler USA Dental, and Expeditor Systems.
•••••

Jody Gross

Jody Gross

Health New England recently announced that Jody Gross will take the helm as Vice President of Sales and lead the regional health insurer in developing and executing its sales and retention strategy for its commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid lines of business. In addition, Gross will be Health New England’s key contact for government regulators from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Since 2004, Gross has served Health New England in various positions in finance and healthcare reform, first as Finance Manager and then as Director of Finance, where he provided strategic guidance for new products while ensuring profitability and marketability. As Director of Business Development, he led the design, implementation, and evaluation of products, benefits, new business lines, and value-added programs. Prior to his promotion, Gross served as Director of Government Programs, overseeing the implementation and operations of HNE’s fledgling Medicare and Medicaid lines of business, now entering their fifth and third years of service, respectively. Gross holds a BS in Finance from Bryant College, an MBA from the University of Connecticut, and Health Insurance Producers licenses in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. Prior to joining Health New England, he worked for United Health Group and Oxford Health Plans.
•••••
Maj. Darren Mudge has been named the new officer in charge of the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Springfield. Mudge will oversee the center, which provides spiritual, social, and emotional assistance for men and women in a organization that is supervised by trained, commissioned officers who have undergone extensive two-year courses in residence at Salvation Army colleges throughout the U.S.
•••••
TD Bank has promoted Adam Lahti to Assistant Vice President and Manager of the Newton Street, South Hadley branch. Lahti is responsible for new business development, consumer and business lending, managing personnel, and overseeing day-to-day operations.

Cruise Control

By
Employment Sections
REB’s New Director Wants to Build on Recent Momentum
Dave Cruise

Dave Cruise says one of his priorities is to continue the employment board’s tradition of innovation in tackling regional workforce-development issues.

Dave Cruise’s desk — or, more specifically, what sits on it — speaks volumes about his work with the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, and also his work ethic and his passion for putting other people to work.
Sitting in one corner are a few “toys,” as he calls them, including a plastic device (a tracheal tube of sorts once made by Mitchell Machine in Springfield), as a well as a small plastic castle tower, complete with an interior staircase, that are there as reminders of the many different types of products made in this region and of the high degree of precision involved with such work.
There’s also his personal pair of safety goggles, given to him by officials at Hoppe Technologies in Chicopee, which have been put to great use over the years as Cruise has carried out his assignment as project director of the REB’s Precision Manufacturing Regional Alliance Project, as well as a pair of earplugs, which haven’t been used much at all, by his recollection, because he likes to listen.
And then, there’s the paperwork.
It covers all but a few square inches of desk, credenza, and connecting leaf that is home to his computer monitor. It has become the stuff of legend in this agency, and Cruise can readily joke about it.
“People who know me would say my desk actually looks pretty clean today,” he said with a laugh as he talked with BusinessWest on the last day of 2013. “It may look cluttered, but it’s organized; I know where everything is, trust me.”
Hopefully he can say the same thing in a few weeks after he moves everything next door, to the much larger office assigned to the REB’s president, a post he officially assumed late in the afternoon on Jan. 2 as Bill Ward closed the book on a more-than-30-year stint at the helm of the agency.
Cruise’s new desk will likely become even more cluttered than the old one because there is much work to do in the weeks and months ahead — and for the time being, he won’t be naming a new project director of the Precision Manufacturing Regional Alliance Project.
“I’m going to be very careful about what our budget looks like moving forward into FY 15 so that we have the resources to be able to do what we need to do here. Before I add staff, I want to make sure we can sustain that staff,” he explained, adding that, while he’ll be keeping some of his former responsibilities with that program, he’ll also be parceling others out to different staff members.
In the meantime, he will also be leading the work to draft a new strategic plan for the REB. The previous, three-year document sunsetted at the end of the year, he explained, adding that, under normal circumstances, a new one would certainly have been in place by now, but the search for a new director — and Ward’s insistence that his successor be involved with writing a new plan — changed the timetable.
Cruise will bring to his new position a wide range of experience in workforce development and education, including a lengthy stint as director of the Mass. Career Development Institute (MCDI) and a host of assignments with Springfield Public Schools, as well as some specific skills and management techniques he’s developed over a 45-year career.
“My training has always been in workforce development, so I feel very comfortable moving from what I would describe as a sectoral initiative in manufacturing to seeing that sectoral initiative as part of the REB’s broader mission around workforce development and job creation,” he explained. “I’m excited about the opportunity to come into this work; I believe I can add some value to work we’re doing here. Bill has been a pioneer, and I hope to build on what’s been accomplished. The platform is there, and my role is to come here and move that work to the next level.”
For this issue and its focus on employment, BusinessWest talked at length with Cruise about his new assignment and also about the many challenges facing both employers and those looking to join the workforce.

Moving the Pile
Cruise said that he was not initially a candidate for the president’s position when Ward officially announced he would be stepping down early last summer, primarily because he considered much of the work he was doing with the region’s manufacturing sector to be unfinished business. And he wanted to finish it, or at least stay with it.
But things changed as the search commenced, reached a point last fall where a few finalists were interviewed, and was then expanded, he explained.
“I had given it some thought during the initial process last summer, but didn’t get engaged at that point,” he explained. “I continued to give it some thought both personally and professionally when the process was expanded. I sat down with my family and talked about the work ahead, and decided to become an applicant.
“I was very much involved in the work I’m doing in manufacturing, and I’m very committed to that assignment,” he went on. “I realized that, going forward, that work is part of a broader body of work being done here at the Regional Employment Board, and that I could probably bring that work to the level that I wanted to by being in a position to influence, manage, and direct the work from a different perspective and bring some different resources to it.”
Thus, Cruise will add another line to a diverse résumé with a number of stops, all involved, in one way or another, with the broad ream of workforce development.
He started in 1967 at Springfield’s Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical High School, where he taught English until 1973, before moving to MCDI.
He first served as supervisor, overseeing training programs for unemployed adults and youth, while also analyzing labor-market trends and assessing needs within specific sectors of the economy. He was named director in 1980 and managed the now-closed agency through one of the busiest periods in its history, managing a staff of more than 150 and training up to 550 people in day and evening division programs.
From MCDI, he moved on to Springfield Public Schools, where he served as director of Occupational Education, director of personnel, chief operations officer, and finally executive director of Human Resources.
He then worked briefly as a consultant before being tapped by Ward to be program manager of the Literacy Works of Hampden County initiative from 2004 to 2006, and then the Precision Manufacturing Regional Alliance Project.
Over the past seven years, Cruise has been putting those goggles, if not the earplugs, to good use, visiting area precision manufacturers, assessing their needs, and developing programs to put more workers in the pipeline. Among the many initiatives that have occupied his time — and space on his desk — have been efforts to introduce young people to the manufacturing sector and convince both them and their parents that it is a field with a future, not just a glorious past.
One of the more recent endeavors, launched just last fall, is a pilot program called Pathways to Prosperity in Advanced Manufacturing, or simply ‘Pathways,’ which puts ninth-grade students at West Springfield High School on a career pathway that will eventually take them to Springfield Technical Community College and then, hopefully, employment with one of the many manufacturers desperate for qualified help.
The program, which started with 40 students, involves a number of partners, ranging from the REB, STCC, and the high school to several employers in West Side and Agawam (among them Advance Welding, Hayden Corp., Ben Franklin Design & Manufacturing, and Atlantic Fasteners), as well as the Eastern States Exposition, NUVO Bank, and the Bates Fullum Insurance Agency.
Cruise counts the ability to create and sustain such partnerships as one of his greatest strengths, and he said it’s one of many skill sets he will need as he goes about the task of guiding the REB as it carries out a rather broad mission.
Overall, he views his primary job description to be both innovator and facilitator when it comes to the REB’s many initiatives.
“We have a very talented group of people here. They work very hard, and they’re very dedicated to the mission of the REB,” he told BusinessWest. “They understand the vision, the values, and the purpose of the organization. My job is to be a resource to them and provide them with the tools they need to take their work to the next level.
“My goal is to strive toward operational excellence,” he went on. “I’m very committed to making sure that we do quality work that will respond to the business needs of the companies in the area, but that we also keep focused on our commitment to the customers, the clients that we’re here to serve.”

Parts of the Whole
Cruise expects a new strategic plan to be ready for the REB’s quarterly meeting in March, if not sooner. When asked about what will likely be in it, he said it will continue to focus on the many aspects of the REB’s mission and priorities such as youth, literacy, education, and especially innovation.
That last term essentially defined Ward’s lengthy tenure as REB president, he went on, and the agency must continue to exude that quality if it is to meet the region’s many workforce challenges — and secure the public and private funds that will be needed to carry out those assignments.
“I’m committed to the notion of innovative ideas,” Cruise explained, adding that this is an important companion piece to one of the REB’s primary assignments — collecting workforce data. “It’s going to be very important to look at some of the work being done by the REB that I believe is innovative and seeing how we can scale that work up, not only across the region but perhaps across the state.”
Moving forward, he said there are several priorities for the REB that are both part of its mission and key elements for the new strategic plan. They include:
• Identifying new public and private funding sources, or, more specifically, combinations of both for various initiatives;
• Continuing and escalating programs involving literacy and, overall, the education and employability of adults;
• A focus on young people and making sure they have what Cruise called the “employability skills necessary in the 21st century,” work that involves everything from early childhood education to programs like Pathways;
• Work to deepen and broaden relationships with area businesses and industry groups; and
• Being an advocate for workforce development as economic development, or, as Cruise put it, “telling our story.”
Elaborating, he said that all of these concepts, or strategic initiatives, are interrelated, and as an example, he said that workforce-development-related agencies (like the REB) that have good data as well as innovative ideas about what to do in response to that information, and work aggressively to tell their stories, are better-positioned to secure funding for such initiatives.
“It’s going to be those organizations and those agencies that have good data, have good strategic plans, have a clear mission, and then have the talent to pull it off, that are going to be able to get funding moving forward,” he explained. “I’m very committed to operational excellence here at the REB; I want to make sure that we’re doing quality work and that our work defines us, because I believe that if we can make that case and share it with people, especially with this notion of innovation and innovative ideas, that money will follow.
“I don’t think you can go out today and simply make an ask,” he continued, referring to requests for state and federal funds that are in shorter supply than years ago, as well as private money from businesses and foundations. “You simply need to demonstrate that you can add value to what that ask is all about.”
As for that goal of deepening and broadening relationships with industry groups and specific businesses, Cruise said this assignment involves both telling the REB’s story and, more importantly, listening to what those in various sectors are saying about what they’re seeing today — and expect to see tomorrow.
“I want to deepen those relationships, but I also want to engage more business and industry in different sectors in the work we’re doing,” he said. “I’m going to try to spend a reasonable amount of time out in the community. I want to go out and listen and learn; I want to see how people who are familiar with our work perceive us, and for people who are not familiar with the work we do, I want to build a relationship and a partnership with them.”

Work in Progress
When asked about the particular strengths he believes he brings to the table, Cruise put “relationship building and partnership building” at the very top of the list.
“I’m a good listener, and I believe in convening and facilitating,” he said, adding that these are qualities that will serve him well as he goes about the task of not only continuing to carry out the REB’s broad mission, but also building a tradition of innovation.
He said he has the commitment — and the desk space — to carry out his new assignment.

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

Hire Purpose

By
Employment Sections
Griffin Staffing Network Goes Extra Mile to Help Job Applicants

Nicole Griffin

Should the MGM Springfield casino come to fruition, Nicole Griffin is ready to help staff the complex, as well as positions at other companies left open by people departing for casino jobs.

Like many people working in the broad realm of staffing and human resources, Nicole Griffin identifies employees as every company’s biggest asset.
But a moving experience several years ago involving a young boy changed her life, giving her deep understanding of just what is needed to create a true asset.
Griffin was participating in a MassMutual Community Responsibility event at Western New England University, and helping high-school students through a Junior Achievement (JA) employment-awareness program. She would spend the first day teaching students everything she knew — business etiquette, interviewing rules and tips, how to dress for success, and more. The second day was for mock interviews, and one of the students — told to dress appropriately for the occasion — showed up in jeans and a tilted ball cap, slouching himself in a chair.
Offering positive criticism, Griffin suggested that he might have chosen slacks and a button-down shirt, and left the cap at home.
“His response was, ‘look, lady, my parents don’t work, so I don’t know what that looks like,’” Griffin told BusinessWest. “The impact that statement had on me … he’ll never know. It was a pain in my heart, because that was his environment, and in order to be an example, you have to see an example, and he had never seen one.”
That’s when Griffin knew she had to do something more, because she understood there were many more people in that same situation, and unless they were provided with such positive examples, their opportunities for meaningful employment would be slim to none.
With that young boy always in the back of her mind, she exited MassMutual after 12 years as a financial underwriter, providing analysis, sales, and marketing for the company’s products, to work at a regional staffing agency, focusing on meeting the need that became apparent to her at that JA event —  a need for helping people position themselves for success in the job market, and life.
That position, and two consultant businesses on the side, led her to launch her own venture, Griffin Staffing Network, last fall in Springfield’s South End, practically across the street from the site of MGM’s proposed $800 million casino.
Excited about the impact of that very large employer that she can help staff, as well as those businesses that may lose their current employees to the casino, Griffin is now the CEO of an agency for temporary, permanent, direct-hire, temp-to-hire, and executive-level positions, and offers placements in several fields, including administrative, medical, financial, professional services, hospitality, insurance, and information technology.
“My background in financial underwriting was really analyzing how much risk an applicant would be for a company, so I would look at their application, background, medical history, and evaluate that person based on a risk factor,” she said, adding that she’s doing pretty much the same thing in her new role in staffing.
Elaborating, she said there are risks associated with a company taking on an employee, even one from a staffing agency, and her assignment now is to reduce that risk, and her agency does so by giving back and helping clients become job-ready.
“To reach as you climb — that’s what my husband and I have always been told is important to do, because some people don’t; they reach a certain level of success and don’t give back,” said Griffin. “Once you succeed, you reach back and pull somebody else up with you.”
For this issue and its focus on employment, BusinessWest talked with Griffin about this notion of reaching as one climbs, and how she believes it will not only help in her efforts to grow her company, but also assist the region’s businesses as they struggle to fill openings in many sectors and at seemingly every level.

The Job at Hand
An MP in the Army National Guard, Griffin thought her future was in correctional or police work. But after marriage and having children, her priorities changed.
“I called a friend who worked at MassMutual and said, ‘can you help me get a job?’ And she said, ‘to be honest with you, I can get you the interview; the rest is up to you,’” Griffin explained. “And that stuck with me all my life because it’s true. And that’s what I want to do, get a person’s foot in the door; what they do with the opportunity is up to them.”
But after years of volunteering and working in human-resources positions, time and again she realized that for some, there was a need to acquire basic skills that they just didn’t have, or else opportunities they were given would end up in disappointment.
Still in her position at MassMutual, she attained qualifications as a certified interviewer and started her own small nonprofit, The ABCs of Interviewing. Griffin would consult with other nonprofits, companies, and individuals, helping them with interviewing skills, but many of the individuals were unemployed, and payment was an issue.
“I loved the interviewing-consultant work, but after that, there was nothing more,” she said, “and I knew I had to do something more.”
Her something more turned into a new position at an administrative and accounting staffing firm in the area, where she quickly learned that, due to company policies, there were potential employees that weren’t making the cut.
“They were falling through the cracks,” said Griffin. “They would come in, we would interview them, evaluate their skills, and then mark them ‘unemployable.’”
She saw that those same young kids at the JA program were now adults, and had the same issues. And no one was telling them, “you can’t consider capris and flip-flops professional attire,” said Griffin. “It was literally an eye-opener for many; they just didn’t know.”
Her current agency is an expansion of Griffin Consulting, permanent-placement firm for the insurance agency that she formed while working at the temp agency. Licensed with the Employment, Placement, and Staffing Agencies Program within the Mass. Department of Labor Standards, she obtained her certification as a Minority Business Enterprise/Woman Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE). That certification, a lengthy process in itself, was approved in November 2013, just a month after Griffin Staffing Network launched.
“Someone helped open the door for me at MassMutual,” Griffin continued. “I will do the same, so now, if someone comes into my agency and they are not job ready, I’m going to make sure they leave here with a skill they didn’t come in with.”
With two forms of placement experience, her business plan calls for a commitment to community by offering free workshops for applicants on Wednesdays to hone skills that are lacking. Griffin offers tips on the interview process, proper dress for an interview and at a particular job, and business etiquette, and she uses a consultant (who also donates her time) for résumé improvement, an important piece of this exercise that is often overlooked.
“Employers have one moment to glance at your résumé, and that’s the only impression you have,” Griffin noted, adding that the document must highlight skills and accomplishments, not simply list previous jobs, while also being concise. “So you have to make a good impression without a lot of words.”
As an applicant for an employment position comes in, Griffin reviews his or her skills, testing scores, and reference checks, and evaluates how much of a risk that applicant will be for one of her clients and, ultimately, her agency.
“We’re committed to finding the perfect match,” Griffin added. “I would never place someone at the agency with someone that I had not met with directly, because our model is that we are a business partner with the employer.”
Part of the process to engage new partnerships includes community involvement, something that has been embedded in both Griffin and her husband (Richard Griffin Jr., who works in the Springfield Economic Development Department). Once a week, she meets with a small-business owner to broaden her network, but also to give them feedback, based on her own experiences, and educate them about resources that they may not have known about.
“Yes, I’m giving back, but as a staffing agency, hopefully they’ll grow to need more employees, and that’s already happening,” Griffin added.
But her main focus is on individuals and on helping them realize their potential, be it as an employee or employer, she said, adding that this mindset helped spark creation of a new workshop she calls simply “Chasing the Dream.”
Scheduled for Jan. 18, it was inspired in part by commentary offered during the recent National Assoc. of Professional Women (NAPW) event staged in Springfield, where speakers, including keynoter Star Jones, a lawyer and one of the original co-hosts of ABC’s The View, focused heavily on dreams and what’s needed to realize them.
That workshop, to be staged at the agency’s 1145 Main St. location, will offer the steps and tools needed in a process that is informative, interactive, and fun, to aid attendees on their personal dream journey.

Opportunity Knocks
As for Griffin’s dream, her short-term goal is to increase the network’s name recognition and to grow the firm both regionally and nationally. With her foundation built, her ambition is to increase clients with entry-level and mid-level placement opportunities.
She sees the casino project as an opportunity for her business and many others, and for the region as a whole —  “it’s a win-win for the City of Springfield,” she said — while acknowledging that there is considerable work to do across the region when it comes to making effective matches between employers and individuals looking to join, or rejoin, the workforce.
While Griffin does not know what became of that boy who changed her outlook on employment, she does know that there are still many more like him, and that simple fact drives her to continue to reach while climbing.

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

Diagnosis: Uncertain

By
Health Care Sections
Advances, Challenges Are Changing the Patient Experience

Dr. Kevin Hinchey

Dr. Kevin Hinchey says a shortage of primary-care doctors is partly driven by a gap in pay and prestige compared to many specialists — but those factors may be improving.

It’s a story of opposing trends colliding across the healthcare landscape.
For example, on one hand, the population is aging rapidly; on the other, medical costs (notoriously high for senior citizens) are soaring. On one hand, the Affordable Care Act is attempting to add tens of millions of Americans to health-insurance rolls; on the other, persistent physician shortages, particularly in primary care, have threatened access to care even for individuals who already have insurance. Meanwhile, hospitals are being asked to provide better care for less money, making efficiency more than a buzzword.
What does this mean for patients? Lynn Ostrowski thinks they need to start managing their care long before they ever have to see a doctor.
“If we want to curb the cost of healthcare in this country, people have to take control, or accountability, over their own health,” said Ostrowski, director of brand and corporate relations at Health New England. “Seventy percent of chronic conditions are the direct result of people’s own life choices — some experts say as high as 90%. It’s probably somewhere in between, depending on the individual.”
There are plenty of good health reasons for emphasizing preventive wellness, but there are also practical reasons to keep people away from the doctor. Specifically, there aren’t enough doctors.
According to an annual workforce study conducted by the Mass. Medical Society, while several types of specialists have been in short supply in the Commonwealth in recent years — among them psychiatry, dermatology, general surgery, neurology, and urology — family and internal medicine pose the most severe access problems, with shortages reported for eight consecutive years.
“Primary care is still the big area of concern,” said Dr. Kevin Hinchey, chief academic officer at Baystate Medical Center, adding that, while the teaching hospital has ramped up efforts to attract people into primary care, the pay and prestige that go along with the discipline continue to lag behind other specialties — a definite consideration for graduates leaving medical school with heavy indebtedness.
“When you look at per-capita doctor-to-person ratio in this country, we’re, I believe, 23rd or 24th; we just don’t have as many doctors per capita as other countries do,” he said. “And I know we don’t have as many primary-care doctors as some others.”
The stress and burnout of managing a practice — primary care in particular — are factors as well, writes Dr. Steve Adelman, director of Physician Health Services for the Mass. Medical Society (MMS), on the agency’s blog. “The practice of medicine these days is inherently stressful. The so-called healthcare system is more complex than ever, and the practice lives of most physicians are replete with all manner of acute and chronic stress.
“We are victims of our own success,” he adds. “As life expectancy increases in the face of more and more administrative overload, reimbursements are decreasing. The art and craft of medical practice are gradually giving way to an industrial model of care that runs against the grain of many of our best and brightest. Our profession is in the midst of a painful transition, and legions of physicians feel as though they are wandering in the desert, with no view of the promised land in sight.”
All of this could pose significant changes in the way patients receive care, and how much treatment they may access. For this issue’s focus on the future of healthcare, BusinessWest takes a look forward into this challenging new world.

Crisis Management
Hinchey said the issues of pay and professional respect in the primary-care world have improved slightly, but the problem of shortages extends into other areas as well.
“There has been an acknowledgement from all quarters that there will be a doctor shortage, so the medical schools have been asked to increase the size of their classes, and that has happened,” he said. “The problem is, after graduating from medical school, the training slots have not increased.”
As a result, he said, over the next three to five years, the international graduates who train in the U.S. and set up practices here, many in underserved areas, won’t stay here because they’ll be pushed out by U.S. graduates, and that displacement will do nothing to solve the doctor shortage. Meanwhile, the federal government has been decreasing funding for medical education.
“We seem to do better in crisis management, unfortunately,” Hinchey said, “so when this gets close to a crisis, I think it will be better addressed.”
A doctor shortage — at a time when Americans are living longer and more of them are receiving insurance coverage — could have several effects, writes Dr. Ronald Dunlap, president of the Mass. Medical Society, on the MMS blog.
One is a rise in retail clinics, many run by nurse practitioners (NPs), which are expanding beyond basic services into activities like lab services and managing chronic diseases.
“Research shows that patients like the convenience of retail clinics, particularly when they have difficulty getting to their primary-care provider,” Dunlap notes. “Given the limited resources and no on-site physicians, most patients may not regard them, at least for now, as a place for primary care. As they add more sites, services, alliances, and advertising, however, they are likely to play a bigger role in healthcare.”
However the idea that NPs can fill the physician gap falls short, because nursing shortages exist, too. A large percentage of nurses are expected to age out of the workforce soon, and nursing schools are having trouble recruiting faculty to train a new generation.
“Further, with an emphasis on cost containment, replacing high-salaried providers (physicians) with lower ones (NPs) with less training will likely not result in savings,” Dunlap argues. “We have seen that less-experienced providers tend to order more tests and procedures, raising costs. Cost control will result best from the team approach of coordinating care and avoiding unnecessary referrals, testing, and procedures.”
He added that a rise in NPs, who tend to work in urban settings, won’t ease the shortfall in rural environments and other underserved areas. Doctors also tend to flock to cities, Hinchey noted, but he said telemedicine might become a significant part of the solution in the coming decade.
“There is some of this telemedicine going on now. But what if you could actually Skype your doctor? He or she gets a look at you, gets your blood pressure through a USB port, gets some other data from you. You don’t have to go to the office when you feel miserable,” he told BusinessWest. “Is that technology coming? I think yes. And I think that would be a a benefit, and a lot of patients would like that. That could increase capacity. And if I’m sick and I want to be seen, I could be seen.
“For some aspects of what we do, the laying on of hands will never be replaced,” he continued, referring to trips to the doctor’s office. “For many issues, from an urgent-care perspective, I’m going to want to be seen. But I just think we can be a lot more creative about this.”

To Your Health
Much of that creativity will come on the preventive-health side, Ostrowski said, which is why Health New England has long promoted wellness initiatives in the workplace.
“Most people consume most of their calories at work, during the work day,” she told BusinessWest. They get to work and get coffee or breakfast, then a mid-morning treat, they eat lunch at their desk, then have a mid-afternoon snack. For many people, work is also the time when they’re the least active because they’re at a computer at their desk or sitting at the conference-room table.
“So we believe the workplace has a really unique position in assisting with creating healthy employees and families, and employers have a unique interest in that because they’re bearing the burden of healthcare costs for that population in many ways — they pay for insurance for employees and families, and they also lose productivity to sickness or disability. So it’s extremely important to have a culture of health, so to speak, and engage people throughout the day in healthy behavior and healthy activities.”
Through its Healthy Directions program, Health New England engages with companies through an assessment process, including health screenings and lifestyle-focused interviews, then helps employees set goals for healthier habits. “We’re concerned with small steps, not everything at one time. Most people won’t be a success if they try to do it all.”
For instance, HNE promotes a graduated ‘jump start’ concept to better health; participants are encouraged to increase their water intake the first week, walk 10,000 steps a day the second week, eat five servings of fruits and vegetables per day for the third week, then bring it all together in week four.
“It’s reinforcing healthy lifestyle habits, and hopefully some of it will stick,” Ostrowski said. “You spend eight hours of each day at work, so if you have a supportive health culture in the workplace, odds are your health will improve. That’s really the basis our program.”
A parallel trend in health insurance, she said, is a shift toward high-deductible health plans, which tend to work best for people who take preventive wellness seriously. “The healthier you are, the more appealing that is, because there’s less out-of-pocket expense from the monthly premium. If you couple that with health savings accounts, it’s a great benefit. But if you’re not healthy, that’s a difficult plan to manage.”
The full impact of the Affordable Care Act on the medical and insurance landscape has yet to be felt, but Hinchey expects changes in the way providers are paid as it relates to the ‘medical home’ concept, also known as accountable care, by which a team of providers — doctors, nurses, specialists, therapists, etc. ­— share in the treatment of a patient and also share in the reimbursement.
“People are starting to think in terms of a medical home,” he said. “What if I had a nutritionist? I don’t have diabetes or high blood pressure, but I’m a little bit overweight; can I talk to a nutritionist about it? Or maybe someone for exercise, or other things that could help me be a little bit healthier, that are not presently covered by insurance.”
Dunlap maintains that physician satisfaction with the profession — not necessarily the administrative stresses — remains high, especially as they grow comfortable with such innovations. “More physicians are becoming familiar with reform initiatives, such as global payments and accountable-care organizations, and more physicians indicated they are likely to move to global payments to reduce healthcare costs.”

Bridging the Gap
Hinchey said there’s a long way to go to rectify the conflict between cost and access, but it might take a “quasi-crisis” or two to really move the needle.
“We have to be creative to meet these needs,” he said, referring again to the promise of telemedicine versus the barriers posed by the current reimbursement structure. “I can Skype at people if I want to, or spend 100% of my time talking to people on the phone, but if I only got paid for when they come into my office, I wouldn’t last very long.
“But as payment reform starts to come around,” he added, “it will cause kind of a domino effect. None of these things happen in isolation.”
Clearly, the future is still being written.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Care Traffic Control

By
Health Care Sections
Mercy Medical Center Takes High-tech Path to Greater Efficiency

Sharon Adams

Sharon Adams says the professionals who staff the ‘hub’ are specially trained to monitor and enhance the efficiency of the patient experience.

The screens tell the story. Hundreds of stories, actually.
They line the walls of a room at Mercy Medical Center, appropriately called the ‘hub.’ One screen details the occupant of each inpatient bed and their anticipated time of discharge. Another details patient movement in the emergency room, while other screens keep tabs on various hospital departments. And at any time, specially trained nurses known as clinical care coordinators, or C3s, can call up a patient’s status to make sure they’re getting the care they need in a timely fashion.
“We were looking to some system to pull the operations of the hospital together and find an effective way to improve patient flow and be more efficient,” said Daniel Moen, president and CEO of the Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS), which includes Mercy. “We wanted a better experience for our patients, and also make it a better place to work for the staff by removing some of the bottlenecks we were dealing with.”
He found a solution when he traveled to Toledo, Ohio with Sharon Adams, Mercy’s chief nursing officer and senior vice president of Patient Care Services. There, they visited Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, a large, tertiary-care hospital that had implemented technology from a company called Care Logistics. “Sharon and I were there about three hours and said, ‘we have to do this,’” Moen said. “You could walk into their patient-care hub and see almost everything going on in the hospital.”
So Mercy brought the technology to Springfield, dubbing it Care Connect. The effect, Moen said, has been transformative, enhancing communication between providers and ensuring that patients’ time in the hospital is not wasted.
“I call it our air traffic control system for the hospital. It allows us to track patients from the ER to the inpatient side and gives us targets for patient discharges,” he told BusinessWest, adding quickly, however, that technology alone cannot make a hospital more efficient. “It really was a massive process change, and we engaged hundreds of our employees in this process change.”
Those changes suggest that the healthcare industry’s shift toward accountable care — a model of which Mercy has long been on the cutting edge — is definitely taking shape on Carew Street in Springfield, and beyond.
For this issue’s focus on the future of healthcare, BusinessWest looks at how Mercy plans to reach its goal of achieving more efficient, coordinated care without sacrificing quality — a challenge for all hospitals at a time when growing cost constraints demand it. In many ways, this initiative shows how the future of healthcare is already here.

Hub of Progress
The human element is as critical to Care Connect as the technology. When someone is admitted to Mercy, a C3 works directly with physicians and other providers to track the patient’s progress, plan a schedule of tests and procedures, and come up with an expected discharge time.
The focus is on using time wisely, Adams said. For example, the C3s use details such as when the patient is being transported or when rooms are being cleaned to arrange tests and other care around his or her schedule.
“We’re trying to eliminate the ‘white space’ in the patient stay, when people are waiting for things to happen,” Moen added. “That’s not useful for the patient, and it’s not good for us to be less efficient than we should be. So this was really a unifying point — what can we do to make this better? And having it all coordinated from this hub is important.”
Last spring, in preparation for bringing the Care Connect system online, more than 1,500 employees in dozens of departments were trained on using the new software to coordinate with the C3s.
As for the coordinators, “they were specially trained for eight weeks, full-time, in this patient-flow system and documentation,” Moen said. “The hub is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It used to be that things slowed down on weekends; we’re trying to make sure we’re an efficient operation seven days a week, to get patients the services they need all the time.”
Mercy also implemented a program called ‘operational rounding’ every Wednesday, where members of the SPHS senior leadership team join front-line providers in patient-care areas. From their observations, they work together to find ways to improve efficiency and quality of care.
“We’ve made more than 75 specific improvements in patient flow, many impacting quality, such as reducing falls and pressure ulcers and hospital-acquired infections,” Moen explained. “Again, it’s about having an understanding of where we are and where we’re trying to go. This has really been a transformational project for us, and we couldn’t be happier with the results at this point.”
As impressive as the patient-management technology is, Adams added, it doesn’t operate in a vacuum. “We’ve spent years working through what the current processes are, in every department, every place the patient touches. We went through 47 or 50 departments, working with them to ask, ‘this is what we currently do; what can we do in the future? What’s the best thing for patients?’ We’re no longer saying, ‘what’s best for our own schedules?’ It’s all patient-focused.”
It’s also a metrics-driven program, Moen said, and all that data is fed directly to the hub. “We’re taking a lot of different milestones, and we can see where the delays are in the process. This gives us sort of a dashboard to see where we can improve further and document where we’ve gotten better.”
Adams stressed that the C3s have a supervisory role in patient care, and they’re trained to be experts in care coordination. “They understand the resources in the community, what insurance will pay for, and they update the insurance company about why the patient needs to stay longer.”
Documentation is critical. “Clinical documentation supports why that patient should be an inpatient, making sure we are capturing the severity of that patient’s diagnosis. That’s where they work very closely with physicians … saying, ‘you probably need to be documenting why the patient is more complex than we thought.’ They make sure we’re being reimbursed at the level of care we’re providing.
“The physicians feel it’s a very good resource,” she added. “They are pleased when the clinical-care coordinators say to them, ‘you just need to document this.’ They don’t see it as a threat; they see it as a great resource, reflecting all the hard work we’re doing for patients.”

Accountable to Patients
Hospital leaders across the U.S. understand they’re facing a new era of cost consciousness, driven by a growing, aging population, health reform that’s pushing more patients into the system, and the burden of new, expensive technology.
Accountable care is a model by which a team of providers — doctors, nurses, specialists, and therapists — are paid a certain amount to collectively treat a patient. The concept, which Mercy began to pioneer in Western Mass. almost a decade ago, stresses efficiencies like limiting unnecessary tests, but demands quality as well, because preventing rehospitalization is a key goal. Moen said Care Connect goes to the heart of that model.
“We’ve made great strides in all areas. We wanted to reduce length of stay and still make it a better patient experience,” he told BusinessWest. “And because we’re freeing up capacity on the inpatient side, the ER has become much more efficient; there are fewer situations where a patient is held in the ER, waiting for an inpatient bed.”
Mercy has made changes in the emergency area as well, getting patients to a physician or physician’s assistant quicker than before and fast-tracking less serious situations to clear capacity for patients who are more ill. “We’ve taken an hour off the door-to-door time for patients in the emergency room,” Moen said.
Care Connect has also aided the discharge process, he noted, as C3s help coordinate care beyond the hospital, whether it’s skilled nursing, home care, or simply setting up primary-care appointments and following up — all with the goal of preventing readmissions.
“We want to bring these concepts out to providers in other parts of the system, particularly behavioral health at Providence in Holyoke,” he said. “People are working as a team, less silo-based. It’s a much more planned process. It helps us be more efficient and minimize wasted motion, and it frees up staff to spend as much time as possible with patients.”
Adams said the effort has spawned nothing short of a culture change. “Providers and staff have more time to communicate together, as a team, like physicians years ago. That’s what patients loved, seeing a nurse and provider sitting with them, talking.”
The process also helps reduce anxiety for patients and families, she said, by sharing as much information as possible about what tests, procedures, and treatments are coming up, and when.
“Now we’re all on the same page. Patients are already feeling vulnerable, but now they have more control over their own schedule. We can tell them exactly what time the CT scan is, rather than saying, ‘oh, just wait for the phone call.’”
The hub has also helped C3s and other providers identify backlogs in the system in real time, which makes it easier to prevent them. “In the past, some of this data wouldn’t be available until weeks later, making it difficult to recreate what happened,” Adams explained. “The idea is to get you out safely with good care, and not keep you here any longer than you’d like or we’d like.”
More information — for patients during their stay, and for hospital leaders — is a constant goal, Moen said.
“Especially for patients with no working knowledge of the healthcare system, this gives them a better idea about their condition, and we can take some of the anxiety out of the situation patients find themselves in,” he told BusinessWest. “If we can do that, it’s a major accomplishment. We want to be a navigator for them, along with their primary-care doctor.”

Ahead of the Curve
As he showed BusinessWest around the hub on the hospital’s third floor, Moen called Care Connect “a very important subset of the whole ACO process, where we’re getting patients to the right level of care as soon as possible, and helping them stay well despite the chronic conditions they may have.”
But he admitted Mercy still has much to do — namely, make its zero-defect philosophy a reality through this renewed emphasis on efficient, coordinated care.
“If we’re perfect 99% of the time, that means 1% of patients didn’t get the care they deserve, and that’s not acceptable,” he said. “It’s not easy — medical care is very complicated, and patients are very individualized.”
But modern healthcare is only going to become more complicated, and health systems that have not moved accountable care from a conceptual buzzword to reality — as Mercy has done with Care Connect — will be at a distinct disadvantage in a challenging future.
“A lot of hospitals will have trouble catching up,” Moen said. “We didn’t want to be in that position. We always want to be out ahead of the changes.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Chamber Corners: Upcomng Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

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

• Jan. 15: ACCGS After 5, 5-7 p.m., at the Melha Shrine Temple, 133 Longhill St., Springfield. Come clown around with us at this after-hours networking event, presented by Shriners Hospital for Children and sponsored by Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with support from Berkshire Bank and the Springfield Falcons. Reservations are $5 for members, $10 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].

• Jan. 28: ACCGS Pastries, Politics and Policy, 8-9 a.m., at the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, 1300 State St., Springfield. Join us for a roundtable discussion with Springfield Schools Superintendent Daniel Warwick. Cost is $15 for members, $25 for general admission, and includes continental breakfast. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• Jan. 15: Chamber Annual Meeting and Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Lord Jeffery Inn. The chamber has a fantastic array of networking events lined up, but we need your ideas. The meeting will also feature the formal election of the 2014 chamber board of directors, including the installation of Lawrence Archey as board president for a second year. Sponsored by Amherst College, Hampshire College, and UMass Amherst. Tickets are $25 for members, $30 for guests.

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Jan. 15: January Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m. at Willits-Hallowell at Mt. Holyoke College. Tickets are $20 for members, $26 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• Jan. 22: January Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at the Collegian Court, 89 Park St., Chicopee. Tickets are $5 for members, $15 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• Feb. 19: February Salute Breakfast & Annual Meeting, 7:15-9 a.m., at the MassMutual Learning & Conference Center. Tickets are  $20 for members, $26 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• Feb. 26: February Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Elms College, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee. Tickets are $5 for members, $15 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

FRANKLIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463

• Jan. 24: FCCC Breakfast Series, 7:30-9 a.m., at Greenfield Corporate Center,101 Munson St., Greenfield. Sponsored by Franklin County Home Care Corp. and Gilmore & Farrell Insurance. The speaker will be U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, who represents the 2nd Congressional District in Massachusetts, covering many Franklin County towns. Since his election in 1996, McGovern has been widely recognized as a tenacious advocate for his district, a tireless crusader for change, and an unrivaled supporter for social justice and fundamental human rights. Over the past 17 years, he has consistently delivered millions of dollars for jobs, vital local and regional projects, small businesses, public safety, regional and mass transportation projects, and affordable housing around Massachusetts. He has authored important legislation to increase Pell Grant funding to allow more students access to higher education, to provide funds to preserve open space in urban and suburban communities, and to give tax credits to employers who pay the salaries of their employees when they are called up to active duty in the Guard and Reserves. A strong proponent of healthcare reform, his legislative efforts included reducing the cost of home healthcare and giving patients the dignity to be cared for in their own homes with the help of medical professionals. Currently serving his ninth term, McGovern serves as the second-ranking Democrat on the House Rules Committee, which sets the terms for debate and amendments on most legislation, and is a member of the House Agriculture Committee. Cost: chamber members, $13 (prepaid or pay at door) or $14 (billed); non-members, $16. Reservations can be made online at www.franklincc.org or by calling (413) 773-5463.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• Jan. 23: Big Raffle Drawing, 6 p.m. Only 300 tickets are for sale each year. Grand prize, $5,000; second prize, $500;
third prize, $200; fourth prize, $100; fifth prize, $50. The drawing takes place at the annual dinner meeting on Jan. 23, and you do not need to be present to win. For more information or to enter, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• Jan. 15: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Homewood Suites, 375 Whitney Ave., Holyoke. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.
• Jan. 24: Legislative Coffee Hour, 7:45-9:15 a.m., at the Summit View Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Northampton St., Holyoke. The event will feature local legislators discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the Commonwealth, Holyoke, and local businesses in the months ahead. Cost: $26 for members, $35 for non-members, which includes a buffet breakfast.
• Jan. 30: Marketing Roundtable Workshop, 8:30-10 a.m. This unique roundtable event is designed to foster informative discussions among business owners and marketing professionals as well as brainstorm new ideas to help with revenue-producing initiatives. Cost: $10 for members, $20 for non-members. A continental breakfast is included in the price. Call (413) 534-3376 or visit holyokecham.com to register.
• Feb. 13: Chamber Table Top Workshop: “How to Get People’s Attention and Attract Them to Your Table,” 8:30-10:30 a.m., at the Chamber Conference Room. A no-nonsense informational session on how to set up your booth, how to add visual interest, and what to do to keep potential customers engaged. Cost: $10 for members.
• Feb. 19: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m. at Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot St., Holyoke. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.
• Feb. 26: Holyoke Chamber Economic Development Breakfast, 8-10 a.m., location to be announced. Hear about local projects and how they will affect businesses. Cost: $26 for members, $35 for non-members, which includes a buffet breakfast. Call (413) 543-3376 or visit holycham.com to register.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Jan. 28: Nonprofit Marketing Roundtable 2014 Workshop, 8-9:30 a.m., at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by the Creative Marketing Group. Struggling to gain visibility with your target audience? Are your marketing materials producing tangible results? Are your best messaging ideas living only in your head? The  chamber has help on the way. Three women business owners — Janice Beetle, Ruth Griggs, and Maureen Scanlon of the Creative, a marketing and communications collaboration in Northampton — will lead a nonprofit Flash marketing workshop. They will meet with business owners, listen to your marketing and communications concerns, and help you brainstorm practical, professional solutions on the spot. Learn more about how to strategize, advertise, brand, and promote your business; reach the media; and maximize your message in person, in print, and online. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, contact Jasmin Tomic at (413) 584-1900 or [email protected].

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Jan. 13: Health Care Symposium, time to be announced, at the Dever Stage, Parenzo Hall, Westfield State University. Presenter: Lynn Nichols, president of the Mass. Hospital Assoc. Sponsored by Noble Hospital. For more information or to register, contact Pam at (413) 568-1618.

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900

• Feb. 13: February Networking Social, 5 p.m., at the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• Jan. 15: PWC Tabletop Business Expo/Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, West Springfield. Showcase your product or service. For more information about the Professional Women’s Chamber, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1310 or [email protected].

THREE RIVERS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.threeriverschamber.org
(413) 283-6425

• Feb. 3: Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce Monthly Meeting, 7-8 p.m., at the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce, 2376 Main St., Three Rivers.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
413-426-3880

• January: Coffee with Mayor Cohen, date, time, and location to be announced. Keep checking the website for updates, or email [email protected].
• Feb. 5: Wicked Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., at Crestview Country Club, Agawam. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events hosted by various businesses and restaurants. These events bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. Cost: free for chamber members, $10 for non-members. Event is open to the public; attendees must pay at the door if they’re non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].
• Feb. 26: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at the Storrowton Tavern Carriage House, West Springfield. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.springfieldyps.com

• Jan. 16: January Third Thursday YPS Open House, 5-7 p.m., at the Colony Club, 1500 Main St., Springfield. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to become more involved with the YPS. Complementary parking in the Tower Square garage with elevator access directly to the venue. YPS is a guest of the Colony Club for this event. We ask that you respect and follow their business-casual dress code; jeans will not be permitted. There will be a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres. Invite your friends and bring plenty of business cards. Cost: free for YPS members, $10 for non-members, which includes food and a cash bar.

Meet the Judges

By
Events

Editor’s Note: Again this year, five individuals have been chosen to score the nominations submitted for the 40 Under Forty Class of 2014. In keeping with past practice, BusinessWest has chosen two former winners to be part of this panel — in this case, members of the classes of 2011 and 2013. In addition, BusinessWest has sought out individuals with experience in business and entrepreneurship. This year’s judges are:

Jim Barrett

Jim Barrett

• Jim Barrett, CPA/PFS, MST is the managing partner of Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., the largest regionally based public-accounting firm in Western Mass. He is a certified public accountant licensed in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and holds a personal financial specialist credential. In the taxation practice, he works with privately held commercial companies, partnerships, and individuals. In addition to tax compliance, his engagement experience includes consulting on accounting periods and methods, review of corporate tax provisions, computation of corporate earnings and profits, and mergers and acquisitions. In the financial-planning and wealth-management services practice, Barrett assists clients in integrating and managing issues concerning life and wealth. These issues include pre- and post-retirement planning, estate- and gift-tax planning, income-tax planning, investment planning, education planning, insurance planning, and charitable giving.
Barrett joined the firm in 2002. Prior to that, he was a senior tax manager for KPMG, LLP. He is a member of the AICPA and the MSCPA, and serves as treasurer of the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as the treasurer of the Young Presidents Organization of Western New England.

Shonda Pettiford

Shonda Pettiford

• Shonda Pettiford, assistant director of Communications for Commonwealth Honors College, a program for academically talented students at UMass Amherst. A member of the 40 Under Forty class of 2013, Pettiford builds the brand of the Honors College through strategic communications, marketing, social media, website development, and event publicity. Before entering that role, she helped direct community-service learning at the university.
For more than 12 years, Pettiford has been involved with the Women’s Fund of Western Mass. She has channeled her passion for advancing social justice for women into myriad volunteer roles within the organization, from co-chairing the grant-making committee to participating on the development, governance, and executive committees, to serving as president of the board of directors.



Peter Rosskothen

Peter Rosskothen

• Peter Rosskothen, co-owner and president of the Log Cabin & Delaney House. A veteran of the hospitality industry, Rosskothen has also been a serial entrepreneur, and a former BusinessWest Top Entrepreneur. After working as restaurant manager at the Holiday Inn in Holyoke, food and beverage manager at Twin Hills Country Club, and director of food services at Classic Foods in Greenfield, he became owner and president of three Boston Chicken locations in Western Mass. and manager of 65 across the Northeast. Later, he was a partner in a venture to convert the former Log Cabin restaurant into a banquet and meeting facility, and, several years later, acquired the Delaney House restaurant. His most recent venture has been the opening of two Mt. Joe coffee shops.
Rosskothen has been involved with the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, the Holyoke Rotary Club, the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Holyoke Health Center, the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., the Volleyball Hall of Fame, and other organizations.

Meghan Rothschild

Meghan Rothschild

• Meghan Rothschild, co-owner of the marketing and public relations firm chikmedia. A member of the 40 Under Forty class of 2011, she and chikmedia partner Emily Gaylord put an emphasis on female-run organizations and women business owners, and offer full design, strategic marketing planning, and creative PR. Current clients include SkinCatering and Papa John’s Pizza.
For the past seven years, Rothschild has worked closely with the Melanoma Foundation of New England as a board member and spokesperson. She is a 10-year melanoma survivor who started her own awareness organization, Surviving Skin, seven years ago. She advocates for skin health through interviews with media across the New England region and by appearing as a speaker at various engagements across the state. She also acts as host of Skin Talk, a local talk show focused on melanoma awareness and skin care. She was recently the keynote speaker at the Melanoma Foundation’s Shades of Hope event in Boston.

Jim Sheils

Jim Sheils

• Jim Sheils, partner at the Springfield-based law firm Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., where he concentrates his practice in commercial finance, representing banks and private lenders in the Pioneer Valley and the Berkshires. He also represents clients in the acquisition or sale of businesses. Currently the town moderator of East Longmeadow, he has also served on a number of charitable and civic boards, including the Dunbar Community Center, the Mass. Moderators Assoc., Goodwill Industries of the Pioneer Valley, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Sheils has also been a member of the Mass. Advisory Council for the U.S. Small Business Administration, a director of the Smaller Business Assoc. of New England (SBANE), and a member of the Commercial Law League of America. He was the first program director at WICN Radio, Worcester’s NPR radio station. Sheils is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, where he received the Presidential Service Award, and Boston College Law School.

Local Lights

By
Events

Lists of the previous seven 40 Under Forty classes

Class of 2013

Timothy Allen, South End Middle School
Meaghan Arena, Westfield State University
Adrian Bailey Dion, Harold Grinspoon Foundation
Jason Barroso, Tighe & Bond
Elizabeth Beaudry, NUVO Bank & Trust Co.
Melyssa Brown, Meyers Bothers Kalicka, P.C.
Kam Capoccia, Western New England University College of Pharmacy
Jeremy Casey, Westfield Bank
Tommy Cosenzi, TommyCar Auto Group
Erin Couture, Florence Savings Bank
Geoffrey Croteau, MassMutual Charter Oak Insurance and Financial Services
William Davila, The Gandara Center
Ralph DiVito Jr., Yankee Candle Co.
Shaun Dwyer, PeoplesBank
Erin Fontaine Brunelle, Century 21 Hometown Associates
William Gagnon, Excel Dryer Inc.
Allison Garriss, Clinical & Support Options Inc.
Annamarie Golden, Baystate Health
L. Alexandra Hogan, Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C.
Samalid Hogan , City of Springfield
Xiaolei Hua, PeoplesBank
Mark Jardim, CMD Technologies
Danny Kates, Wealth New England and MassMutual Charter Oak Insurance and Financial Services
Jeremy Leap, Country Bank
Danielle Letourneau-Therrien, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County
Isaac Mass, Law Office of Isaac J. Mass
Kelvin Molina, HAPHousing
Brenna Murphy McGee, Commonwealth of Massachusetts/City of Holyoke
Vanessa Pabon, WGBY-TV
John Pantera, Fitness Together Franchise Corp./Elements Therapeutic Massage
Justin Pelis, North Country Landscapes & Garden Center
Shonda Pettiford, Commonwealth Honors College, UMass Amherst
Shannon Reichelt, S. Reichelt & Co., LLC.
N. Andrew Robb, Burgess, Schultz & Robb, P.C.
Stacy Robison, CommunicateHealth Inc.
Rachel Romano, Veritas Preparatory Charter School
Jennifer Root, Center for Human Development,Terri Thomas Girls Program
Jonathan Stolpinski, Westfield Electroplating Co.
Walter Tomala Jr., TNT General Contracting Inc.
Mark Zatyrka, American Homecare Federation Inc.

Class of 2012

Allison Biggs, Graphic Designer
Christopher Connelly, Foley/Connelly Financial Partners
Scott Conrad, Center for Human Development
Erin Corriveau, Reliable Temps Inc.
Carla Cosenzi, Tommy Car Corp.
Ben Craft, Baystate Medical Center
Jessica Crevier, AIDS Foundation of Western Mass.
Michele Crochetiere, YWCA of Western Mass.
Christopher DiStefano, DiStefano Financial Group
Keshawn Dodds, 4King Edward Enterprises Inc.
Ben Einstein, Brainstream Design
Michael Fenton, Shatz, Schwartz, and Fentin, P.C.
Tim Fisk, The Alliance to Develop Power
Elizabeth Ginter, Ellis Title Co.
Eric Hall, Westfield Police Department
Brendon Hutchins, St. Germain Investment Management
Kevin Jennings, Jennings Real Estate
Kristen Kellner, Kellner Consulting, LLC
Dr. Ronald Laprise, Laprise Chiropractic & Wellness
Danielle Lord, O’Connell Care at Home & Staffing Services
Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, Westfield State University
Trecia Marchand, Pioneer Valley Federal Credit Union
Ryan McCollum, RMC Strategies
Sheila Moreau, MindWing Concepts Inc.
Kelli Ann Nielsen, Springfield Academy Middle School
Neil Nordstrom, Pediatric Services of Springfield
Edward Nuñez, Freedom Credit Union
Adam Ondrick, Ondrick Natural Earth
Gladys Oyola, City of Springfield
Shardool Parmar, Pioneer Valley Hotel Group
Vincent Petrangelo, Raymond James
Terry Powe, Elias Brookings Museum Magnet School
Jennifer Reynolds, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.
Dan Rukakoski, Tighe & Bond
Dr. Nate Somers, Center for Human Development
Joshua Spooner, Western New England University College of Pharmacy
Jaclyn Stevenson, Winstanley Partners
Jason Tsitso, R & R Windows Contractors
Sen. James Welch, State Senator, First Hampden District
Karen Woods, Yankee Candle Co.

Class of 2011

Kelly Albrecht , left-click Corp.
Gianna Allentuck , Springfield Public Schools
Briony Angus , Tighe & Bond
Delania Barbee , ACCESS Springfield Promise Program
Monica Borgatti , Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity
Nancy Buffone , University of Massachusetts
Michelle Cayo , Country Bank
Nicole Contois , Springfield Housing Authority
Christin Deremian , Human Resources Unlimited/Pyramid Project
Peter Ellis , DIF Design
Scott Foster , Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP
Stephen Freyman , Longmeadow High School
Benjamin Garvey , Insurance Center of New England
Mathew Geffin , Webber and Grinnell
Nick Gelfand , NRG Real Estate Inc.
Mark Germain , Gomes, DaCruz and Tracy, P.C.
Elizabeth Gosselin , Commonwealth Packaging
Kathryn Grandonico , Lincoln Real Estate
Jaimye Hebert , Monson Savings Bank
Sean Hemingway , Center for Human Development
Kelly Koch , Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP
Jason Mark , Gravity Switch
Joan Maylor , Stop and Shop Supermarkets
Todd McGee , MassMutual Financial Group
Donald Mitchell , Western Mass. Development Collaborative
David Pakman , Vivid Edge Media Group/The David Pakman Show
Timothy Plante, City of Springfield/Springfield Public Schools
Maurice Powe , The Law Offices of Brooks and Powe
Jeremy Procon , Interstate Towing Inc.
Kristen Pueschel , PeoplesBank
Meghan Rothschild , SurvivingSkin.org
Jennifer Schimmel , Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity
Amy Scott , Wild Apple Design Group
Alexander Simon , LogicTrail, LLC
Lauren Tabin , PeoplesBank
Lisa Totz , ITT Power Solutions
Jeffrey Trant , Human Resources Unlimited
Timothy Van Epps , Sandri Companies
Michael Vedovelli , Mass. Office of Business Development
Beth Vettori , Rockridge Retirement Community

Class of 2010

Nancy Bazanchuk , Disability Resource Program, Center for Human Development
Raymond Berry , United Way of Pioneer Valley
David Beturne , Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County
Maegan Brooks , The Law Office of Maegan Brooks
Karen Buell , PeoplesBank
Shanna Burke , Nonotuck Resource Associates
Damon Cartelli , Fathers & Sons
Brady Chianciola , PeoplesBank
Natasha Clark , Springfield School Volunteers
Julie Cowan , TD Bank
Karen Curran , Thomson Financial Management Inc.
Adam Epstein , Dielectrics Inc.
Mary Fallon , Garvey Communication Associates
Daniel Finn , Pioneer Valley Local First
Owen Freeman-Daniels , Foley-Connelly Financial Partners and Foley Insurance Group
Lorenzo Gaines , ACCESS Springfield Promise Program
Thomas Galanis , Westfield State College
Anthony Gleason II , Roger Sitterly & Son Inc. and Gleason Landscaping
Allen Harris , Berkshire Money Management Inc.
Meghan Hibner , Westfield Bank
Amanda Huston , Junior Achievement of Western Mass. Inc.
Kimberly Klimczuk , Royal, LLP
James Krupienski , Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.
David Kutcher , Confluent Forms, LLC
James Leahy , City of Holyoke and Alcon Laboratories
Kristin Leutz , Community Foundation of Western Mass.
Meghan Lynch , Six-Point Creative Works
Susan Mielnikowski , Cooley, Shrair, P.C.
Jill Monson , Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding Inc. and Inspired Marketing & Promotions
Kevin Perrier , Five Star Building Corp.
Lindsay Porter , Big Y Foods
Brandon Reed , Fitness Together
Boris Revsin , CampusLIVE Inc.
Aaron Vega , Vega Yoga & Movement Arts
Ian Vukovich , Florence Savings Bank
Thomas Walsh , City of Springfield
Sean Wandrei , Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.
Byron White , Pazzo Ristorante
Chester Wojcik , Design Construction Group
Peter Zurlino , Atlantico Designs and Springfield Public Schools

Class of 2009

Marco Alvan, Team Link Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Gina Barry, Bacon Wilson, P.C.
Maggie Bergin, The Art of Politics
Daniel Bessette, Get Set Marketing
Brandon Braxton, NewAlliance Bank
Dena Calvanese, Gray House
Edward Cassell, Park Square Realty
Karen Chadwell, Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy, P.C.
Kate Ciriello, MassMutual Financial Group
Kamari Collins, Springfield Technical Community College
Mychal Connolly Sr., Stinky Cakes
Todd Demers, Family Wireless
Kate Glynn, A Child’s Garden and Impish
Andrew Jensen, Jx2 Productions, LLC
Kathy LeMay, Raising Change
Ned Leutz, Webber & Grinnell Insurance Agency
Scott MacKenzie, MacKenzie Vault Inc.
Tony Maroulis, Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
Seth Mias, Seth Mias Catering
Marjory Moore, Chicopee Public Schools
Corey Murphy, First American Insurance Agency Inc.
Mark Hugo Nasjleti, Go Voice for Choice
Joshua Pendrick, Royal Touch Painting
Christopher Prouty, Studio99Creative
Adam Quenneville, Adam Quenneville Roofing
Michael Ravosa, Morgan Stanley
Kristi Reale, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.
Amy Royal, Royal & Klimczuk, LLC
Michelle Sade, United Personnel
Scott Sadowsky, Williams Distributing Corp.
Gregory Schmidt, Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy, P.C.
Gretchen Siegchrist, Media Shower Productions
Erik Skar, MassMutual Financial Services
Paul Stallman, Alias Solutions
Renee Stolar, J. Stolar Insurance Co.
Tara Tetreault, Jackson and Connor
Chris Thompson, Springfield Falcons Hockey Team
Karl Tur, Ink & Toner Solutions, LLC
Michael Weber, Minuteman Press
Brenda Wishart, Aspen Square Management

Class of 2008

Michelle Abdow, Market Mentors
Matthew Andrews, Best Buddies of Western Mass.
Rob Anthony, WMAS
Shane Bajnoci, Cowls Land & Lumber Co.
Steve Bandarra, Atlas TC
Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, Hampden County Physician Associates
Delcie Bean IV, Valley Computer Works (Paragus Strategic IT)
Brendan Ciecko, Ten Minute Media
Todd Cieplinski, Universal Mind Inc.
William Collins, Spoleto Restaurant Group
Michael Corduff, Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House
Amy Davis, New City Scenic & Display
Dave DelVecchio, Innovative Business Systems Inc.
Tyler Fairbank, EOS Ventures
Timothy Farrell, F.W. Farrell Insurance
Jeffrey Fialky, Bacon Wilson, P.C.
Dennis Francis, America’s Box Choice
Kelly Galanis, Westfield State College
Jennifer Glockner, Winstanley Associates
Andrea Hill-Cataldo, Johnson & Hill Staffing Services
Steven Huntley, Valley Opportunity Council
Alexander Jarrett, Pedal People Cooperative
Kevin Jourdain, City of Holyoke
Craig Kaylor, Hampden Bank / Hampden Bancorp Inc.
Stanley Kowalski III, FloDesign Inc.
Marco Liquori, NetLogix Inc.
Azell Murphy Cavaan, City of Springfield
Michael Presnal, The Federal Restaurant
Melissa Shea, Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn
Sheryl Shinn, Hampden Bank
Ja’Net Smith, Center for Human Development
Diana Sorrentini-Velez, Cooley, Shrair, P.C.
Meghan Sullivan, Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn
Michael Sweet, Doherty Wallace Pillsbury & Murphy
Heidi Thomson, Girls Inc.
Hector Toledo, Hampden Bank
William Trudeau Jr., Insurance Center of New England
David Vermette, MassMutual Financial Services
Lauren Way, Bay Path College
Paul Yacovone, Brain Powered Concepts

Class of 2007

William Bither III, Atalasoft
Kimberlynn Cartelli, Fathers & Sons
Amy Caruso, MassMutual Financial Group
Denise Cogman, Springfield School Volunteers
Richard Corder, Cooley Dickinson Hospital
Katherine Pacella Costello, Egan, Flanagan & Cohen, P.C.
A. Rima Dael, Berkshire Bank Foundation of Pioneer Valley
Nino Del Padre, Del Padre Visual Productions
Antonio Dos Santos, Robinson Donovan, P.C.
Jake Giessman, Academy Hill School
Jillian Gould, Eastfield Mall
Michael Gove, Lyon & Fitzpatrick, LLP
Dena Hall, United Bank
James Harrington, Our Town Variety & Liquors
Christy Hedgpeth, Spalding Sports
Francis Hoey III, Tighe & Bond
Amy Jamrog, The Jamrog Group, Northwestern Mutual
Cinda Jones, Cowls Land & Lumber Co.
Paul Kozub, V-1 Vodka
Bob Lowry, Bueno y Sano
G.E. Patrick Leary, Moriarty & Primack, P.C.
Todd Lever, Noble Hospital
Audrey Manring, The Women’s Times
Daniel Morrill, Wolf & Company
Joseph Pacella, Egan, Flanagan & Cohen, P.C.
Arlene Rodriquez, Springfield Technical Community College
Craig Swimm, WMAS 94.7
Sarah Tanner, United Way of Pioneer Valley
Mark Tanner, Bacon Wilson, P.C.
Michelle Theroux, Child & Family Services of Pioneer Valley Inc.
Tad Tokarz, Western MA Sports Journal
Dan Touhey, Spalding Sports
Sarah Leete Tsitso, Fred Astaire Dance
Michael Vann, The Vann Group
Ryan Voiland, Red Fire Farm
Erica Walch, Speak Easy Accent Modification
Catherine West, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.
Michael Zaskey, Zasco Productions, LLC
Edward Zemba, Robert Charles Photography
Carin Zinter, The Princeton Review

Reverse Mortgages for the Affluent, Too

By
Law Sections
Are You Up to Speed on the Advantages and New Regulations for 2014?

Hyman G. Darling

Hyman G. Darling

More and more people are starting to realize that reverse mortgages aren’t just for those struggling to keep their homes. These loans can also work for affluent retirees as a tax-savings strategy (using income-tax-free funds to pay off traditional mortgages rather than using taxable retirement-savings income) and for those who are looking for a cushion to keep them from selling investments at the wrong time. In prior years, it was fairly expensive to get a reverse mortgage, because the fees were considerably higher than those of a typical mortgage or home-equity loan, but that has changed. A reverse mortgage, also known as a home-equity-conversion mortgage, becomes a good solution for people who may wish to cash in on the equity in their house.
If you (or your parents) need additional funds for home care or possibly to pay the costs of living, including heat, taxes, insurance, etc., then a reverse mortgage is a valuable alternative, since it does not need to be paid back during your lifetime. One of the problems, however, is that, once the limit is reached on the withdrawal amount of the loan, further funds are not available, and you may have to either sell the house or attempt to obtain a new reverse mortgage if the value of the home has increased sufficiently.
A reverse mortgage is similar to a regular mortgage, except that the bank advances funds to you, either in a lump sum or on an annuity basis, or possibly merely on a credit basis, which means that you can withdraw funds as desired up to the allowed maximum. The loan does not have to be paid back unless you die or live out of the house for at least six months, possibly in a long-term-care facility. As long as at least one spouse lives in the home, however, no payments need to be made, nor does the house have to be sold.
In most cases, your assets and income are not considered for a loan to be approved or denied, as the bank is merely funding it based on the equity in your house. Also, in most cases, the funds received from a reverse mortgage do not adversely affect your eligibility for any governmental benefits, since it is not construed to be income, but rather, merely the withdrawal of equity from your home.
Many retirees have already transferred their houses to their children and reserved a life estate. In these cases, provided that they (the homeowners) are at least 62 years old, many banks will consider providing them with a reverse mortgage, but their children will have to sign off on the mortgage also. If this is a concern for your kids, they could deed the house back to you, but this may trigger an additional five-year waiting period, in the event that you wish to re-transfer the property to your children, in order to protect the asset from long-term-care expenses.

What’s New in 2014?
Created by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, one of the most important new regulations that go into effect Jan. 1, 2014 prohibits banks from approving mortgages for anyone whose debt-to-income ratio is higher than 43%. This means that borrowers’ total debt liability, including housing, should not be more than 43% of their income. A qualified mortgage is one that would be eligible for resale on the secondary mortgage market.
The other new rule requires banks to limit the fees for originating mortgages to no more than 3% of the loan amount. This could discourage many institutions from pursuing loans for lower-priced houses.
While the ability-to-repay rules, effective in January 2014, will now apply to most mortgage loans, they exclude certain types of loans, such as home-equity lines of credit, time-share plans, and reverse mortgages.
Until the new rules become effective, almost any homeowner who had equity in a home could qualify for a reverse mortgage. However, starting Jan. 13, 2014, there will be new underwriting standards for new applications to ensure that borrowers have the ability to continue to pay taxes and insurance on an ongoing basis. Additionally, homeowners may be able to draw only 60% of the available principal limit, unless there are mandatory obligations, such as mortgage payoffs or liens. Credit-card debt is not considered a mandatory obligation.

Conclusion
Prior to obtaining a reverse mortgage, the federal government requires that you be counseled as to its pros and cons. This counseling is free, and you may obtain information from the AARP Reverse Mortgage Education Program by calling (800) 209-8085. You may also wish to contact an elder-law attorney who is also skilled in advising clients as to the benefits and detriments of obtaining a reverse mortgage.

Attorney Hyman G. Darling is chairman of Bacon Wilson, P.C.’s Estate Planning and Elder Law departments. His areas of expertise include all areas of estate planning, probate, and elder law. He is a frequent lecturer on various estate-planning and elder-law topics at local and national levels, and he hosts a popular estate-planning blog at bwlaw.blogs.com/estate_planning_bits; (413) 781-0560; [email protected]

Where There’s Smoke…

By
Health Care Sections
As E-cigarette Sales Escalate, So Too Does the Controversy

Lynn Ostrowski

Unlike the well-documented research into cigarettes, Lynn Ostrowski says, no one really knows what’s in e-cigs or what the long-term risks are.

His name was ‘The Marlboro Man.’
From 1954 to 1999, his masculine image became perhaps the most influential branding vehicle of the century. The campaign’s creator, Leo Burnett Worldwide (the creative firm that also gave the world the Jolly Green Giant and Tony the Tiger), won numerous accolades for imagery credited with popularizing filtered cigarettes, turning Marlboro into the largest-selling brand of cigarettes in the world, and Philip Morris USA into the largest tobacco company in the world.
But later, those same images became tinged with irony — and tragedy — as the health concerns related to smoking began to multiply a half-century ago. In 1957, then-Surgeon General Leroy Burney declared the official position of the U.S. Public Health Service to be against cigarettes, based on evidence of a causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer. This was followed by the 1964 “Report on Smoking and Health,” which spelled out, in great detail, the connections between smoking and many serious health problems.
As the smoke began to clear — and three of the actors who had appeared in Marlboro-related advertisements died of lung cancer — Marlboro cigarettes, specifically Marlboro Reds, earned the nickname ‘Cowboy killers.’
Decades later, the number of smokers in the U.S. is falling, but many continue to struggle with an addiction to nicotine. Numerous websites offer a road to recovery with options ranging from quitting cold turkey to hypnosis; from nicotine patches to gum. The latest product — and controversy —in this realm is the e-cigarette, or e-cig.
Dr. Gary Hochheiser, a thoracic surgeon and chief of the Thoracic Surgery Division at Baystate Health, who has performed thousands of surgeries on those with lung cancer, emphysema, and other benign and malignant esophageal diseases, describes an e-cig as a “nicotine delivery device,” one that heats liquid nicotine and turns it into a vapor for inhaling. The ‘e’ part of the name refers to the electronic heating element in the device.
“It’s not like burning tobacco and all the chemicals that are in cigarettes that we think are responsible for people getting lung cancer; we don’t think that nicotine is the major source for all that,” he told BusinessWest. “Theoretically, it should be better for you than a real cigarette. If we could take 50% of the cigarette smokers and make them e-cig users, that could be a huge national health benefit.”
But others in the healthcare industry remain skeptical about this product, and they center on words like ‘theoretically’ and ‘should’ that are used by Hochheiser and many others. That’s because little is known about the e-cig, now being sold and promoted by the major cigarette makers, and how its use can impact consumers who buy into the considerable hype concerning them.
“We really don’t know what’s in them,” said Lynn Ostrowski, director of Brand & Corporate Relations for the Springfield-based insurance company Health New England, adding that traditional cigarettes already have their own health-risk profile, which links smoking to various cancers and lung-compromised conditions.
However, no such dossier exists on e-cigs, she went on, adding that they are currently both unregulated and heavily promoted, and already account for almost $500 million in annual sales in the U.S.
Erika Sward, assistant vice president for the American Lung Assoc. in Washington, D.C., agreed, and said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially failed to find e-cigarettes safe and effective in helping smokers quit.
“The American Lung Assoc. is concerned about e-cigarettes because we don’t know what’s in them or the health consequences of what their use might be,” said Sward. “It’s important for people to know that e-cigarettes are a tobacco product and will be regulated by the federal government as a tobacco product, but as of today, they are not regulated at all.”
The obvious targeting of teens with fruity flavors, and marketing the inhalation of e-cig vapor as ‘vaping,’ not smoking, is concerning to many in the healthcare field, who see similarities between the marketing tactics of 50 years ago, including the Marlboro Man, and current efforts to promote e-cigs.
As the controversy heats up, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at this new product and the growing concerns surrounding it.

Truth in Advertising?
While it may seem that Hochheiser is promoting a questionable product, he explained to BusinessWest that his reasoning is due to the ongoing, desperate need for some effective alternative to smoking tobacco.
Hochheiser said that 80% of the surgery he performs is for lung cancer, the number-one cancer killer among Americans. The bulk of his lung-cancer patients are in their 60s and 70s — those, he said, who have been smoking since they were teens, many of them because they simply haven’t been able to quit.
“If it turns out to be safe and it is a way to transition people off cigarettes, then I tell my patients that it’s a good use temporarily,” said Hochheiser.  “I don’t condone using it long-term, but as a short-term device to try to get off cigarettes, I think the benefits probably outweigh the risks.”
But it is the use of words like ‘temporarily’ and ‘probably’ that concern people like Sward and Ostrowski, who contend that there is still far too much mystery concerning this product for it to be promoted by anyone, and that e-cig makers are blending unsubstantiated claims with time-tested methods for hooking young people on their products to create what could be a dangerous situation.
Sward compares the e-cig marketing explosion to the Wild West, where curious elixirs were hyped as cure-alls. Those making e-cigarettes are claiming that the vapor tubes can help smokers quit and that they are a healthier alternative for smokers and non-smokers alike, but there is no validation of these claims from the FDA or any other agency.
“The American Lung Assoc. has gone a few rounds with the tobacco industry, and we know not to trust it at its word,” she told BusinessWest. “We’re also troubled because we see this new product, but the same tobacco companies behind them using the same old marketing tactics; they’ve spent millions of dollars on their advertising already.”
Even though the federal government will eventually regulate e-cigs in a tobacco-product category, Sward continued, Lorillard, the world’s third-largest cigarette maker, which acquired Blu eCigs in 2012, has been pushing bills in state legislatures not to be regulated as a tobacco product, but in a new category called ‘vaping products.’ “They don’t want to be included in smoke-free laws, and they don’t want to be subjected to tobacco taxes.”
However, legislators in New York and Arizona have already introduced measures that would ban the sale of e-cigs to minors. In Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Utah, bills would extend smoking bans in public areas to include e-cigarettes. According to Casey Harvell, director of Public Policy for the Massachusetts chapter of the American Lung Assoc., the state Legislature currently has a bill to ban the sale of e-cigs to minors and to ban vaping in enclosed public places.
But the true contents of e-cigs and federal regulation of these products is what Sward and Ostrowski want to see, with both pointing to recent studies that show various metals, in addition to formaldehyde, benzene, and nicotine, found in tested e-cigs.
“It’s an industry that’s come under attack for the past 30 years, ever since the Surgeon General announced that the single most important thing you could do for your health was to quit smoking,” said Ostrowski.  “The tobacco companies are just figuring out how to reinvent themselves.”
Sward agreed and said the switch is identical to what the tobacco companies did when the public became concerned about full-flavored cigarettes, and created ‘light’ and ‘low-tar’ cigarettes, making claims that those versions were better for people to use.
“I think the whole ‘light’ campaign they had was a farce because they knew there was no difference with the risks,” added Hochheiser. “However, I think this is a totally different product, but one of the problems is we don’t know what the full risk is, and it’s totally unregulated.”
But as he mentioned, it does hold potential — and possibly vast amounts of it — for helping to wean people off cigarettes, an already-proven killer.
Hochheiser points to the patch and nicotine gum as products that have proven to help smokers quit, but he added that the ‘psychosocial’ act of smoking, holding a cigarette (or e-cig in this case), and bringing it to the lips to inhale is part of the hardcore smoker’s mental addiction.
Hochheiser said that once a patient learns they have lung cancer, the regret of a lifetime of smoking is typically 100%. But only 40% to 50% of those patients actually stop for good, which is a glaring example of how addictive cigarette smoking is, he said.
“You’ll notice that the targeting of cigarettes is toward younger people because people don’t start smoking cigarettes in their 30s or 40s,” he said. “We know they get people to start smoking in their teens and 20s. That way, they hook them for life.”
And this track record for success, if it can be called that, raises more concerns about e-cigs and the ongoing, and blatant, attempts to target young audiences.
“They’ve even come out with new flavors,” said Hochheiser, who, with a sarcastic laugh, added rhetorically, “now, who’s that for?”
The use of celebrities to push e-cigs, such as actress Jenny McCarthy for Blu, is also disconcerting for Ostrowski, Sward, and global medical entities.
Blu’s advertising shows McCarthy saying that vaping e-cigs offers “freedom to have a cigarette without the guilt.” The guilt she refers to is two-fold: guilt about smoking in public, and guilt about health concerns.
“When you get these celebrities behind things, all of a sudden it lends credibility to something,” but it’s a false credibility, Ostrowski added. “They boost those sales, and that is really troublesome because they don’t even know what they are backing.”
And the marketing strategies seem to be working. A September 2012 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed smoking rates among teens are flat; however, in one year, e-cig use among middle- and high-school students doubled.
The Lancet, the world’s foremost medical journal, is officially concerned about the use of celebrity endorsements for e-cigarettes, which hype smoking independence, glamour, and the alleged safety of vaping.
The explosion of candy and fruit flavors, like cotton candy, atomic fireball, and Cap’n Crunch, is what Sward equates to “the crown jewel” of big tobacco companies’ playbook to addict kids.
“So they’re actually creating this new generation of people who are going for the flavor and are going to be hooked on these e-cigs,” added Ostrowski.

Ashes to Ashes
Hochheiser sees the tobacco companies trying to capitalize on something new.
“They probably don’t even know what they’ve got — they just saw these e-cigarette companies as competition,” he said.
Meanwhile, consumers buying these products don’t really know what they have, either, said Sward and Ostrowski, adding that there is no evidence to back up the marketing claims — and no itemized list of ingredients, either.
So for most of the parties involved, e-cigs are an unknown quantity, and as long as they remain as such, the controversy about their use — and the efforts to promote them — will continue.

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

Raising Their Game

By
Commercial Real Estate Sections
Business Growth Center Lives Up to Name Change

Marla Michel

Director Marla Michel says the name change from the Scibelli Enterprise Center to the Business Growth Center represents a sharpening of the facility’s mission.

Owning a business can be an isolating existence, Marla Michel said. But it doesn’t have to be.
“Being a business owner can be very lonely and scary, and sometimes, even with your peers, you don’t want to let your hair down, to let your guard down,” she said. “You always have to project confidence as a business owner, because nobody wants to buy a product from a non-confident business owner.”
But that’s no excuse not to seek help when it’s needed, Michel added. As director of the Business Growth Center at the Springfield Technology Park, she’s been busy expanding the center’s programs, including its mentoring outreach to business owners.
“The way we do mentoring is, I build a team of professionals — three or four people who have experiences and skills and connections in areas relevant for that business owner — and we meet on a regular basis, anywhere from six to eight to 10 weeks, depending on where the company’s at; younger companies tend to need to meet more often.
“And we dialogue,” she continued, “about things that, for lack of a better word, are keeping the owner up at night. If we need to bring in other competencies and skills not on the team, we do. We allow it to be flowing because we have resources we can pull in at different times. And this development team serves as an informal advisory board for entrepreneurs and business owners.”
But for a mentoring program to work, she said, the business owner has to be honest and willing to accept advice.
“These mentoring teams allow a business owner to be himself or herself, and receive advice from people who know what they’re talking about, whether it’s an insurance expert, lawyer, accountant, or operations expert. Getting advice at the right time is very helpful, and time is money,” Michel said. “But, again, a company owner has to be willing. It’s easier to implement when you’re the kind of person who recognizes you don’t know it all.”
The fact that the Business Growth Center positively teems with knowledge, from the array of economic-development organizations, small businesses, and other agencies that populate the center, is one of its key strengths, she noted, and one that the center is actively marketing, not just to lease space at the center, but through a series of new programs and outreaches aimed at helping small businesses throughout the region grow and thrive.
To reflect that emphasis, what was originally called the Scibelli Enterprise Center — named for former Springfield Technical Community College President Andrew Scibelli, who shepherded the development of the Technology Park — changed its name to the Business Growth Center in October, although Scibelli’s name will continue to grace Building 101 in the complex, where the center is located.
“We felt that, for the program to reach its full capacity, we needed to change the name and embellish some of our programming,” Michel said. “The name ‘Business Growth Center’ speaks to businesses more than the Scibelli Enterprise Center. Now, the Business Growth Center is still a destination for space, but also a destination for programs, a destination for business owners to come when they’re thinking about growing.”
And that’s exactly what they should be thinking about, Michel said. “There was a growth study done by the UMass Donahue Institute that reinforces the reality that our region is dominated by very, very, very small companies, and they don’t know how to access capital.”
Why is that important? Consider the probability that MGM Resorts International will soon break ground on an $800 million casino in Springfield’s South End.
“If you have an operator like MGM that publicly says that, if it’s awarded a casino, it wants to commit $50 million to local businesses, you have to ask the question, do we have businesses that can bid on $50 million of business?” Michel asked. “Stated another way, can we keep that $50 million here? So we need to make sure that the companies that will bid for work for the casino have that capacity.”
In many ways, the facility is doing just that. In this issue, BusinessWest examines the changing face of the Business Growth Center, and the many ways in which it’s living up to its new name.

Growth Patterns

Dan Tuohey

Dan Tuohey says locating at the center and accessing its resources has been a factor in the growth of psi 91.

The Scibelli Enterprise Center was created as a program of STCC, Michel said, but in 2012, due to a round of budget cuts, the college decided not to support it in the same way; instead, it would continue as an administrative division of the Technology Park.
“We had been thinking a lot about where we wanted to go, and that accelerated the conversation about our community mission,” she said. “The Technology Park, although it was created to support the community in the interests of the college, didn’t have the programming — just the space.”
So the conversation turned to boosting the programming offered by the center. “This is a real opportunity for the Technology Park to expand its mission of economic development beyond creating space for good jobs, which is a very good component of economic development, to adding programming to support the growth of businesses implicitly.”
The new offerings include the Stronger Businesses program, an eight-week initiative aimed at leaders of both for-profit and nonprofit enterprises. Each week’s three-hour session focuses on a specific area — from growing a self-sustaining customer base to focusing on the right products and markets — with the goal of helping participants assess their operations, gain new tools for solving problems and pursuing opportunities, and better align their operations, marketing, human resources, and executive management. A new series of sessions begins Jan. 7.
“This is a great example of the state’s embrace of the new Business Growth Center,” Michel said. “We received a grant from the Mass Growth Capital Corp. to help fund this program to help companies build capacity through self-assessment and learning about strategic marketing and operational improvements.”
Then there’s Capacity Building for Growth, a two-day workshop (next dates: Jan. 21 and 28) that helps small businesses develop core skills for scaling up their companies, as well as learning how to secure contracts from larger corporations — all with the goal of increasing small-business activity in Greater Springfield while helping company owners move to the proverbial next level.
“We did a lot of research,” Michel said regarding all the new initiatives. “We didn’t just say we’re going to do this. We talked to Babson College, talked to the Federal Reserve, talked to many of our community partners, and we looked at our community and our organizations that were already here in our building. We have great service providers doing a lot of good work.”
The new mentoring program is one way to leverage those assets for the benefit of the community.
“To have the kind of economic impact we’re hoping to, we had to reach more than just companies located here at the center,” she said. “For those not based here, we give them access to the best assets of the building, from the huge conference-room space to the community itself.”
The mentoring program has helped a range of companies at various stages of growth, she added, from those who haven’t yet seen revenue to growing firms that mentors have encouraged to tap new markets.
“Others need a legal sounding board,” she noted. “It’s not legal advice, but it helps you prepare for when you talk to professionals, so you ask better questions, so you have thoughts about things you didn’t have thoughts about beforehand. In some cases, it helps you make decisions, but it’s always your decision.”

Space Program
Of course, while the Business Growth Center works to expand its programming, its tenant space continues to be a key asset. Current tenants range from small-business training and counseling entities (including the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network, the U.S. Small Business Administration, New England Business Associates, SCORE, and the National Assoc. of Minority Contractors) to well-established businesses (such as Square One and the Achievement Network) to incubator tenants, or small businesses at various stages of getting off the ground.
Dan Tuohey joined the incubator in 2010 to launch his company, psi 91, which develops and distributes products for sports apparel maker Under Armor. That manufacturer’s foray into inflatable balls for various sports has given psi 91 myriad opportunities to grow, and being in the Business Growth Center has helped the startup — now boasting eight employees — do just that.
“It’s been a great benefit,” Tuohey said. “Before we were a revenue-generating business, we were meeting in conference rooms here, planning our launch. Marla was really helpful to us at that stage. We were taking our meetings from Dunkin’ Donuts and Panera Bread to an actual office environment.”
In addition, he said, “Marla put together a great advisory staff for us to meet with quarterly, area business executives to bounce ideas off — and shoulders to cry on when needed.”
Since its inception, psi 91 has gradually needed additional space, so it expanded into an adjoining suite to double its square footage. “That went very smoothly for us. We can use the conference room, too. It’s just a great place for a company our size as we have our initial growth.”
With space still available, Michel and her team are actively recruiting businesses and organizations to locate at Building 101, promoting both the physical space and amenities (including a state-of-the-art fiber-optic network), but also the community of economic-development resources that has given the center its reputation. More details are available at www.businessgrowthcenter.org.
“The park makes the region’s fiber footprint possible, and our collection of tenants enhances regional workforce and economic development,” said Ricky Swaye, chairman of the STCC Assistance Corp. board, which owns the Technology Park. “The Business Growth Center is a natural extension of our mission.”

Bottom Line
The overarching goal, Michel reiterated, is to help businesses — both inside and outside the Business Growth Center — succeed and expand, thereby raising the economic health of the entire Pioneer Valley.
“It’s really those businesses under 10 people that don’t quite have the capacity,” she said. “What I always like to say is, we need more medium-sized businesses here in the Valley. When we believe businesses contribute to our economic prosperity, they do it by employing people and paying taxes, but also through their philanthropic activity. If we have all tiny companies, they don’t have the capacity to give back to the community.
“We want to grow the next MassMutual, the next Smith & Wesson — well, maybe not on that scale, but we need to support our businesses so they can grow,” she continued. “We need to support them in learning how to be the acquirers as opposed to being acquired.”
After all, she explained, the main goal isn’t more large companies that are headquartered elsewhere, but businesses with deep roots in the Valley that grow, become significant employers, and maintain their local operations.
“We have family businesses that have been here for generations and generations, and all of a sudden the people who own the company aren’t here, and they don’t care as much,” Michel concluded. “I think we really need to support our small businesses and help them grow. It’s a cultural thing — we need to teach them that growth doesn’t have to mean greed. Growth is good.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of December 2013.

AGAWAM

Dental Group
340 Walnut Street Ext.
$25,000 — Renovate 1,500 square feet for dental practice

Frank Decaro
1226B Springfield St.
$14,000 — Interior renovation for a coffee shop

Six Flags New England
1623 Main St.
$450,000 — Construction of new Sky Screamer ride

CHICOPEE

B-G Mechanical Contractors
6 2nd Ave.
$561,000 — Construct a 12,690-square-foot pre-engineered metal building

Birch Manor
455 Burnett Road
$8,500 — Re-roof

David Pulcini
747 Memorial Dr.
$4,000 — Install exhaust fan for pizza oven

Pioneer Valley Condo Assoc.
99-111 Colonial Circle
$23,500 — Strip and re-roof

GREENFIELD

Greenfield Housing Authority
1 Elm St.
$187,000 — Construct egress stair addition for basement offices

Shahid Habib
124 Conway St.
$13,000 — Exterior renovations

Patricia Wood
303 Wisdom Way
$214,000 — Construct two self-storage buildings

NORTHAMPTON

298 Main Street, LLC
298 Main St.
$314,000 — Interior renovation and elevator

Gere & Son Inc.
115 Conz St.
$8,500,000 — Construct a four-story Fairfield Inn-Marriott Hotel

Glandore, LLC
766 North King St.
$88,000 — Repair automobile damage

Harmonic Rock
125 Pleasant St.
$55,000 — Re-roof

Liberty Mutual Insurance
11 Village Hill Road
$263,000 — Construct partitions for tenant build out

Lloyd Tarlin
228 King St.
$54,000 — Interior fit out for Great Clips

Northampton Co-Operative Bank
65 King St.
$73,000 — Interior renovations

Northampton Housing Authority
96 Bridge St.
$32,000 — Replacement doors and accessible sidewalk

Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
54 Industrial Dr.
$1,110,000 — Interior renovations

Robert Curran
244 Main St.
$50,000 — Interior renovations

Smith College
Belmont Ave.
$4,112,000 — Construct two-story Wellness Health Center

William Phillips
149 Easthampton Road
$162,000 — Install 182 roof mounted solar panels

SOUTH HADLEY

Marois Construction
470 Granby Road
$1,399,000 — Medical office remodel

SOUTHWICK

Roof Diagnostics
6 Sterrett Dr.
$27,000 — Install 27 solar panels

SPRINGFIELD

3640 Main Street, LLC
3640 Main St.
$63,000 — 1582-square-foot office build-out

Baystate Health
298 Carew St.
$274,000 — Fit-out space for new pharmacy

Carpe Diem Apartments
1228-1240 Carew St.
$5,000 — Interior repairs

City of Springfield
773 Liberty St.
$80,000 — Convert library to social center

Mass Development Finance Agency
1550 Main St.
$122,000 — Tenant fit-out

New North Professional Condo Association
1795 Main St.
$144,000 — New roof

Pearson ADAP Development Co.
1322 Liberty St.
$35,000 — New roof

WP Realty, Inc.
1387 Liberty St.
$550,000 — Interior fit-out for gymnasium

WESTFIELD

Cumberland Farms
1134 Southampton Road
$569,000 — Construction of convenience store

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Bank of America
99 Westfield St.
$25,000 — Convert existing window to drive thru ATM

O’Connell Convenience Plus
2044 Riverside St.
$28,000 — Renovations

Real Estate Transactions

By
Departments Real Estate

The following real estate transactions (latest available) were compiled by Banker & Tradesman and are published as they were received. Only transactions exceeding $115,000 are listed. Buyer and seller fields contain only the first name listed on the deed.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

19 Chapin Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Samantha A. Fabian
Seller: Timothy W. Artus
Date: 11/26/13

CHARLEMONT

80 Warner Hill Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Brian C. Rose
Seller: Lorraine C. Cetto
Date: 11/27/13

DEERFIELD

Greenfield Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Walter Of Hadley Inc.
Seller: Gregory M. Gardner
Date: 11/14/13

640 Greenfield Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Lucas G. Hanks
Seller: Michael A. Urkiel
Date: 11/27/13

33 Upper Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: John F. Dubino
Seller: Jacqueline A. Hanlon
Date: 11/15/13

49 Whitmore Ferry Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: Eric Lichter
Seller: Tatiana Scott
Date: 11/25/13

GILL

14 South Cross Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Karen Ross
Date: 11/26/13

GREENFIELD

20 Albert Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Carl Silver
Seller: Warren C. Pittenger
Date: 11/25/13

1035 Bernardston Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Ann M. Hall
Seller: Dashiell, Florence S., (Estate)
Date: 11/12/13

29 Brookside Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Allen M. Baker
Seller: Barbara S. Thomas
Date: 11/26/13

278 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $182,243
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Mark Duncan
Date: 11/14/13

427 Davis St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Paul F. Sirum
Seller: Francis G. Sirum
Date: 11/15/13

28 Linden Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Jovonna L. Pelt
Seller: Lyle F. Williams
Date: 11/15/13

40 Lovers Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Shanna L. Burke
Seller: William R. Hazlett
Date: 11/15/13

13 Oak St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: John R. Martin
Seller: Betty Snow
Date: 11/18/13

55 Riddell St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Buyer: Beth M. Reynolds
Seller: Marjorie E. Faneuf
Date: 11/20/13

72 Vernon St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $136,300
Buyer: Matthew E. Hall
Date: 11/27/13

HEATH

230 Number 9 Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Michael C. Shattuck
Seller: Caracciolo, Jean F., (Estate)
Date: 11/25/13

LEVERETT

159 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Jessica M. Rocheleau
Seller: Margery M. Noel
Date: 11/20/13

108 Old Mountain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Jonathan R. Thompson
Seller: Juan C. Arean
Date: 11/12/13

LEYDEN

63 West Leyden Road
Leyden, MA 01301
Amount: $160,986
Buyer: Michael Dagilus
Seller: Christopher J. Morin
Date: 11/15/13

12 Zimmerman Hill Road
Leyden, MA 01337
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Franklin Land Trust Inc.
Seller: Phillip H. Zimmerman
Date: 11/15/13

MONTAGUE

4 9th Ave.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Catherine M. Cronk
Seller: Robert L. Adams
Date: 11/22/13

25 Montague St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $207,500
Buyer: Jonathan B. Scully
Seller: Nathaniel J. Malloy
Date: 11/22/13

83 Montague St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Paul A. Thayer
Seller: Harrington, Sharon, (Estate)
Date: 11/25/13

50 Prospect St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: John E. Cagle
Seller: Edward F. Wilcox
Date: 11/26/13

108 South Prospect St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Leon R. Laster
Seller: Sarah E. Hammond
Date: 11/14/13

41 Turners Falls Road
Montague, MA 01301
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Jeremy M. Toal
Seller: Jeannine Huey
Date: 11/15/13

NORTHFIELD

233 Old Wendell Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Robert Girard
Seller: Helen L. Johnson
Date: 11/22/13

SHELBURNE

Bardwells Ferry Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Franklin Land Trust Inc.
Seller: Madeline C. McKinnon IRT
Date: 11/20/13

452 Colrain Shelburne Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: John N Hoffman
Seller: Richard H. Easton
Date: 11/13/13

1089 Mohawk Trail
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: David A. Healey
Seller: William M. Smith
Date: 11/15/13

64 Water St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Emily D. Howe
Seller: Nathalie A. McCormack
Date: 11/15/13

SUNDERLAND

153 Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $135,807
Buyer: RBS Citizens
Seller: Stephen R. McPheters
Date: 11/15/13

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

13 Barn Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jeffrey J. Fay
Seller: Uwe H. Porth
Date: 11/27/13

51 Federal St. Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Tracy Word
Seller: Terrence A. Cabey
Date: 11/26/13

66 Highland St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Jessica C. Nieves
Seller: Darrell M. Myco
Date: 11/25/13

42 Reed St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Grillo
Seller: Charles F. Denison
Date: 11/26/13

25 Seymour Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Vladimir Kindzerskiy
Seller: Audrey W. Besaw
Date: 11/27/13

41 Plumtree Way
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $387,500
Buyer: Igor Palgi
Seller: Kopatz Construction Inc.
Date: 11/21/13

86 Silver St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Jonathan Allard
Seller: Christopher Mastroianni
Date: 11/21/13

97 Silver St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Jean-Pierre Wood
Seller: Jules J. Lavalley
Date: 11/15/13

917 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $184,900
Buyer: Bernard W. Wangamati
Seller: Viktor Lysenko
Date: 11/25/13

BLANDFORD

9 Woronoco Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $152,886
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Kathleen R. Gilbreath
Date: 11/25/13

BRIMFIELD

10 Dearth Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: David J. Hirsch
Seller: Paul Rugani
Date: 11/27/13

68 Holland Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Daniel G. Ryan
Seller: Gary M. Wood
Date: 11/21/13

53 Prospect Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Andrew P. Rolinger
Seller: Dorothy H. Gerrish
Date: 11/29/13

166 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Eric D. Carley
Seller: Christopher C. Dorr
Date: 11/22/13

CHESTER

110 Emery St.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $183,149
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Thomas R. Ouellette
Date: 11/15/13

CHICOPEE

223 Asselin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Wallace E. Kluza
Seller: Barbara D. Williams
Date: 11/15/13

306 Bostwick Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Kenneth A. Stacy
Seller: Mike Fregeau
Date: 11/15/13

106 Clark St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Rebecca A. Kessler
Seller: Kevin M. Klosek
Date: 11/26/13

112 Cobb Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Kevin M. Bradway
Seller: Barbara J. Frederick
Date: 11/22/13

47 Crestwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: James C. Pion
Seller: Mark S. Pion
Date: 11/19/13

34 Deslauriers St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Keefe
Seller: Patricia T. Novak
Date: 11/19/13

35 Edbert St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Timothy S. Geary
Seller: Carol C. Rogalski
Date: 11/26/13

228 Fairview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Christopher P. Jurkowski
Seller: Dennis Jurkowski
Date: 11/13/13

60 Hawthorn St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Duane E. Sivard
Seller: Cheryl A. Peters
Date: 11/27/13

145 Holyoke Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Szymon P. Wolanczyk
Seller: Gladu, Claire R., (Estate)
Date: 11/13/13

16 Hyde Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Walter R. Lahair
Seller: Cindy F. Carabetta
Date: 11/15/13

277 Irene St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Nathan A. Hall
Seller: William Devine
Date: 11/22/13

164 Lukasik St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Sergei Cheremushkin
Seller: DGL Properties LLC
Date: 11/27/13

131 Manning St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Lori A. Letendre
Seller: Stephen E. Kamienski
Date: 11/26/13

232 McCarthy Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $164,500
Buyer: Heidi M. Heisler
Seller: Madeleine G. Jacques
Date: 11/26/13

105 Meadow St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $132,900
Buyer: Anmar Khalil
Seller: Hector Rivera
Date: 11/12/13

319 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Deborah A. Farrar
Seller: Clement M. Poitras
Date: 11/27/13

105 Northwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $156,400
Buyer: Andrew J. Potts
Seller: Maralee A. Smith
Date: 11/27/13

196 Nonotuck Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Joseph F. Chessey
Seller: John J. Regan
Date: 11/15/13

35 Orchard St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $191,100
Buyer: Philip Roberts
Seller: Mark W. Sims
Date: 11/27/13

851 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Roger J. Martin
Seller: Jessica Dubois
Date: 11/27/13

32 Rimmon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Julia Romero
Seller: Joshua Klein
Date: 11/26/13

85 Ruskin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Roger J. Hannigan
Seller: Maria M. Gauthier
Date: 11/15/13

143 Sesame Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Alex B. Devivo
Seller: James E. Hogan
Date: 11/25/13

318 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Dean F. Parker
Seller: Stanley F. Lusnia
Date: 11/15/13

62 Stedman St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Melissa Sueiras
Seller: Morrissette, Andrew N., (Estate)
Date: 11/18/13

EAST LONGMEADOW

191 Chestnut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Tomroc Holdings LLC
Seller: Scott Pattenaude
Date: 11/22/13

87 Edmund St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Stephanie J. Dunaj
Seller: Benjamin Witruk
Date: 11/22/13

45 Gerrard Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $160,127
Buyer: Santander Bank
Seller: Christina A. Braska
Date: 11/12/13

90 Maple St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: MBQ Realty LLC
Seller: WJQ Realty LLC
Date: 11/13/13

38 Pleasant St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Kerri A. Cicia
Seller: An Dinh
Date: 11/21/13

335 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Ashley McCarthy
Seller: Dylan E. Bond
Date: 11/26/13

45 Saint Joseph Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Shannon M. Murphy
Seller: Gemma A. Balukonis
Date: 11/26/13

341 Shaker Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: KRM Real Estate LLC
Seller: Gulf Printing Co.
Date: 11/21/13

HAMPDEN

27 Greenleaf Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: John W. Thompson
Seller: J. A. Comprone-Weber
Date: 11/18/13

97 Scantic Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Buyer: Benjamin R. Witruk
Seller: Timothy J. O’Brien
Date: 11/22/13

31 South Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $373,700
Buyer: James E. Arooth
Seller: Charlotte M. Thomas
Date: 11/12/13

198 Stafford Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $354,000
Buyer: Jeffrey N Schneider
Seller: Marc A. Pasteris
Date: 11/26/13

HOLYOKE

141 Cabot St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: Holyoke Apartments LLC
Seller: Bayview Loan Servicing
Date: 11/18/13

17 Forestdale Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Consurgo Properties LLC
Seller: Scott M. Tundermann
Date: 11/15/13

18 Knollwood Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $165,900
Buyer: Michael J. Haas
Seller: Susan C. Seitz
Date: 11/27/13

26 Knollwood Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $211,345
Buyer: Edmond Dupont
Seller: David Edelman
Date: 11/15/13

1125 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $126,500
Buyer: Joshua Beauregard
Seller: Gary J. Provost
Date: 11/27/13

149 Morgan St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Bryan R. Horch
Seller: Robert W. Humphreys
Date: 11/15/13

66 Sherwood Terrace
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $145,915
Buyer: Aurelio Colon
Seller: Nsp Residential LLC
Date: 11/22/13

645 West Cherry St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Stuart G. Lempke
Seller: Ronald A. Fraser
Date: 11/12/13

316 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Huel Fritz
Seller: Didonato, Marcella E., (Estate)
Date: 11/26/13

LONGMEADOW

8 Brookwood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Geoffrey P. Adams
Seller: Ira M. Schoenberger
Date: 11/15/13

580 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $446,500
Buyer: Andrew G. Fenster
Seller: Curtis G. Wohlers
Date: 11/15/13

64 Hawthorne St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $251,250
Buyer: Anthony J. Marchetta
Seller: Kristin L. Capell
Date: 11/12/13

190 Kenmore Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Joanne Leboeuf
Seller: Bethany L. Bollerman
Date: 11/15/13

635 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $282,500
Buyer: Gregory Dumeny
Seller: Matthew W. MacDonald
Date: 11/14/13

80 Meadow Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Andrea M. Kureczka
Seller: Vera L. Scanlon
Date: 11/15/13

114 Riverview Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $254,117
Buyer: David J. Loonie
Seller: Timothy S. Tehan
Date: 11/27/13

91 Williston Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Ira M. Schoenberger
Seller: Seymour M. Frankel
Date: 11/15/13

LUDLOW

70 Eden St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: James J. Manewich
Seller: Denise Stuart
Date: 11/26/13

77 Gamache Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: William J. Musiak
Seller: Alfred F. Meher
Date: 11/15/13

24 Higher St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $132,886
Buyer: Michael Genereux
Seller: Alfred Lopes
Date: 11/22/13

107 Lakeview Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Vera L. Scanlon
Seller: Jennie Brodowski
Date: 11/27/13

Parker Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Antonio A. Dias
Seller: Whitetail Wreks LLC
Date: 11/18/13

210 Prospect St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Edward N. Deragon
Seller: Wesley Blask
Date: 11/26/13

98 Tilley St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Westover Metropolitan Development Corp.
Seller: James J. Manewich
Date: 11/25/13

6 Warwick Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $249,999
Buyer: Erin K. Wasik-Gutierrez
Seller: James M. Wojnar
Date: 11/12/13

191 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Partyka Partners LP
Seller: Emile A. Pelletier
Date: 11/14/13

319 West Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Shawn Gomes
Seller: Fernando Vital
Date: 11/27/13

159 Whitney St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Ronald M. Hudon
Seller: Maria A. Soares
Date: 11/25/13

MONSON

119 Butler Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Holden C. Harlow
Seller: Martin, Katherine E., (Estate)
Date: 11/14/13

216 East Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: Edward J. Veneto
Seller: Wayne A. Evans
Date: 11/15/13

79 Silver St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Carrie E. Franck
Seller: Marguerite Cusson
Date: 11/27/13

28 Waid Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Thomas E. Ballou
Seller: Donald J. Lemon
Date: 11/15/13

27 Zuell Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Tania Chrzanowski
Seller: Mark R. Hamel
Date: 11/27/13

MONTGOMERY

162 Pitcher St.
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Julia A. Connolly
Seller: Helga M. Sinhart
Date: 11/22/13

PALMER

92 Boston Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Joseph F. Gulluni
Seller: Marilyn J. Synder
Date: 11/20/13

34 Forest Lake Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Elaine McNeill
Seller: Alexander G. Larosa
Date: 11/15/13

51 Fuller Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Nicholas Kalogeras
Seller: Jason Keegan
Date: 11/26/13

20 Glenn St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Holly A. Farrar
Seller: Sheila Rivest
Date: 11/18/13

36 Grove St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $145,873
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Laurie A. Rocco
Date: 11/15/13

30 King St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Francesco Cardaropoli
Seller: Legacy Strategic Inv. LP
Date: 11/15/13

4038 Pleasant St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Jianaces
Seller: Scott W. Flowers
Date: 11/19/13

26 South St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Wayne S. Schofield
Seller: Gerald F. Flynn
Date: 11/13/13

SPRINGFIELD

16 Alden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Fathima LLC
Seller: BDMG LLC
Date: 11/26/13

1033 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Nercy Rodriguez
Seller: Minh Lam
Date: 11/13/13

50 Alsace St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Iris Martinez
Seller: Edwin Cartagena
Date: 11/25/13

55 Alvin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: David Valentin
Seller: William C. McEwan
Date: 11/13/13

42 Amos Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Kelly M. Worthen
Seller: Ana Muller
Date: 11/19/13

61 Ashbrook St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Tasha J. Ellison
Seller: Visneau, Beverly F., (Estate)
Date: 11/15/13

213 Ashland Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $123,500
Buyer: Jonathan P. Florian
Seller: Sarah J. Messier
Date: 11/14/13

12 Baird Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Erika A. Colon
Date: 11/20/13

313 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $640,000
Buyer: Stoneridge Realty LLC
Seller: Robert T. Knight RE Inc.
Date: 11/13/13

383 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Stoneridge Realty LLC
Seller: Robert T. Knight RE Inc.
Date: 11/13/13

406 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Stoneridge Realty LLC
Seller: Robert T. Knight RE Inc.
Date: 11/13/13

892 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Sabrina S. Swinton
Seller: Wini L. Mercure
Date: 11/14/13

24 Bucholz St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: MA Mutual Life Insurance
Seller: Anita J. Hodges
Date: 11/19/13

11 Carlton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $117,900
Buyer: Giselle M. Pica
Seller: Anthony Carnevale
Date: 11/22/13

126 Clarendon St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $266,280
Buyer: Walter W. Bigelow
Seller: Kenneth P. Freundt
Date: 11/15/13

66 Clearbrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Jonathon Nunez
Seller: Michael Porcello
Date: 11/14/13

144 Colorado St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Robert R. Balicki
Seller: Nolava LLC
Date: 11/15/13

37 Commonwealth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Kenrick Ngo
Seller: Daniel M. Glick
Date: 11/12/13

95 Corona St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: Melissa A. Molina
Seller: Christine M. Burnett
Date: 11/27/13

39 Dorset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Laura M. McTigue
Seller: Anthony Maloni
Date: 11/20/13

36 Ellendale Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Mark Coffey
Seller: Albano, Pasquale, (Estate)
Date: 11/12/13

38 Emmet St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $129,799
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Noemi Diaz
Date: 11/29/13

45 Gerald St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $118,500
Buyer: Chanon C. Palm
Seller: Timothy M. Guilmain
Date: 11/26/13

254 Hartwick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Nicola Liquori
Seller: Jack D. Warren
Date: 11/26/13

14 Inglewood Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Jacob Roy
Seller: Anita Allard
Date: 11/25/13

120 Leyfred Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Suanne A. Murrell
Seller: Martin Johnson
Date: 11/20/13

44 Mazarin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Joao M. Pereria TR
Seller: Wieslaw Sokolowski
Date: 11/13/13

21 Nathaniel St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Yolma E. Ortiz
Seller: David A. Wilkinson
Date: 11/27/13

66 Newton Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Toghlob H. Mourad
Seller: Ethel M. Merchant
Date: 11/12/13

113 Old Brook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Jennifer Martin
Seller: Margaret E. Murray
Date: 11/22/13

79 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $115,200
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: Galen Keller
Date: 11/14/13

67 Pennsylvania Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Ashley J. Gagne
Seller: Kathleen A. Goodwin
Date: 11/20/13

184 Powell Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $148,500
Buyer: Joanne Harney
Seller: Elaine R. Hastings
Date: 11/19/13

25 Rock Hill Lane
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $141,200
Buyer: Gilbert R. Barton
Seller: Edna E. Donegan
Date: 11/18/13

17 Slater Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Maple Tree Investments
Seller: Diane Manicki
Date: 11/22/13

16 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $576,000
Buyer: Stoneridge Realty LLC
Seller: Robert T. Knight RE Inc.
Date: 11/13/13

24 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Stoneridge Realty LLC
Seller: Robert T. Knight RE Inc.
Date: 11/13/13

831 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Jose L. Cuevas
Seller: Carlos A. Lopes
Date: 11/12/13

44 Thorndyke St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $140,399
Buyer: Lisa A. Moriarty
Seller: Hedge Hog Industries Corp.
Date: 11/22/13

26 Tioga St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Lauren S. Gougeon
Seller: Allie S. Hudroge
Date: 11/15/13

184 Tyler St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $201,981
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Antonio D. Grandoit
Date: 11/25/13

122 West Allen Ridge Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Angel L. Ramos
Seller: Kenneth W. Ralph
Date: 11/25/13

115 White Birch Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Carlos A. Palacio
Seller: William M. Wagner
Date: 11/15/13

55 Wing St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Daniel R. Alpiarca
Seller: HSBC Bank USA NA
Date: 11/27/13

SOUTHWICK

95 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: William M. Pike
Seller: James Bona
Date: 11/22/13

105 Coes Hill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Tracy L. Gorman
Seller: Richard K. Seaver
Date: 11/12/13

15 Crystal Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $271,000
Buyer: Joseph J. Bailey
Seller: Timothy M. Zabik
Date: 11/15/13

49 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Eugene A. Kube
Seller: Tonga A. York
Date: 11/26/13

3 Iroquois Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Amanda L. Manzi
Seller: David A. Thimmesh
Date: 11/27/13

12 Lexington Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $437,000
Buyer: Andrew W. Sexton
Seller: William R. Tynan
Date: 11/15/13

8 Reservoir Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $333,500
Buyer: Travis T. Keiderling
Seller: Jeffrey J. Fay
Date: 11/26/13

90 Will Palmer Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Bradford W. Fleming
Seller: Basista, Theodore J., (Estate)
Date: 11/26/13

TOLLAND

218 South Village Road
Amount: $232,900
Buyer: Roy P. Torzullo
Seller: Edward Zakowicz
Date: 11/12/13

219 Slope Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $163,250
Buyer: Salvatore J. Correnti
Seller: Schroeder TR
Date: 11/13/13

WALES

57 Monson Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Anatoliy A. Komarov
Seller: George P. Goulas
Date: 11/26/13

161 Stafford Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $133,900
Buyer: Elizabeth M. Besaw
Seller: John Paolucci
Date: 11/15/13

WESTFIELD

211 Barbara St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Rinaldi
Seller: Dennis F. Dalton
Date: 11/15/13

69 Deer Path Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Steven J. Beagle
Seller: Robert M. Jacques
Date: 11/22/13

6 Evergreen Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Richard E. Fuller
Seller: Kevin R. Fuller
Date: 11/21/13

8 Gold St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Carlos L. Matos
Seller: Jennie M. Kowalczyk
Date: 11/15/13

7 Laurel Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Chad C. Patterson
Seller: Jason W. Adams
Date: 11/15/13

11 Livingstone Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $217,242
Buyer: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Seller: Kristin A. Jachym

85 Mechanic St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,878
Buyer: USA HUD
Seller: Lisa E. Gonzales
Date: 11/14/13

265 Montgomery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Steven P. Beals
Seller: Bent Tree Development LLC
Date: 11/13/13

38 Mountain View St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Sarah E. Warn
Seller: Catherine A. Harrington
Date: 11/25/13

422 North Elm St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Pumphrey RT
Seller: Wayne Fowles
Date: 11/29/13

2 Overlook Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: George J. Michael
Seller: Wied, William H., (Estate)
Date: 11/15/13

146 Sackett Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Christopher Adamczyk
Seller: William R. Gorman
Date: 11/12/13

37 Sackett Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Keith J. Lemon
Seller: Charles A. Smith
Date: 11/18/13

130 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $2,275,000
Buyer: Saremi LLP
Seller: Westfield N. Realty LLC
Date: 11/18/13

11 West School St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $126,500
Buyer: Barbara J. Oleksak
Seller: Rita D. Rodden
Date: 11/14/13

43 West Silver St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $156,300
Buyer: Roberto Deleon
Seller: Wilfredo V. Estrada
Date: 11/22/13

23 Wieser Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Kimberly A. Morin
Date: 11/25/13

WEST SPRINGFIELD

38 Ames Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Mihail Orlov
Seller: Kathleen D. Wuesthoff
Date: 11/25/13

232 Ashley Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Patricia A. Damato
Seller: Joseph J. Deedy
Date: 11/29/13

55 Circuit Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $866,250
Buyer: HR Massachusetts LLC
Seller: CT Valley Block Co. Inc.
Date: 11/18/13

13 Cora St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: John T. Langlois
Seller: Steven S. Follett
Date: 11/15/13

59 Druids Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $213,553
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Jacqueline C. Moody
Date: 11/15/13

40 Elm Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Gerald Triggs
Seller: Phillips, Rita J., (Estate)
Date: 11/15/13

56 Hanover St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Glenn G. Rocheleau
Seller: Maria A. Lombardi
Date: 11/27/13

206 Hillcrest Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Luuy Hoang
Seller: Kerri A. Cicia
Date: 11/19/13

60 Labelle St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Pavel Khodunov
Seller: FNMA
Date: 11/27/13

297 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,200
Buyer: Nicole B. Montminy
Seller: Robert Holmes
Date: 11/21/13

40 Piper Cross Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Adam C. Belson
Seller: Lauren M. Krok
Date: 11/27/13

1461 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: 635 Riverdale Street LLC
Seller: Barbara E. Doty
Date: 11/15/13

702 Rogers Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Marianna Cosentini
Seller: Patricia E. Stamand
Date: 11/15/13

110 Sawmill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Scott Joubert
Seller: Shalu George
Date: 11/15/13

58 Thomas Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Kazbek Aldabayev
Seller: Timothy J. Lynch
Date: 11/22/13

697 Union St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Union St. Auto Sales LLC
Seller: Richard D. Rindels
Date: 11/15/13

43 Virginia Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $208,500
Buyer: William A. Moynihan
Seller: Elizabeth A. Cilley
Date: 11/15/13

35 Woodbrook Ter
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Sanjay A. Patel
Seller: Frank J. Capuano
Date: 11/26/13

WILBRAHAM

6 Decorie Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Tanya M. Basile
Seller: Virginia R. Swallow
Date: 11/14/13

400 Dipping Hole Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Mohsen Shabani
Seller: Gary R. Tallman
Date: 11/13/13

45 East Longmeadow Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Patrick R. Farrow
Seller: Michael D. Mirakian
Date: 11/15/13

8 Meadowview Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Jose N Diniz
Seller: Michelle Y. Jacques
Date: 11/14/13

5 Ronald Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $190,887
Buyer: RBS Citizens NA
Seller: Verna L. Ledoux
Date: 11/20/13

15 Ruth Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $276,500
Buyer: Jaime A. Lopez
Seller: Magarian, Mary E., (Estate)
Date: 11/18/13

10 Stirling Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Clifford W. Zimmer
Seller: Emily R. Gralia
Date: 11/22/13

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

209 Alpine Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $404,000
Buyer: Douglas Salvador
Seller: Navneet Marwaha
Date: 11/15/13

Kingman Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Prashant J. Shenoy
Seller: Bruce H. Patterson
Date: 11/20/13

30 Main St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $1,400,000
Buyer: Amherst Building LLC
Seller: Amherst Realty Co. Inc.
Date: 11/15/13

20 Overlook Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Kathleen A. Lazdowski
Seller: Schiller RET
Date: 11/18/13

Potwine Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Town Of Amherst
Seller: Lorraine H. Brunelle
Date: 11/25/13

233 Stanley St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: John J. Driscoll
Seller: Erin E. Jacque
Date: 11/21/13

65 West St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $372,000
Buyer: Javad Moshfegh
Seller: Anne M. Mcintosh
Date: 11/22/13

BELCHERTOWN

91 Eskett Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Eliza A. Summers
Seller: Robert S. Allard RET
Date: 11/14/13

233 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: John A. Nally
Date: 11/15/13

590 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Michael Teixeira
Seller: Daniel J. O’Connor
Date: 11/25/13

43 Old Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $222,800
Buyer: Lee C. Larcheveque
Seller: Jeffrey A. Dauber
Date: 11/19/13

19 Robin Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Joydell Cebula
Seller: Donald S. Carano
Date: 11/15/13

581 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Stephanie St.Denis
Seller: Elaine L. English
Date: 11/15/13

24 Wilson Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $261,500
Buyer: Nina R. Sossen
Seller: Seamus A. Decker
Date: 11/25/13

CHESTERFIELD

242 Bryant St.
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Lauren R. Guilmette
Seller: Joseph L. Guerin
Date: 11/26/13

CUMMINGTON

58 Nash Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Edward S. Konieczny
Seller: David F. Robb
Date: 11/15/13

EASTHAMPTON

10 Bryan Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Koni F. Denham
Seller: James P. Wales
Date: 11/21/13

301 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: F&G LLC
Seller: Harriet R. Kulig
Date: 11/22/13

62 Garfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Benjamin M. Nardone
Seller: Beth A. Castaldo
Date: 11/21/13

10 Grove St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Michael C. McGuire
Seller: Demarais FT
Date: 11/25/13

193 Northampton St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: John Morin
Seller: 94 Industrial Drive LLC
Date: 11/27/13

9 Oakdale Place
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $172,500
Buyer: Juan S. Suarez
Seller: Golash, Celia, (Estate)
Date: 11/26/13

27 Pine Hill Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Wendy Lass-Luzi
Seller: Alexander D. Prado
Date: 11/26/13

9 Stanley St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Katie M. Houle
Seller: Maureen S. Parker
Date: 11/22/13

GOSHEN

102 Bissell Road
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Colleen E. Culver
Seller: Dana M. Culver
Date: 11/19/13

65 Pond Hill Road
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jonathan R. Bean
Seller: Dylan G. Mailloux
Date: 11/25/13

48 Sears Road
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Melanie A. Kourbage
Seller: Elizabeth L. Labier
Date: 11/18/13

GRANBY

374 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Alice Vlasanko
Seller: Susan P. Perrailt
Date: 11/13/13

East St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Westover Metropolitan Development Corp.
Seller: James A. Manewich
Date: 11/25/13

101 Easton St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Dianna L. Richard
Seller: Sanford Grenier
Date: 11/25/13

7 Grandview Ave.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Kevin M. Kane
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 11/18/13

South St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Audrey G. Walker
Seller: George N Galusha
Date: 11/13/13

HADLEY

55 Chmura Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Robert C. Pelis
Seller: Steinberger, Marion M., (Estate)
Date: 11/26/13

55 Huntington Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $317,500
Buyer: Shasta Kielbasa
Seller: Eileen F. Monopoli
Date: 11/29/13

127 Rocky Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Toni L. Morelli
Seller: Dirck L. Dimock
Date: 11/15/13

3 Sylvia Hts.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Andre R. Laflamme
Seller: Valley Buillding Co. Inc.
Date: 11/27/13

1 Szafir Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: James T. Henderson
Seller: Buckowski, Florence C., (Estate)
Date: 11/22/13

26 West St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: John P. Regish
Seller: Robert J. McQueston
Date: 11/22/13

HATFIELD

West St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Southland Log Homes Realty
Seller: Richard F. Thayer
Date: 11/19/13

HUNTINGTON

3 Allen Coit Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Donna Perzan
Seller: Dominic C. Nett
Date: 11/15/13

5 Allen Coit Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Donna Perzan
Seller: Dominic C. Nett
Date: 11/15/13

21 Old Chester Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Gary L. Hamel
Seller: Gergory R. Nuttelman
Date: 11/26/13

27 Searle Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $131,969
Buyer: David E. Collette
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 11/26/13

61 Searle Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $208,900
Buyer: Kyle Colby
Seller: Joseph G. Bergeron
Date: 11/15/13

NORTHAMPTON

25 Arlington St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Mark Wineburg
Seller: Jodi M. Kirchner LT
Date: 11/25/13

43 Beattie Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: William Z. Forray
Seller: Peter F. Kistenmacher
Date: 11/18/13

62 Bliss St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Scott D. Bertrand
Seller: Joyce C. Bertrand
Date: 11/15/13

76 Bliss St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $167,500
Buyer: Evan T. Vaine
Seller: Jean M. Bayer
Date: 11/15/13

19 Columbus Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Peter A. Pacosa
Seller: Edward S. Zuchowski
Date: 11/22/13

13 Dimock St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Diane M. Drohan
Seller: Georgiann Kristek LT
Date: 11/27/13

37 Drewsen Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $230,500
Buyer: Robert Baird
Seller: George B. Scheurer
Date: 11/26/13

111 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $487,850
Buyer: Harris B. Shaffer
Seller: Hampshire Property Management Group

17 Hickory Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Tuperkeizsis
Seller: Gallup, Shirley M., (Estate)
Date: 11/12/13

106 Industrial Dr.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Hytech Park Properties LLC
Seller: William T. Baird
Date: 11/22/13

194 Jackson St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Dustin A. Cote
Seller: Grimes, Joanna A., (Estate)
Date: 11/22/13

51 Jackson St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $264,000
Buyer: Caren Bendror
Seller: Emily K. Bowden
Date: 11/18/13

51 Phillips Place
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Linda S. Muerle
Seller: June Turcotte
Date: 11/18/13

125 Pleasant St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $2,555,000
Buyer: Harmonic Rock Realty LLC
Seller: Union Square RT
Date: 11/14/13

58 South Park Terrace
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $189,800
Buyer: W&N Summer LLC
Seller: Packard, Helen B., (Estate)
Date: 11/12/13

PELHAM

136 Amherst Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Amanda L. Huhmann
Seller: Flavio Risech
Date: 11/15/13

SOUTH HADLEY

84 Alvord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Buyer: John B. Hughes
Seller: Maria R. Antonio
Date: 11/15/13

478 Amherst Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Gerald Lorenz
Seller: Jefferey Bessette
Date: 11/22/13

37 Ashton Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $314,000
Buyer: William D. Williams
Seller: John R. Hyde
Date: 11/15/13

139 Brainerd St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Martin M. Mendes
Seller: Richard S. Maldanis
Date: 11/25/13

64 Charon Terrace
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: James W. Graves
Seller: Constance F. Odell
Date: 11/15/13

27 Foch Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Melissa A. Aslin
Seller: Investment Enterprise LLC
Date: 11/27/13

495 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Brian Trompke
Seller: Arthur R. Lemire
Date: 11/19/13

475 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $189,400
Buyer: James D. Bothwell
Seller: Edward P. Dechellis
Date: 11/22/13

168 Lathrop St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Adam K. Boyer
Seller: Ciesluk, Paul J., (Estate)
Date: 11/15/13

110 Mosier St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $635,137
Buyer: Bank New York
Seller: Daniel A. Champagne
Date: 11/18/13

351 Newton St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Property Management LLC
Seller: Bruce T. Carl
Date: 11/20/13

27 Silver St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $382,000
Buyer: Todd F. Bachelder
Seller: Jeanne P. Brownlow
Date: 11/15/13

36 Westbrook Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $198,500
Buyer: Jeffrey Chmiel
Seller: Eleanor A. Perreault
Date: 11/27/13

SOUTHAMPTON

38 Cottage Ave.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Carl E. Scheinost
Seller: Gregory H. Boisvere
Date: 11/27/13

14 Crooked Ledge Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Joseph W. Marcoux
Seller: Mickey J. Willis
Date: 11/22/13

100 Fomer Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Jim Hornickel
Seller: Michael J. Kent
Date: 11/22/13

5 Katelyn Way
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Anthony F. Gleason
Seller: Ronald J. Gordon
Date: 11/26/13

WARE

712 Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Guy P. Savoie
Seller: Gary S. Pfisterer
Date: 11/18/13

16 Elm St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $312,500
Buyer: Robert S. Shurtleff
Seller: Frederick A. Lotuff
Date: 11/26/13

WESTHAMPTON

21 Pine Island Lake
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Nancy Bals
Seller: Joseph J. O’Hare
Date: 11/27/13

WILLIAMSBURG

84 Petticoat Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Joan Muellner
Seller: Michael S. Gove
Date: 11/15/13

People On the Move

By
Departments People on the Move

Scott Pasquale

Scott Pasquale

Berkshire Bank recently announced that Scott Pasquale has assumed the new role of Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager. In this position, Pasquale will be responsible for the Pioneer Valley and will be based out of the East Columbus Avenue location in Springfield. Pasquale will manage commercial relationships in Western Mass., providing a high level of expertise in commercial lending.  Hewill also provide a dedicated relationship between commercial customers and Berkshire Bank’s other lines of business and financial services. Prior to coming to Berkshire, Pasquale worked for TD Bank in commercial lending and has more than 25 years of experience in the financial-services industry. Pasquale has worked for financial institutions in the Pioneer Valley and Connecticut, including UPS Capital and Glastonbury Bank & Trust Co. He attended the College of Wooster and earned a BA in Economics. Pasquale is on the board of the Western Mass. chapter of the National Tooling & Machining Assoc., which he serves as Treasurer. He also is an active participant in fund-raising for the Boy Scouts of America.
•••••
Katherine Coolidge

Katherine Coolidge

Katherine Coolidge, a Law Librarian at Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP, was recently chosen by the American Assoc. of Law Libraries as its new Executive Board Secretary. Coolidge has a JD from the Western New England University School of Law.
•••••






Kyle Sullivan

Kyle Sullivan

Kyle Sullivan, a Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist with the John M. Glover Insurance Agency, has been named the Western Mass. Regional Member of the Year Award recipient for BNI, an international business-networking group. The award recognizes a member who is actively involved in running the chapter and has gone beyond expectations to help other members achieve new levels of success through BNI. Sullivan, a member of the BNI Mill River Chapter in Northampton since March 2011, is currently vice president of that chapter. Sullivan has worked for the Glover agency for five years and is a third-generation insurance agent. He works with businesses to educate them about the types of risks associated with their business, helping them reduce the chances of a loss through policies. Last year, he was voted ‘most valuable participant’ by class members at the Hartford School of Insurance when he was designated the commercial lines coverage specialist. Sullivan is also part of the Leadership Pioneer Valley class of 2014, a program that trains emerging leaders from the community, including nonprofits, business, and government, through a nine-month leadership-development program, and is a new board member of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts.
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Jules Gaudreau, President of the Gaudreau Group Insurance and Financial Services Agency in Wilbraham, was recently elected Secretary of the National Assoc. of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and will assume the office in September 2015, serving a one-year term. NAIFA, an association that serves and represents insurance and financial advisors, has a mission to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of its members. Gaudreau is a Chartered Financial Consultant, a Certified Insurance Counselor, and a Licensed Insurance Advisor, and works primarily in the corporate market with a focus on employee benefits, estate, and business applications of life insurance and commercial property/casualty lines. Gaudreau is also a Million Dollar Round Table member and Top of the Table qualifier. A frequent speaker, Gaudreau is a past president of both the state and local affiliates of NAIFA and, on numerous occasions, has provided both written and oral testimony to the Massachusetts Legislature and other regulatory authorities.  He has been a director of the Mass. Assoc. of Insurance Agents and was president of Independent Insurance Agents of Hampden County, as well as the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County.
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Shirley Simolari

Shirley Simolari

Keller Williams Realty of the Pioneer Valley recently added Shirley Simolari to its team. Simolari — an integral part of the startup of the newest bank in Springfield, NUVO Bank and Trust Co., where she served as Senior Vice President and Director of Creative Solutions — has an extensive knowledge of the banking industry and is licensed in both Massachusetts and Connecticut.
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Michael Buckmaster

Michael Buckmaster

Springfield-based NUVO Bank & Trust Co. announced that Michael Buckmaster, Vice President of Commercial Lending, has been appointed President of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Hampden County board of directors. Buckmaster previously held the role of president from 2007 to 2009 and will serve another two-year term. Additionally, he is on the board of directors of the Hartsprings Foundation, which is responsible for the collection of donated clothes and personal items that benefit the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Hampden County. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Hampden County has been in operation since 1967 and is a nonprofit, nationally affiliated agency that matches children and youth to caring adult volunteers in consistent one-to-one mentoring relationships.
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Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) Senior Planner Jayne Bernhard-Armington received the 2013 Young Planner Award, which recognizes a junior or mid-level young practicing planner who has excelled in leadership, increased the impact of planning in public and private decision-making, or enhanced the American Planning Assoc. Massachusetts chapter (APA-MA). Bernhard-Armington, who specializes in housing and land-use planning, has been with the PVPC since 2008. In addition, the PVPC was selected to receive a Comprehensive Planning Award by the APA-MA. The awards were recently presented at the 2013 APA-MA/Massachusetts Assoc. of Planning Directors Annual Awards in Cambridge. The Pioneer Valley Regional Housing Plan was recognized in the Comprehensive Planning Award’s Regional category. This award was created to honor a plan, program, or process of unusually high merit.
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Jean Wyld

Jean Wyld

Jean Wyld, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Springfield College, was recently presented with the Jacob Ludes III Leadership Award during the New England Assoc. of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) annual conference. The award is named after long-time leader and supporter of the NEASC Jacob Ludes III, and recognizes volunteers within NEASC who demonstrate leadership qualities that further the goals and objectives of the association. Wyld was recognized for her committed work as chair of NEASC’s Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE). As chair of the CIHE, Wyld provides leadership for the commission in its work of developing and applying the standards for accreditation that govern the nearly 300 public and private colleges and universities in New England and abroad accredited by NEASC. She also joined the NEASC board of trustees to represent the needs of higher education in the New England region and to external groups. Wyld has served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Springfield College since 2001. Prior to this role, she served as the Chief Academic Officer and Dean of Academic Affairs at York College of Pennsylvania, and as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire. While at Colby-Sawyer, she was selected as an American Council of Education fellow, and served her fellowship year at Boston College.

Law: A Never-ending Process

By
Columns Sections
Here’s a Helpful Estate-planning Year-end Checklist

Lisa L. Halbert

Lisa L. Halbert

As the end of the year approaches, this is a good time to take stock and review where you have been and where you want to head. Financial planners encourage annual reviews, employers start to consider year-end evaluations, and life coaches ask clients to reflect on steps taken and plans for professional growth. And estate planners encourage clients to periodically review elder and estate plans in order to confirm (or re-confirm) that all is in place.
Estate planning is not a static project to be finalized and then put on a shelf, never to be reviewed again. In truth, it is a never-ending process, one which requires periodic review in order to remain pertinent. At least every five years and upon major life events, pull out the documents and make sure they continue to be relevant. Further, periodic statutory changes dictate that your intentions will be best attained if documents are reviewed.
Among the action steps or paperwork to consider are the following:

List Your Assets
At the core of any good estate plan is a list of all of your assets, with estimated values. Generally this will include bank accounts, securities, real estate, retirement funds, insurances (life or disability), annuities, business valuations, and tangible personal property, just to name a few. Identify whether each asset is owned in your name alone (and with or without a beneficiary designation) or jointly with another, and whether it carries a beneficiary designation or is held in trust. This information informs an estate-planning attorney as a beginning point. After your estate plan is fully developed, do not be surprised if assets are re-titled or change columns.

Last Will and Testament
A last will and testament controls assets that are held in your name alone and without a designated beneficiary at your time of death. These are the only assets that go through the probate process. Your will provides a road map as to who you would like to receive your probate assets. It can also provide for forgiveness of debt or allow someone temporary use of an asset (such as living in a home until a certain age, or a certain event occurs).
Generally, a will allows you to control and determine who inherits your estate at your death. (Exceptions to this statement are that a surviving spouse and minor children have certain statutory rights that take priority over the terms of the will, even if you intended to disinherit the spouse and/or child.)
Under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MUPC), which went into effect March 31, 2012, the probate process has now been expedited and no longer requires as much court intervention or oversight, although court supervision is available where appropriate.
If you pass away without a will (referred to as dying ‘intestate’), state law dictates how your assets get distributed. Historically, if you die intestate, survived by a spouse and children, your assets are allocated among them. Under the MUPC, if you die intestate and are survived by your spouse and children of both you and your spouse (whether biological or adopted), then your spouse will receive your entire net estate, without any portion specifically allocated to the children of both you and your spouse.
The MUPC also changes the title of the person appointed to oversee the administration of an estate to a personal representative (PR). Further, the MUPC provides a list of individuals who have priority to serve as your PR. At the top of the list is your spouse, and then a child (over the age of 18), etc. However, if you die intestate and the spouse does not want to serve as the PR, the MUPC allows the spouse to designate someone else to act as the PR, even if an adult child wants to serve. And while the statute is a bit more complex, the point is that you should consider whether it is more thoughtful and prudent to effectuate your intentions by dying with or without a will.
If you want to know that all of those you love will receive certain assets, then have a will or other estate-planning document prepared. Particularly for those who might not have a spouse, but do have good friends or charitable inclinations, a will is likely a solid start to accomplish those same distributions.
A will might also have some significance prior to your death. During your lifetime, if you become incapacitated and another is put in charge of your assets and financial management, there may be occasions where gifts are appropriate and the fiduciary could look to your will in order to figure out who or what entities are most dear to you. The will, therefore, may offer some direction even during your lifetime.

Trust-based Planning
Depending upon your assets, intended beneficiaries, and other information, a trust might be a better option to accomplish your preferred distributions than a will. A trust is a document with three major players: the person who creates it (you, also known as the grantor), the trustee (who could be you and/or others and is the one who actually administers or manages the assets), and the beneficiaries (who could be you and/or others who receive a benefit under the trust). It provides an instruction manual or road map as to how you want your assets (and debt) managed and invested, as well as distributed. It is especially useful if there are minor beneficiaries and you want to know that instructions are followed long-term, or where another needs some long-term financial assistance or management (such as a special or supplementary-needs trust).

Beneficiary Designations
Confirm that beneficiary designations on your various accounts remain current and in line with your overall estate plan. Types of assets that frequently carry opportunities for beneficiary designations include insurance, annuity, retirement accounts, and/or some brokerage accounts (accounts that hold securities and other investments). Beneficiary designations (other than to your estate) completely avoid the asset going through probate, and there may be some income-tax advantages to naming a beneficiary directly, rather than your estate or trust.
Keep in mind that the individuals or entities named on the beneficiary designation are the recipients to whom the assets will be paid. If your estate plan is premised on having assets go through your probate estate, and therefore directed to be distributed through your will, but the beneficiary designation is not changed to be consistent with that approach, your plan will be defeated.
An estate plan, once completed, may use a blend of assets that are directed to specific beneficiaries via designation, as well as assets that go through probate or a trust. Retirement assets may have a better income-tax benefit if directed to specific individuals or charities (especially if you are looking to save an income-tax bite to the estate), while life insurances might be more appropriate to go through probate. Each client situation is different.
If you are divorced and intend for your ex-spouse to receive assets via a beneficiary designation that has not been changed since the divorce, revisit the designation. Under the MUPC, divorce effectively revokes certain beneficiary designations to a prior spouse. You may need to take affirmative steps to insure that the designation will be upheld by renewing it post-divorce.

Same-sex Spouses
On June 26, 2013 the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision that addressed the legality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The court determined that, although each state may regulate marriage for its citizens, once married, all spouses are to be treated equally under federal law. For planning purposes, this impacts not only your federal income taxes, but Social Security benefits, FMLA, and health-insurance coverage.
Retirement benefits from a qualified retirement plan will be required to allow the surviving spouse of a married couple, whether same-sex or heterosexual, to withdraw the funds over the surviving spouse’s lifetime. IRAs that allow a spouse to roll over inherited assets into his or her own IRA are now allowed. There are more than 1,000 federal benefits that may be impacted by this ruling. Check beneficiary designations as well as federal tax withholding (IRS Form W-4).
Same-sex married residents no longer need to file separate federal tax returns for each spouse. Married filing jointly or married filing separately is the same for all married couples. In fact, you might want to consider amending your returns for 2011 and 2012. While an amended return is not guaranteed to benefit you, if you do not look into it, you will never know.
For estate planners, another significant change is that same-sex couples now are able to take advantage of the unlimited marital exemption to transfer assets between spouses during life, as well as at death. For high-wealth couples, portability of the estate-tax exemption at the death of the first spouse to a surviving spouse is now allowed. With an estate-tax exemption currently at $5.25 million per spouse, this allows a same-sex married couple to have a combined $10.5 million estate-tax exemption. While you might not think it impacts you, if the surviving spouse wins a large lottery ticket or comes into money for any other reason, even after the first spouse’s death, having elected portability may result in a significant estate-tax savings.

Healthcare Proxy (HCP)
Review your HCP to confirm that it identifies current designations of those whom you want making healthcare decisions for you if and when you can no longer make or communicate them on your own. It can only benefit you to list appointees to serve in consecutive order. Ask your attorney whether additional provisions to your document would be prudent.
For example, do you have a religious belief that needs to be articulated? Would you allow certain drugs to be administered that might otherwise require court approval? Do you want your healthcare agent to choose a nursing home for you if it becomes necessary? Once signed, provide your HCP to your healthcare providers and other physicians and hospitals. Some peoplekeep a copy on the refrigerator, in the car, or with other important papers. And, of course, provide a copy of your HCP to those you have appointed as decision makers.
Even though you may have already signed a HCP at your attorney’s office, did you more recently have a medical procedure where you signed a “new” HCP in the physician’s office or hospital? Understand that by signing the new form you revoked the prior one. Though it might not have been your intention, reconvene with your attorney to discuss whether to re-sign the old document. It was likely more comprehensive and the product of greater deliberation.
Without an HCP, if healthcare decisions need to be made for you, a court will appoint a guardian to make sure they are made. Your spouse does not automatically have that right. The benefit of an HCP is that you get to choose those individuals who you trust to make decisions for you, as opposed to having a court choose.

Do-not-resuscitate Order
The DNR is not prepared by your attorney. It is available to be signed in your physician’s office, and it states that, if your heart stops, you do not want extraordinary measures taken to restart it. A DNR is not interpreted to mean that you want to be taken off of medical machinery (and be allowed to die) if you are being kept alive only by such mechanical devices.

Durable Power of Attorney
The DPA allows you to appoint people to assist with financial management of assets in your name (and not in trust) while you are alive. It terminates at the moment of death. A DPA can be very broad or narrow in the actions which the appointee (the attorney-in-fact) is authorized to take. The benefit of a DPA is that you, not a court, choose who can have access to your financial information. A DPA can allow the attorney-in-fact to have access to your assets even though you are fully capable of thinking and acting for yourself (for example, while away on vacation), or it can be written to allow access only if and when you start to fail mentally.
A DPA does not change the underlying ownership of the asset. It merely allows another to act as your fiduciary, step into your shoes, and make decisions as your agent. If an asset is owned by you and you alone, then at your death, the authority of the attorney-in-fact terminates, and the asset then goes through your will, unless there is a beneficiary designation attached to it.
Provide the DPA to your appointee(s), or advise the appointee of your attorney’s name so that the document can be located if needed. Remember, if no one knows about it, or you fall ill and cannot communicate where the document is located, court action might still result.

Passwords
While not directly related to estate planning, a more controversial issue arises regarding passwords. While any IT person will advise against making a comprehensive list of your accounts and associated passwords, those same individuals might not regularly work with a segment of the population that may become ill or lose their memory.
There is no perfect solution in this electronic world. Perhaps you prefer to prepare the list of passwords and save it on paper, publish it to your attorney-in-fact under a DPA, or provide a copy to your legal counsel.
Others recommend putting the passwords into a paper file and filing it at the back of your filing cabinet, backwards. The list should be comprehensive and cover whatever assets you access (such as an ATM card) and electronic accounts, whether for bank, brokerage, credit card, loan, and even health-related information. It also helps to print out the most recent security questions and answers, too.

Important Papers
Organize a filing system for important papers. If an alphabetical system is not your style, consider putting all important papers in one place. Documents to be retained include Social Security card, copy of birth certificate, and legal documents (will, trust, HCP, DPA, marriage license or divorce decree, and funeral-related paperwork). Include on this list your children or next of kin and their addresses. If you should die, and a non-family member is involved, it makes locating family much easier.

Health Insurance and the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
This checklist would be incomplete if you are not reminded about open enrollment for many health-insurance plans in general, and the ACA in particular (open enrollment has been extended through March 2014). Even if you currently have health insurance, there may be financial advantages to reviewing the costs associated with the ACA. This is particularly true for blended families, those where an ex-spouse continues to be covered, or where you are straddling being on Medicare yourself, but have children to cover.

Conclusion
This checklist provides a starting point. For more information, contact an estate-planning professional for a comprehensive review of your plans. n

Lisa L. Halbert, Esq. is an associate in the Northampton office of Bacon & Wilson, P.C. A member of the estate planning, elder, and real estate departments, she is especially focused on legal matters relating to elder and estate planning, and asset protection; (413) 584-1287; baconwilson.com/attorneys/halbert

Court Dockets

By
Court Dockets Departments

The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Baystate Elevator Co. v. CDM Properties, LLC
Allegation: Breach of written elevator maintenance agreement: $10,000
Filed: 10/25/13

Mary Lou Sanborn v. Lapinski Electric Inc. and Christopher Lapinski
Allegation: Breach of settlement agreement: $15,000
Filed: 11/7/13

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Emily Bauer v. ServiceNet Inc. and Micah Matthia
Allegation: Negligent operation of a vehicle causing injury: $24,999
Filed: 11/6/13

Yvette Ramirez v. Holyoke Mall Co., L.P.
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing injury: $3,634.86
Filed: 10/17/13

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Jack Clemente v. Gary Martinelli and Martinelli Descenza PC
Allegation: Unfair and deceptive acts in representation as a personal attorney: $700,000
Filed: 10/25/13

Jose Feliciano v. Basketball League of Western MA, Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, Holy Name Parish, and Springfield Heat Youth Basketball
Allegation: Negligent hiring, failure to provide adequate security, assault and battery by a coach: $8,440.32
Filed: 10/23/13

Pioneer Valley Hotels Inc. v. Set in Concrete Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract and negligence: $31,425
Filed: 11/5/13

William Wessig v. Edward Desarkis d/b/a Deluxe Limousine Service
Allegation: Defendant misclassified plaintiff as an independent contractor and failed to pay wages and overtime: $30,000
Filed: 11/8/13

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Amcor Inc. v. Hi-De Liners Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $96,491.28
Filed: 9/4/13

CNH Capital America, LLC v. Scott Hutkowski d/b/a Long Plain Farm
Allegation: Action for redelivery and repossession of certain goods and money damages as a result of default under the terms of a security agreement: $25,847.96
Filed: 9/13/13

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Inter-Ocean Investments d/b/a Fine Writing, LLC v. Jaishri J. Singh d/b/a ABC Gifts
Allegation: Unpaid credit-card charges: $2,115.79
Filed: 11/8/13

Juan C. Arevalo v. Philip B. Rayder, the Martin-Brower Co., LLC, CJ Transportation, LLC, and Reyes Holding Inc.
Allegation: Negligent operation of a motor vehicle: $13,173.49
Filed: 9/26/13

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. v. DB Installation Inc.
Allegation: Balance due on workers’ compensation policy: $6,990.17
Filed: 9/25/13

The Travelers Indemnity Co. v. Thomas Engwer III d/b/a Thomas Engwer Trucking
Allegation: Breach of contract and monies owed: $10,821.00
Filed: 10/16/13

People on the Move

By
Departments People on the Move

A. Hazel Mugo

A. Hazel Mugo

The law firm Bulkley Richardson announced that A. Hazel Mugo has joined the firm as Counsel. A member of the Business and Finance Department, she focuses her practice on general corporate, business, and financial law and commercial transactions. Mugo works principally in Bulkley Richardson’s Springfield office, and is also a member of the New York Bar. She has advised borrowers and lenders on all aspects of financing, including secured and unsecured debt financing, and venture-capital and acquisition financing. She has also advised financial institutions on private placements and securities-law matters. Mugo teaches mutual-fund and hedge-fund law at the University of Connecticut School of Law on an adjunct basis, and serves as a fellow at the school’s Insurance Law Center. She earned her doctorate and LL.M. from Harvard Law School, and LL.B., magna cum laude, from the University of Nairobi in Kenya, and practiced as a corporate associate at major international firms.
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Caron LaCour

Caron LaCour

West Springfield-based Burkhart, Pizzanelli, P.C. announced that Caron LaCour has joined the certified public accounting firm. LaCour’s prior experience includes six years with J.M. O’Brien & Co., P.C. as a Senior Tax Specialist and 11 years as a Staff Accountant for Kostin, Ruffkess & Co., LLC. LaCour received her BS in Accounting from Western New England University.
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David Chase

David Chase

The Gray House recently inducted David Chase, Vice President/Commercial Lender at Hampden Bank in Springfield, to its board of directors for a three-year term. The nonprofit organization is a small neighborhood human-services agency that assists neighbors facing hardships in meeting their immediate and transitional needs by providing food, clothing, and educational services in a safe, positive environment in the North End of Springfield. Chase, who has more than 20 years of banking experience, also serves on the Agawam Planning Board, is a member of the Board of Directors of the West of the River Chamber, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Springfield.
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Hampden Bank recently announced the following:
Amy Scribner

Amy Scribner

• Amy Scribner has been promoted to Vice President and Director of Marketing. She joined Hampden Bank in 1990 and has worked in the Marketing Department since 2002. She is now responsible for the support of the bank’s strategic marketing initiatives as well as all marketing and advertising; and
Tara Corthell

Tara Corthell

• Tara Corthell has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Director of Finance. She joined Hampden Bank in 2005 as the Financial Manager; she previously worked at Investors Bank & Trust in Boston as a Reporting and Compliance manager. Corthell will oversee all of the organization’s financial functions.
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The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce announced its first-ever Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award, honoring Darlene Morse, Business Account Representative at CareerPoint. Morse received the award after volunteering the most hours of any ambassador this past year. Since becoming an ambassador in 2006, Morse has attended and assisted in over 100 events. Morse and her manager, CareerPoint Executive Director David Gadaire, will be honored at the chamber’s Holiday Business Breakfast on Dec. 11 at the Delaney House in Holyoke.
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Ralph Abbott Jr.

Ralph Abbott Jr.

Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., a Springfield-based labor and employment law firm serving the Greater Springfield area, announced that Ralph Abbott Jr. was named to the Best Lawyers 2014 Springfield, Mass., as Labor Law-Management Lawyer of the Year. A partner in the firm since 1975, Abbott represents management in labor relations and employment-related matters, providing employment-related advice to employers, assisting clients in remaining union-free, and representing employers before the National Labor Relations Board. Those honored as Lawyers of the Year have received particularly high ratings in surveys by earning a superior level of respect among their peers for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity. This is Abbott’s second win in three years.
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Allison Chen has been named Manager of Great Ideas at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC). Formerly with Fidelity Investments in Smithfield, R.I., Chen brings her experience in business analysis, customer experience, satisfaction planning, and service delivery with her to STCC, where she will serve as Manager of Great Ideas, a ‘Voice of the Associate’ program implemented at the college in 2011 to better serve the campus community. The Great Ideas program has implemented more than 1,500 employee ideas with a projected cost savings to the college of more than $700,000. Chen earned her BS in 1997 from the UMass Amherst and her MBA from Boston College in 2011.
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Elvira Loncto

Elvira Loncto

Elvira Loncto, a Service Line Manager of Geriatrics and Extended Care at VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, was recently honored at the 11th annual Excellence in Government Awards luncheon, hosted by the Federal Executive Assoc. of Western Massachusetts (FEAWM) at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House.  The FEAWM recognizes the best and the brightest employees in federal service in the region in 15 categories. Loncto supervises staff in seven community-care programs, is the local administrator of the Community Living Center, and oversees a substantial budget, which impacts older enrolled veterans from Berkshire County to Fitchburg.
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The Springfield Group of Northwestern Mutual recently appointed Cathy Hunter, Nico Santaniello, and Timothy Barnes as Financial Representatives. They will join a network of specialists offering a wide array of products including business-continuation planning, business risk management, financial planning, retirement planning, and more. Before joining Northwestern Mutual, Hunter was a Real Estate Broker at Goggins Real Estate in Northampton, and received a bachelor’s degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Previous to joining Northwestern Mutual, Santaniello was a Teller at TD Bank in Longmeadow, and received a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Western New England University. Prior to his new position, Barnes was Life Enhancement Director at Loomis Communities, and received an associate’s degree from Holyoke Community College and a Community Health certificate from Springfield Technical Community College.

Opinion

By
Opinion
Deliberation Needed on Minimum Wage

In 2006, the state Legislature enacted a two-step increase in the minimum wage, raising it to $8 per hour by January 2008. At the time, that rate was the second-highest in the country, behind Washington state and tied with California. Just about each year since then, the issue of increasing the minimum wage comes up for debate on Beacon Hill, and this year was no different.
On the second-to-last day of the 2013 legislative session, the Senate passed a bill increasing the rate in three steps to $11 per hour while tying additional increases to inflation. The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield (ACCGS) advocated that the Senate move its vote until the new year for several reasons, not the least of which was the timing of the vote so late in the session, giving amendments to the bill very little attention and time for debate, and the House virtually no chance to debate either the bill or its amendments until the new year.
The ACCGS expects the issue to come to a head early in the coming year. We suspect the rate will be increased, as the debate seems more focused on what the rate will be rather than if the rate will be higher and whether or not it will be tied to an inflation-linked index, and how this acknowledged increase in the cost of doing business will be offset by decreases in other business costs.
Even the term ‘minimum wage’ is being debated. There are some in the Legislature who would prefer the rate be increased even higher than the Senate’s suggested $11 per hour, noting that it would be a ‘living wage,’ and there are those who would like to see a more moderate and reasoned approach for a ‘starting wage.’
Whatever the term, a wage is a wage, and wages constitute one of a company’s largest operating costs. As such, the ACCGS believes more debate and deliberation is needed on this issue, and is calling for a very careful and detailed look at any request for an increase.
A recent survey of chamber members showed that more than 80% of the respondents already pay above the state and federal minimum wage, with more than half paying an hourly rate of $10 or more. More than 80% said an increase in the minimum wage was somewhat or very important to them, noting their very real concern that a large increase would cause upward pressure on all wages. Many of the businesses went so far as to acknowledge that other steps would need to be taken in their individual businesses to offset that pressure.
The ACCGS recognizes that more than 10 other states have increased their minimum wage rate this year, but believes that none have taken it to the levels the Massachusetts Senate did. We know there are studies as to the pros and cons of an increase and the impact it has on the economy and on jobs, and our own survey results show there will be an impact. With an unemployment rate in our region that is almost 50% higher than the state in general, actions that could inhibit job creation must be scrutinized.
As the House moves its debate forward, the chamber will advocate with representatives for moderation in any increase in the minimum wage, recognizing what negative impacts could occur, while at the same time, the chamber will call for a linked action to reductions in other costs of doing business, such as the unemployment-insurance tax. Like the minimum wage, where this state ranks among the highest in the U.S., the same holds true for the cost of unemployment insurance. The chamber firmly believes we should all work collectively and collaboratively at reducing the costs of owning and operating a business in the Commonwealth to enable job creation, reduce unemployment, and improve the overall economy of the region.

Jeffrey S. Ciuffreda is president of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield.

Happy Trails

By
Autos Sections
Today’s Vehicles Are Loaded with Safety Features

Michael Oleksak

Michael Oleksak says drivers, especially those with children, respond enthusiastically to features like backup cameras, enhanced airbags, and child locks.

Motorists are supposed to keep their eyes on the road. That goes without saying, right?
Yet, think of all the distractions that could cause a momentary lapse in concentration, from bickering kids in the back seat to a sip of coffee to a quick glance at the radio dial. If traffic suddenly slows during one of those moments, an accident can occur.
That’s the idea behind adaptive cruise control.
“It’s a built-in collision-prevention system that maintains a set distance from the car in front of you. It lights up on the dashboard when you’re approaching a solid object faster than you should be,” said Brian Farnsworth, a sales consultant with Marcotte Ford in Holyoke, adding that the system is typically paired with brake support “In addition to giving you visual and audio cues, it fully charges the brakes for you, so when you hit the brakes, they’re ready to respond as fast as possible.”
But that’s certainly not the only high-tech vehicle-safety advance of recent years. Equipment that alerts drivers to hazards while backing up are standard on many models, said Michael Oleksak, general manager at Burke GMC in Northampton.
“The rear-vision camera is a tremendous safety feature for the driveway, if someone has small children,” he said. “It gives you a complete panoramic view of the back, and there’s a backup alarm system, so if you’re backing up, and you get within 30 inches or three feet, it starts to beep, and you also see a light flash. Then, as you’re getting closer and closer, the beeps come more often and also louder.”
Michael Filomeno, Marcotte’s general manager, said many Ford models already feature the backup camera, and the device will be standard on more models next year. Meanwhile, pending regulation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration could soon make this technology standard on all vehicles — just one indication of how safety concerns are driving innovation among manufacturers.
“Airbags, anti-lock brakes, things that were big safety features in the ’80s, are pretty standard things now, but they’ve evolved,” Filomeno said. “We have better technology, things like adaptive cruise control, a new generation of airbags — it’s a whole different vehicle than it used to be.”
For this issue and its focus on auto sales, BusinessWest examines what’s new in vehicle safety, and why it matters to dealers and drivers alike.

Something Old, Something New

Michael Filomeno (left, with Brian Farnsworth)

Michael Filomeno (left, with Brian Farnsworth) says even safety features that first appeared decades ago have advanced in recent years.

Of course, safety concerns are nothing new for carmakers.
“While new technologies are greatly advancing safety features, auto manufacturers have had the consumer’s welfare in mind since the automobile’s inception,” notes Greg Fowler in Auto Trends magazine. “Many aspects of today’s vehicles taken for granted were initially included to improve the automobile’s marketability by making it seem less of a daredevil’s toy and more useful to the mainstream public.”
Until recently, vehicle safety features advanced slowly at best. According to Auto Trends, safety glass was first used for automobile windshields in the 1920s, and Buick was the first manufacturer to install a flashing turn signal in 1938. Meanwhile, cars had been on American roads for more than a half-century before seatbelts were introduced in 1949.
The ’70s and ’80s saw airbags and anti-lock braking systems become commonplace, but even those features have come a long way.
“Years ago, a car had two airbags,” Oleksak said. “Now, depending on the vehicle, you might have eight or 10. There’s side curtain and head curtain and side impact.”
Farnsworth added that Ford vehicles recently introduced front knee airbags on both the driver and passenger side, as well as inflatable seatbelts for children in the rear seats of SUVs.
Across the auto industry, in fact, airbags are anything but old hat. Because airbags have been deemed responsible for blunt-force injuries and even deaths, especially to children, over the years, all passenger vehicles since 2006 have been designed with advanced frontal airbag systems, the industry term for a deployment technology that automatically detects the size and position of the passenger and the severity of the crash, then uses that information to vary the force with which the bags inflate.
Oleksak was quick to note that many safety advances of modern times are decidedly low-tech, while others rely on more complex equipment.
“It’s a small thing, but we have child locks you can program though the locking system,” he said. “Another small feature, but very helpful, that you see in a lot of the Chevy trucks is the flasher in the side mirror — when you put the directional signal on, the mirror arrow flashes. Someone up close to you might not see the brake light, but they’ll see your mirror flashing.”
More advanced features do the opposite, alerting drivers to fellow motorists they might not see in their blind spots. That’s the purpose of the lane- departure feature, which alerts drivers when they’re drifting from their lane without a turn signal on, and also warns them when not to change lanes. “Let’s say someone is passing you on the right and is very close to you,” he said. “You see something flash, so you know not to pull over to the right.”
Even the simple act of parallel parking is being boosted by technology. An increasing number of carmakers are offering a feature that detects the size of the parking space, guides the driver into the starting position, and then parks the car automatically, hands-free — which, as it becomes more commonplace, could theoretically prevent many minor scrapes and fender benders.

Saving Lives
Of greater concern, of course, are serious accidents that cause injuries and deaths, and automakers understand those stakes. For example, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that up to 1.2 million crashes could be prevented or mitigated each year if all vehicles boasted some kind of forward collision avoidance system — preferably paired with autonomous braking systems or adaptive headlights, which rotate to better light the car’s path on curves and reduce glare for oncoming traffic.
The institute also credits electronic stability control — a recent innovation that helps drivers correct a swerving vehicle by applying brakes on individual wheels — with reducing the risk of a single-vehicle fatal crash by 50%, which is why it’s now standard equipment across the industry.
Oleksak said car buyers are increasingly aware of newer safety features, and are coming to expect them. “Even on the entry-level Chevy Cruze, you’re getting most of these features. Some are standard, some optional, depending on the model.”
Also popular with GM drivers is OnStar, a satellite service that provides navigation assistance but also features automatic crash response, alerting emergency services of an accident and its location. Drivers can also trigger that response manually in case of, say, a heart attack or a carjacking. Ford has a similar service called Operator Assist.
“That’s one of the features you hope you never have to use, and others, you use all the time,” he said of vehicle-safety devices in general. “Cars have really leaped ahead with safety. Just look at the way they’re designed, with crumple zones, the way the hoods fold. Years ago, in an accident, the hood came back through the windshield. Nowadays, with crumple zones, the hood folds a certain way, so as not to injure a person.”
Safety glass has improved as well, Oleksak noted. “Years ago, the glass was jagged, but now, the windshield breaks into a million pieces, almost like ash.”
Meanwhile, Farnsworth pointed to the roll-stability feature now standard on many Ford SUVs as just another example of safety advances drivers often take for granted. “People don’t always know about it. Our job is to let them know what’s available. And there are so many features now.”
Fowler notes in Auto Trends that safety advances have not only led to fewer accidents, but fewer insurance claims, which can lower insurance rates for everyone. “Cars do not drive themselves,” he notes, “but technological advances are getting us close.”
“Ford’s got a lot of cool stuff people don’t even know about,” Filomeno added. “When they come in, they’re not coming in looking for adaptive cruise, necessarily, but when you show them the car and tell them what it has, they’re really awed by it.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Weather Patterns

By
Insurance Sections
Severe Storms Are Creating a Trickle-down Effect on Policy Holders

Jim Phaneuf

With past and future storm damage in mind, Jim Phaneuf says, the state attorney general and insurance commissioner are making sure that carrier premiums and rate increases are justified.

When Jim Phaneuf references the weather, he’s certainly not making small talk.
Rather, he’s discussing big business — the insurance business, which he’s been in for more than 36 years, enough time to see everything, or just about everything, in this industry.
Indeed, over the past several years — and one year in particular, 2011 — Phaneuf, president of Bell & Hudson Insurance Agency in Belchertown, and others in this sector have seen things they’ve never seen before in terms of weather calamities and the resulting impact on the companies that write the policies and the consumers who purchase them.
‘Historic’ is the word he and others have used to describe it all — meaning everything from 2011’s ice dams, tornadoes, hurricane, and freak October snowstorm to subsequent weather events such as Superstorm Sandy in the fall of 2012, and the general consensus that this part of the country will see more of the same in the years to come.
But instead of words, Phaneuf and others like to use numbers to get their points across.
“Between 1980 and 2012, there were 123 U.S. weather-related events that resulted in claims of over $1 billion,” he told BusinessWest. “In 2011 alone, there were 12 U.S. weather-related disasters with over $1 billion in claims, and that caused insurance companies to raise rates to attempt to recover their losses. Our experience has been that most home-insurance customers have experienced rate increases in the past two years, largely as a result of the storms of 2011 and 2012.”
Corey Murphy, president of First American Insurance Agency in Chicopee, agreed, noting that 2011 was a banner year for weather-related claims in this region and others, and the impact from those losses will be felt for some time.
“I knew the insurance companies were going to have to respond — it was a catastrophic year; we had pretty much every natural disaster you could have,” he said, noting that rates have escalated for business and residential policy holders alike, between 3% and 6% on average.
The numbers vary, he said, because in many instances, an agency can sometimes shop for and get a better price, even at a time when many carriers are still struggling to recover losses. Meanwhile, agents can work with clients to lower their insurance bills by making sure they’re buying only what they need, passing on what they don’t need, and employing strategies such as bundling policies, taking higher deductibles, and avoiding marginal claims that will nonetheless trigger premium hikes.
Corey Murphy

Corey Murphy and his staff have kept their commercial and residential rate increases from storm damage as low as possible by shopping their policy needs with a variety of carriers.

Overall, he said, this is a time for consumers to renew — and tighten — their relationship with their insurance agency, because if predicting the weather is difficult, if not impossible, so too is gauging and minimizing the impact of all that weather on one’s insurance bills.
For this issue and its focus on insurance, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at what has become a perfect storm — in every aspect of that phrase — for insurance carriers, and a time of challenge for those looking to protect their assets and manage the cost of doing so.

Climate Change
Recapping recent events, meaning those of the past few decades and especially the past few years, those we spoke with said things have become more unsettled.
They used that word to refer to both the weather — which, in the opinion of many, is being increasingly impacted by global warming — and the fiscal health and well-being of insurance carriers.
Indeed, due to the recent spate of weather calamities, most insurance companies will not write polices for hurricane-prone coastal properties in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and Texas, said Bill Grinnell, president of Webber & Grinnell Insurance Agency in Northampton. So the states have created their own insurance mechanisms and set up rules, collecting premiums from property owners and assessing surcharges to those insurance companies that do business in other regions of those states.
“There is a wide belief that these storms are caused by global warming, which makes the weather less predictable and insurance outcomes less predictable,” Grinnell explained. “As a result, more revenues are needed to create reserves to cover the potential for more disasters, so there’s definitely been an uptick in the cost of insurance.”
According to a 2013 report, “Inaction on Climate Change: the Cost to Taxpayers,” by Ceres, a nonprofit organization advocating for sustainability leadership, the total loss exposure of these state-run insurance plans in the past 20 years has risen by 1,550%, from about $40 billion in 1990 to more than $600 billion in 2010.  Additionally, the report says only 50% of the damages in the U.S. caused by extreme weather events are privately insured, which leaves the federal and state governments (the taxpayers) to pick up the remaining tab.
Insurance companies, said Grinnell, earn revenue in two ways: premiums, of course, and conservative, low-risk investments, primarily in the bond markets.
With the historically low rates of return on bonds, insurance companies are not earning as much as they have in the past, and at the same time, they’re seeing higher bills from their reinsurance companies after paying out billions for just the past two years’ worth of catastrophic storms.
“So the reinsurance companies that provide the insurance for your insurance carrier for big disasters have increased their rates to the carriers, and those rates have been passed right down to the policyholders,” Grinnell explained, adding that the regional carriers in New England that do business in Massachusetts weren’t directly affected by Hurricane Katrina or, to a great degree, Superstorm Sandy. “So the majority of the storm-related increases are due to more localized events.”
Locally, Phaneuf added, state Attorney General Martha Coakley and Commissioner of Insurance Joseph Murphy are making sure carrier premiums and rates are justified.
“The attorney general seems to have served as a watchdog with the insurance issue,” he said, “to keep insurance companies’ rising rates in check.”

Policy Statement

Bill Grinnell

Bill Grinnell says insurance carriers are getting hit with higher rates from their reinsurance companies and passing these increases down to policyholders.

In this changing climate — for both weather and insurance to cover the damage it causes — Grinnell said agencies need to work even more closely with clients to reduce the impact on premiums while making sure customers’ bases are covered, literally and figuratively.
For instance, when his staff sees a client’s premiums spike significantly, they will attempt to shop that business around to get similar coverage, but at a better rate.
“We try to find a better home for their insurance if we’re able to, which we can some of the time, but not all of the time,” he said. “It’s definitely worth the effort if the insurance is going up more than 7% or 8%.”
Murphy agreed, but noted that there is seemingly less room for negotiating between agency and carrier in this environment, adding that this is another sign of the times and a product of the more adverse conditions within the industry, even though the weather has been much calmer this year.
“There’s a lot less back-and-forth over the last year or two. Now, there’s a lot less room; they’re pretty firm on what their prices are,” he said. “This year, it was a pretty mild year, but there were predictions that storms would increase, so there were a lot of adjustments by carriers based upon that.”
Those adjustments, Murphy went on, have appeared as higher premiums and a much harder look at what policies companies will underwrite. He called it “getting tighter.”
When Murphy and his agents present a potential policyholder to an underwriter — the person at the carrier who will decide how much to charge on the commercial lines, or even if they’ll write it or not — they want a much clearer picture of what they are writing.
“So, as an agent, we’re trying to present the best possible picture of that potential client,” he added. “The more you can make an underwriter feel comfortable about what they are writing, the better they feel about doing it.”
Meanwhile, agents can work with clients in a number of ways to help control their insurance bills without reducing coverage, said Phaneuf, listing several possible ones, including a willingness to accept a higher deductible.
“They generally mean lower annual premiums, but more out of your pocket when you have a loss,” he explained. “Your agent will also make you aware that you can control premiums by bundling discounts for your home and auto and installation of alarm systems, renewing your policies with the same insurer, and maintaining a loss-free status.”
Elaborating, he said that going years without filing a claim can lead to attractive discounts, savings that could more than offset the long-term costs from filing a claim in an instance where the damage only marginally exceeds the deductible.
In addition, Murphy told BusinessWest, he and his agents make sure their business clients are updating their product inventory and specific elements that they need for doing business.
“Business owners have to understand what their business is rated on,” he noted, adding that some standard ratings are based on square footage, which doesn’t change unless there is an expansion or a move, but other things do change, like real-estate values, replacement costs, inventory levels (up or down), or an increase in sales, all of which accurately reflect the business’s exposure.
The First American staff helps educate their commercial clients about keeping up with the current state of their property and business.
“If you don’t respond to your carrier with any updates, then they assume that all remains the same, and you could be paying more when you shouldn’t have to,” said Murphy. “But you don’t want them to be caught underinsured.”

Batten Down the Hatches
Grinnell and others we spoke with said their background is in business and insurance, not climatology or meteorology.
Predicting the weather is more difficult than ever, he noted, adding that even those with degrees in those subjects can’t say what will happen next year or over the next decade. The best thing to do is be prepared as much as possible, and that philosophy extends to the realm of insurance.
Phaneuf agreed, adding that, when it comes to weather patterns that are predicted to cause havoc in the future, protection of one’s home or business is, now more than ever, a complex business transaction.
“It cannot be effectively and appropriately done in 15 minutes,” he said. “In spite of what some national insurance carriers would like to have you believe, it is not a simple transaction like buying laundry detergent or breakfast cereal. If you treat it too lightly, you may not have the protection that you need when you need it … at a time of great loss.”

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

Process Engineering

By
Insurance Sections
How to Reduce Stress and Optimize Outcomes in Filing Insurance Claims

John E. Dowd Jr.

John E. Dowd Jr.

Let’s begin with the premise that insurance companies are in the business of paying claims, pure and simple. However, as most people are aware, the process of filing and then being paid for compensable claims is not always easy or convenient, depending on the size and nature of a claim.
We try to advise our clients at the outset of every claim of the appropriate steps they need to take to make sure things go as smoothly and quickly as reasonably possible. We also try to carefully manage people’s expectations for how the claim process will go, as well as the eventual payout amount they can expect. Unfortunately, some insurance companies handle claims better than others, and you need to rely on your insurance agent/broker to properly represent you both at the time you choose your insurance company and when a claim has occurred.
Many of the complaints insurance companies receive each year are from customers who are unhappy about claims handling. For many years, one of the top complaints people have regarding the claims process is a delay. When people are dealing with the issues that made them file a claim, it can be frustrating to handle the insurance claim on top of that. For this reason, it is important for all policyholders to be prepared. One of the best ways to do this is to make sure all of the information the insurance company would need is always available.
Policyholders should keep this information in a safe place where it will not be lost or forgotten. The following suggestions are also helpful.
• When filing claims, make sure they are submitted promptly. Call your agent/broker immediately after something happens that warrants a claim. Letting receipts pile up can cause more delays. If temporary repairs are put off or are not completed, the initial damage to the home could worsen. For example, water damage that is not addressed promptly could lead to problems that cost more money and may create coverage issues.
• Understand the policy. It is important for every individual to know what his or her policy says. Knowing what is covered and what is not covered makes it much easier to know what to expect when damage occurs. Waiting until a disaster happens to read through the policy will only result in further frustration. Talk with your agent/broker ahead of time so he or she can explain your coverage and answer questions.
• Use correct and complete information for the claim. Using incorrect or incomplete information will result in processing delays. Check all of the information for accuracy twice before submitting it, and make sure everything that is required has been provided.
• Keep records of all forms of correspondence. When making calls, sending e-mails, or receiving letters, make sure each one is recorded. Write down the date, the form of correspondence, the name of the contact person, and the subject of the correspondence. If there are any important details, include these in the notes. Policyholders should always ask questions and address any disagreements promptly.
• Keep records of temporary repairs. Some types of damage warrant immediate but temporary repairs. If this is the case, it is important to document any work that was done and who completed it. When purchasing supplies or services, save the receipts. Taking photos or videos before and after the repairs is also helpful. Homeowners should never make permanent repairs. Policies cover only necessary temporary repairs. Those who want to know how much it will cost to complete permanent repairs should arrange for one or more adjusters to provide quotes.
• Verify any denials. If a claim is denied, politely ask for the language in the policy that reflects why it was denied. Your agent/broker will assist you in confirming the accuracy of the coverage denial.
• Never rush into a settlement. When a settlement offer does not seem fair, contact your agent/broker immediately to discuss the matter.
• Ask for information to be released for health claims. If medical help was needed due to the reason for the claim, it is important to ask a medical provider to release relevant information. When policy holders suspect that a medical provider is overcharging, an insurance company may audit the bill upon request.
The claims process is a stressful one for many people. With proper preparation, this stress can be reduced significantly. The most important thing to remember is that your agent/broker is always available to help during any part of the process, so do not hesitate to contact your agency when questions arise.

John E. Dowd Jr. is a fourth-generation principal of the Dowd Agencies. He is one of three partners at the oldest insurance agency in Massachusetts with operations and management under continuous family ownership. The Dowd Agencies is a full-service firm providing personal, commercial, and financial-planning needs, with four offices in Western Mass.; (413) 538-7444; [email protected]

Know the Rules of the Game

By
Insurance Sections
Leverage Your ‘Mod’ Squad to Keep Workers’ Comp Costs Down

By BILL GRINNELL

When Red Sox pitcher John Lackey grabbed his right arm in pain and walked off the mound in his first game of the 2013 baseball season, I can imagine that the Red Sox management held their breath.  He had missed all of the 2012 season. They had just invested a year in getting Lackey healthy, including costly surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
During that year, Red Sox management diligently followed Lackey’s progress. They encouraged his return as soon as possible. And, after learning that his pain that day was just a bicep strain, they had him up and throwing again 10 days later. He was back in the rotation to beat the Houston Astros just three weeks after the strain.
If you have an employee on your company’s disabled list, you would do well to follow the Red Sox management’s example.
Sidelined employees are not only a drain on productivity, but they can also quickly escalate your workers’ compensation costs. Keeping tabs on these employees’ healing process and getting them back to work as soon as possible are key to reining in those costs.
The factors that drive workers’ compensation costs are many and complex. Understanding them is important. You can’t manage what you don’t know.
Generally speaking, workers’ compensation policyholders with an insurance premium over $5,000 are subject to the Mass. Workers’ Compensation Bureau experience-modification rules. These rules establish an experience-modification factor (or ‘experience mod’) that is used to calculate your workers’ compensation insurance premium.
Like auto-insurance rates, experience mods are designed to make premiums cost more for those insureds with adverse loss experience and reward those with better-than-average experience.
The formula for your experience mod takes into account the frequency and severity of your losses compared with similar-sized companies in your industry. The bureau uses policy-holder loss data that is reported by insurers every year to calculate the experience mod.
The bureau looks at a three-year period of losses to minimize the effect of an extreme year (good or bad). The three-year period covers the three years prior to the last policy year completed. For example, an experience mod calculated on Jan. 1, 2014 will take into account the data from the policy years Jan. 1, 2010 to Jan. 1, 2011; Jan. 1, 2011 to Jan. 1, 2012; and Jan. 1, 2012 to Jan. 1, 2013.
A ‘snapshot’ of the losses is taken six months into a policy term and then reported. It’s important to attempt to close out open claims or question high reserves prior to this six-month snapshot event.

How It Works
Let’s talk about how the experience mod works and then get to how you can control your workers’ compensation premiums.
Remember how I said that the experience mod takes your frequency and severity of losses and compares them to what would be expected of a company of your size in your industry?
Well, if your actual losses are lower than expected, your experience mod will be less than 1.0, yielding a credit factor. The credit factor is applied against the standard premium and will save you money.
If your actual losses are greater than expected, then your experience mod will be more than 1.0, generating a debit factor. The standard premium would then be multiplied by the computed debit.
In Massachusetts, it is important to understand the dramatic impact that small losses can have on an experience-mod calculation. The full brunt of a loss up to $5,000 is added into the equation. The amount of a loss above $5,000 is discounted by factors near 80%. Two $5,000 losses produce a significantly higher debit than one $10,000 loss.
Experience-mod calculations are more sensitive to adverse loss experience today than ever before. While our elected officials can claim that Massachusetts has some of the lowest workers’ compensation rates in the country, you won’t hear them talking about mod calculations. Favorable rates have been significantly offset by experience-mod surcharges.
Loss-control programs, safety manuals, and light-duty return-to-work plans are all important ingredients toward achieving a lower mod. Tactics like these and others can be your ‘mod squad’ and help you keep workers’ compensation premiums down.
But most important of all, be careful who you hire.  New hires have consistently been the source of the worst workers’ compensation claims. Your hiring process is the key to your workers’ compensation experience-mod success.
With a selective hiring process, diligence with employee safety, and support to get injured and ill workers back on the job, you can keep your experience mod in check — and hopefully get World Series-winning performance from your employees!

Bill Grinnell is president of Northampton-based Webber and Grinnell Insurance Agency; [email protected]

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of November 2013.

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Mason Supply
451 McKinstry Ave.
$13,000 — New roof

Town of South Hadley
2 James St.
$173,000 — Re-roof

Urgent Care Center
1505 Memorial Dr.
$48,000 — Interior renovations

PALMER

Maple Leaf Distribution Services
14 Third St.
$7,000 — Install concrete pad for generator

SOUTH HADLEY

Suds Your Duds
14 Main St.
$27,000 — Repair car damage

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Health
300 Carew St.
$73,000 — Renovate existing space

Castle House
3 Ames Hill Dr.
$3,000 — Exterior repairs

JCC
1160 Dickinson St.
$3,500 — Divide room for additional offices

Riverbend Medical
305 Bicentennial Ave.
$69,000 — Medical office renovations

Wallace House
105 Central St.
$15,000 — Exterior repairs

WEST SPRINGFIELD

A-C Motor Express
339 Bliss St.
$15,000 — New roof

David Boomi
76 Memorial Ave.
$12,000 — Renovate space for insurance office

Cantebury Woods Condominium
45 Cantebury Way
$3,000 — Repair damage to garage

Myron Court Apartments
24 Myron St.
$3,000 — Repair decking on commercial apartment building

Riverdale Shops
935 Riverdale St.
$245,000 — Renovations for new restaurant

Real Estate Transactions

By
Departments Real Estate

The following real estate transactions (latest avail­able) were compiled by Banker & Tradesman and are published as they were received. Only transactions exceeding $115,000 are listed. Buyer and seller fields contain only the first name listed on the deed.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

642 Bear Swamp Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Sarah Curry
Seller: Andrew S. Clarke
Date: 11/01/13

Bug Hill Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Diana B. Taylor
Seller: Kathleen B. Kerovan
Date: 10/29/13

1771 Cape St.
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: George Stephan
Seller: Savino J. Basile
Date: 10/29/13

1330 Spruce Corner Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Mathew R. Russell
Seller: Joan H. Lanoue
Date: 10/22/13

BERNARDSTON

169 Shaw Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Jillsen M. Deignan
Seller: Camilla V. Thacher
Date: 10/22/13

BUCKLAND

2 Harmony Lane
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $140,661
Buyer: Greenfield Savings Bank
Seller: Tenee L. Wetterwald
Date: 10/28/13

COLRAIN

78 Greenfield Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Fallon
Seller: Debra J. Wysocki
Date: 11/01/13

48 Reils Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $223,700
Buyer: William K. Spencer
Seller: Roberts, Sheila S., (Estate)
Date: 10/30/13

CONWAY

146 North Hill Dr.
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Michael Levine
Seller: John R. Schwartz
Date: 10/31/13

2101 Roaring Brook Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $382,500
Buyer: Alan Singer
Seller: Douglas A. Hay
Date: 10/31/13

143 Williamsburg Road
Conway, MA 01096
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Gregory J. Gagnon
Seller: Nicholas W. Mizula
Date: 10/21/13

DEERFIELD

136 North Main St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $185,800
Buyer: Stacy M. Martin
Seller: Stephen C. Huntley
Date: 11/01/13

96 Sugarloaf St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $194,900
Buyer: Ryan C. Vielmetti
Seller: Rogerleski IRT
Date: 10/28/13

GILL

93 Barney Hale Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Ann M. McCune
Seller: CJD Designs LLC
Date: 10/30/13

70 Munns Ferry Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $234,900
Buyer: Raymond F. Steele
Seller: Paul T. Seamans
Date: 10/24/13

GREENFIELD

21 Abbott St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Lewis S. Breitner
Date: 10/25/13

41 Abbott St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Allyson L. Mount
Seller: Richard A. Baker
Date: 10/21/13

46 Birch St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Alden Booth
Seller: Carl Silver
Date: 10/31/13

88 Ferrante Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Worden
Seller: Marsha Browning
Date: 10/28/13

25 Hastings St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Emily J. Bak
Seller: Donald L. Drowski
Date: 10/31/13

74 Lunt Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $177,700
Buyer: Kevin P. Welch
Seller: Ralph L. Ellis
Date: 10/25/13

LEVERETT

196 Pratt Corner Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $364,000
Buyer: J. P. Spurlock
Seller: Ashcraft, John B., (Estate)
Date: 10/23/13

21 Teawaddle Hill Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $269,500
Buyer: Daniel S. Smith
Seller: James C. Lyons
Date: 11/01/13

MONTAGUE

4 9th Ave.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Catherine M. Cronk
Date: 10/30/13

70 Davis St.
Montague, MA 01301
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Gary S. Thornton
Seller: Robert G. Cooper
Date: 10/31/13

Industrial Blvd.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: River Bluff Realty LLC
Seller: Town Of Montague
Date: 10/23/13

23 Randall Wood Dr.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Ann E. Dyke
Seller: Linda D. McPartlan
Date: 10/22/13

24 Randall Wood Dr.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Brian L. Adams
Seller: Julie A. Fallon
Date: 10/31/13

101 Turners Falls Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Jenifer L. Cash
Seller: Mark T. Bailey
Date: 10/21/13

NORTHFIELD

737 Millers Falls Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $172,500
Buyer: Manuel J. Mitchell
Seller: Frank J. Rockwell
Date: 10/22/13

ORANGE

44 Meadow Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $167,516
Buyer: MHFA
Seller: Alan Notre
Date: 11/01/13

SUNDERLAND

25 Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Frontier Properties LLC
Seller: Jenny H. Tran
Date: 10/31/13

250 Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Cody D. Jones
Seller: HAP Inc.
Date: 10/28/13

WARWICK

165 Hockanum Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Paul Robbins
Seller: Helene N. Scott
Date: 10/30/13

655 Winchester Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Kevin L. Alden
Seller: Marian J. Ekstrand
Date: 10/24/13

WHATELY

183 Chestnut Plain Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Baystate Blasting Inc.
Seller: Katherine E. Fleuriel
Date: 10/30/13

114 Christian Lane
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Timothy P. Lamontagne
Seller: William B. Mizula
Date: 10/25/13

87 Westbrook Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: John T. Reilly
Seller: Gregory J. Gagnon
Date: 10/21/13

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

130 Adams St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Buyer: Jean L. Degray
Seller: Donna Ryiz
Date: 10/31/13

58 Channell Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $156,500
Buyer: Luis G. Saenz
Seller: Arthur Vonmaluski
Date: 10/30/13

115 Corey Colonial
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Judith M. Basilone
Seller: Carl V. Franqueza
Date: 11/01/13

72 Elizabeth St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Cynthia A. Sutter
Seller: Michael A. Casimiro
Date: 10/30/13

4 Farmington Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Julie I. Siciliano
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 10/25/13

107 Forest Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Melissa Elias
Seller: James P. Murphy
Date: 10/31/13

27 Highland St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Valentina Karcha
Seller: FNMA
Date: 10/25/13

769 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: Darren G. Longo
Seller: Anthony R. Brodowski
Date: 10/22/13

34 Mallard Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Julie E. Pontz
Seller: Carl A. Knodler
Date: 10/30/13

772 Mill St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Jessica H. Tudryn
Seller: Lissa A. Menard
Date: 10/31/13

N/A
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Wayne J. Allen
Seller: Oleg Trocin
Date: 10/25/13

20 Oak Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Eric W. Gaylord
Seller: Susan E. Fober
Date: 10/31/13

77 Parkedge Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Brian J. Sojkowski
Seller: Robert J. Carey
Date: 10/31/13

117 Sheri Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $277,500
Buyer: Michael F. Peters
Seller: Jay Passerini
Date: 10/28/13

393 Silver St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Maria Carrion
Seller: James M. Martel
Date: 10/25/13

1040 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Rejean J. Remillard Insurance
Seller: Roger S. Gosselin
Date: 10/22/13

BLANDFORD

62 Main St.
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Sarah L. Labonte
Seller: Franklin D. Cardinal
Date: 10/28/13

BRIMFIELD

395 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $282,500
Buyer: Alyssa Bochicchio
Seller: Deborah M. Faryna
Date: 10/25/13

1018 Dunhamtown Brimfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: James D. Dunn
Date: 10/23/13

101 Little Alum Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Paul E. Paradis
Seller: Roger I. Pellaton
Date: 10/22/13

CHESTER

80 Old State Hwy.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Jamie R. Cincotta
Seller: Leigh A. King
Date: 10/30/13

CHICOPEE

146 Blanchard St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Daniel S. O’Connor
Seller: Larry A. Helmer
Date: 10/31/13

159 Casey Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $119,324
Buyer: Michael E. Fregeau
Seller: HSBC Bank USA
Date: 10/23/13

35 Clarendon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Amber L. Fink
Seller: Leclerc Brothers Inc.
Date: 10/29/13

120 Cobb Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $147,900
Buyer: Aimee I. Desrochers
Seller: Maryann E. Kulas
Date: 10/31/13

303 College St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Ryan Murphy
Seller: Todd J. Fitch
Date: 10/28/13

150 Fairview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $205,900
Buyer: Abdullah S. Nassir
Seller: Cabot Realty LLC
Date: 10/22/13

25 Fisher St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Rudolfo R. Fossa
Seller: Revampit LLC
Date: 10/25/13

5 Highland Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Joseph H. Ely
Seller: John A. Moriarty
Date: 11/01/13

37 Jackson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $208,900
Buyer: Miguel F. Ribeiro
Seller: Ben E. Williamson
Date: 10/23/13

291 Langevin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: JKAG Realty LLC
Seller: O&G Properties LLC
Date: 11/01/13

74 Lawrence Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Chicopee Saving Bank
Seller: Sandra E. Parente
Date: 10/31/13

40 Old James St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Garland Construction Corp.
Seller: Edward L. Orwat
Date: 11/01/13

78 Sherman Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $147,500
Buyer: Terence P. Lyons
Seller: John A. McDonough
Date: 10/24/13

21 Social St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $173,692
Buyer: PHH Mortgage Corp.
Seller: Sarah A. Reynolds
Date: 10/31/13

40 Thornwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Mary Jane C. Santamaria
Seller: James Liritzis
Date: 10/31/13

1628 Westover Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Douglas R. Narkiewicz
Seller: Mary J. Furr
Date: 10/28/13

188 Wheatland Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $142,300
Buyer: Brenda A. Purdy
Seller: Mary C. Manning
Date: 10/30/13

189 Wilson Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Aneudi J. Ortiz
Seller: Quality Renovations Group
Date: 10/31/13

EAST LONGMEADOW

Bond Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: T&K Realty LLC
Seller: William E. Donovan
Date: 10/28/13

5 Chatham Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Michael A. Casimiro
Seller: Michael S. Przybylowicz
Date: 10/30/13

38 Colony Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Holly C. Wensley
Seller: Janice A. Blanchard
Date: 10/29/13

141 Country Club Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $577,200
Buyer: Keun S. Han
Seller: William P. Brunelle
Date: 10/30/13

38 Donald Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Disa
Seller: David G. Radway
Date: 11/01/13

35 Donamor Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Kevin A. Crouse
Seller: Peter J. Andrusko
Date: 10/29/13

24 Deerfoot Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $302,000
Buyer: Rod J. Lavallee
Seller: Kevin J. Sullivan
Date: 10/24/13

111 Gates Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Phuong Nguyen
Seller: John Potorski
Date: 10/25/13

61 Hanward Hill
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Steven M. McCombe
Seller: Earl L. Robinson
Date: 10/31/13

72 Helen Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Richard Berthiaume
Seller: Lynda M. Daniele
Date: 10/29/13

10 Hillside Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: John F. Sullivan
Seller: Matthew J. Harris
Date: 10/29/13

4 Jennifer Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: Lee Jay Henry-Thompson
Seller: Rod Lavallee
Date: 10/24/13

264 Kibbe Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Buyer: Chad E. Mooneyham
Seller: Joan M. O’Shaughnessy
Date: 10/25/13

44 Linden Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Cimino
Seller: Brian R. Duffey
Date: 10/25/13

95 Nottingham Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Phung M. Le
Seller: Edward D. Polanek
Date: 10/21/13

130 Orchard Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $484,000
Buyer: Gaurav Narula
Seller: Frank A. Iennaco
Date: 10/28/13

276 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Koren D. Baughn
Seller: Ryan M. Conway
Date: 10/30/13

8 Pioneer Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Andrew C. Bordoni
Seller: Bordoni, Larry F., (Estate)
Date: 11/01/13

115 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Ryan M. St.Germain
Seller: Joseph Katz
Date: 10/25/13

887 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Robert R. Driscoll
Seller: Adam R. Noonan
Date: 10/30/13

172 Vineland Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Frank Vecchiarelli
Seller: Margaret A. Guzzo
Date: 11/01/13

4 West Allen Ridge Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Manuel Garcia
Seller: Dorene A. Archambault
Date: 10/31/13

GRANVILLE

1406 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: William A. Fluhr
Seller: Ronald W. Haskell
Date: 10/31/13

14 West Hartland Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Jay G. Williams
Seller: Michelle J. Meyer
Date: 10/31/13

HAMPDEN

551 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $172,500
Buyer: Anthony P. Restivo
Seller: Ronald J. Lech
Date: 10/31/13

11 Maple Grove Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $364,000
Buyer: Jerry Ago
Seller: Joseph A. Boyd
Date: 11/01/13

South Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Sheryl Kosakowski
Seller: Morton, Garfield W., (Estate)
Date: 11/01/13

HOLLAND

40 Forest Park Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $165,500
Buyer: John Gasparrini
Seller: Glenn R. Snay
Date: 11/01/13

197 Mashapaug Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Brian J. Martin
Seller: Todd O. Coon
Date: 11/01/13

46 Wales Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Nicholas B. Lafauci
Seller: Jason R. Gervickas
Date: 10/30/13

HOLYOKE

33 Clark St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Ruth Silva
Seller: Kenneth R. Stiles
Date: 10/29/13

948 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: 948 Dwight Street RT
Seller: Michael A. Noble
Date: 10/31/13

502 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Christopher A. Bresnahan
Seller: Karen M. Blanchard
Date: 10/25/13

50 Knollwood Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $1,745,000
Buyer: Sarah E. Stiles
Seller: Susanna Rosa
Date: 10/25/13

111 Lincoln St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Scott A. Whitney
Seller: Enola Nelson
Date: 11/01/13

139 Madison Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Richard W. Kowalkski
Seller: Linda K. Rahm
Date: 11/01/13

161 Suffolk St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Seller: Hemant K. Patel
Date: 11/01/13

8 Williams St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jesse O. Kerman
Seller: Joan M. Poutre
Date: 10/25/13

LONGMEADOW

40 Brooks Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $534,500
Buyer: Yevgeniy Norkin
Seller: Marguerite B. Lundy
Date: 10/31/13

28 Canterbury Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Terry Ditmar
Seller: Kathleen A. Mahoney
Date: 10/25/13

214 Captain Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $332,000
Buyer: Chi Ping Wang
Seller: Thomas A. Browne
Date: 10/30/13

117 Duxbury Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Jerome E. Noonan
Seller: Judith S. Brennan
Date: 10/28/13

28 Ellington St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Brian M. Keller
Seller: William J. McMahon
Date: 10/25/13

93 Jonquil Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Sundar Shanmuganathan
Seller: Charlotte Zeller
Date: 11/01/13

579 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Michael C. Paul
Seller: Laurel St. NT
Date: 04/17/13

193 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: David A. Runge
Seller: Jonathan P. Longo
Date: 10/30/13

129 Meadowlark Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Nathan R. Larkin
Seller: Walter E. Sattler
Date: 10/25/13

52 Shady Knoll Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Gina M. Gilday
Seller: Andrew J. Russo
Date: 10/25/13

60 Westmoreland Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $327,000
Buyer: Maria L. Davis
Seller: Lori Byrne
Date: 10/30/13

LUDLOW

9 Applewood Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Michael Vallee
Seller: Nuno M. Pereira
Date: 10/29/13

56 Beachside Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Susan J. Gamelli
Seller: Ernest M. Mittelholzer
Date: 10/31/13

45 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Daryl Robinovitz
Seller: Marcia G. Chwalek
Date: 10/29/13

36 Carmelinas Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Pauldin LLC
Seller: Irenue Freitas
Date: 10/29/13

105 Cislak Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $467,000
Buyer: James Liritzis
Seller: MCA C&M C LLC
Date: 10/31/13

51 Glenwood St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Michelle E. Mateus
Seller: Jose F. Mateus
Date: 10/31/13

48 Grandview Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Tara L. Dasso
Seller: Lawrence A. Tomaskovic
Date: 10/23/13

Howard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Kristine M. Midura
Seller: Richard Z. Budzyna
Date: 10/29/13

116 John St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Edward C. Denette
Seller: Kevin Czaplicki
Date: 10/25/13

102 Miller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Stephen O. Lamoureux
Seller: Edward F. Lamoureux
Date: 10/25/13

442 Miller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Melissa A. Graves
Seller: Fillion FT
Date: 10/29/13

N/A
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $196,500
Buyer: Matthew R. Bettencourt
Seller: Joseph R. Jorge
Date: 11/01/13

148 Pinewood Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $342,500
Buyer: Joseph R. Jorge
Seller: Janice M. Sullivan
Date: 11/01/13

Rosewood Dr. #3
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Heather M. Peek
Seller: Rosewood Meadows Inc.
Date: 10/28/13

80 West Akard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $149,500
Buyer: Pedro N. Mena
Seller: Wehner, Elizabeth A., (Estate)
Date: 10/25/13

177 Whitney St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Gregg J. Villeneuve
Seller: Jeffrey T. Braese
Date: 10/29/13

68 Yale St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Newell
Seller: John R. Forkey
Date: 10/24/13

MONSON

66 Bradway Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $319,000
Buyer: Paul R. Brandt
Seller: James W. Pennington
Date: 11/01/13

8 Crest Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Gary E. Spear
Seller: Richard C. Rodrigues
Date: 10/31/13

3 Ely Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Parker D. Brown
Seller: Duane R. Pray
Date: 10/25/13

MONTGOMERY

71 New State Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jonathan J. Lorenzatti
Seller: Stelle, John D., (Estate)
Date: 10/23/13

PALMER

104 Beech St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: James R. Lessard
Seller: Judy M. Quintin
Date: 10/30/13

202 Burlingame Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Jason K. Stutz
Seller: Anna Feigelman
Date: 10/31/13

25 Charles St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Denise F. Davey
Seller: Charles McCabe
Date: 10/24/13

7 Crawford St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Vision Investment Properties LLC
Seller: ELB Rentals LLC
Date: 11/01/13

9 Crawford St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Vision Investment Properties LLC
Seller: DWG LLC
Date: 11/01/13

49 Elizabeth St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Matthew G. Guberow
Seller: Ana G. Serrazina
Date: 10/23/13

8 Holbrook St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: William H. Bulman
Date: 10/31/13

49 Longview St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Sarah M. Okseniak
Seller: Marion C. Stephenson
Date: 10/25/13

SPRINGFIELD

64 Amos Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Bandhu Adhikari
Seller: Global Homes Props. LLC
Date: 11/01/13

226 Arnold Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Israel Maldonado
Seller: Dorothy I. Almeida
Date: 10/28/13

49 Ashland Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $141,500
Buyer: Michael J. Fijal
Seller: Carol A. Fijal
Date: 10/24/13

46 Aspen Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Thomas E. Dunn
Seller: Jessica M. Brown
Date: 10/28/13

111 Belvidere St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Heyda Martinez
Seller: Christi A. Seiple-Cole
Date: 10/31/13

1245 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $178,900
Buyer: Timber L. Pierce
Seller: Daniel J. Molta
Date: 10/31/13

72 Cara Lane
Springfield, MA 01028
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Heather R. Magnus
Seller: David A. Runge
Date: 10/29/13

1663 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $183,706
Buyer: Freedom Mortgage Corp.
Seller: Marta N. Aponte
Date: 10/29/13

292 Centre St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Julie E. Belniak
Seller: Scott, Andrew R., (Estate)
Date: 10/31/13

66 Chesterfield Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Shawn R. Iennaco
Seller: William N. Baxter
Date: 10/29/13

5 Copeland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Erick H. Santiago
Seller: John Walsh
Date: 10/28/13

109 Dewitt St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $159,500
Buyer: Anthony J. Zalowski
Seller: Jason D. Charpentier
Date: 10/25/13

652 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Huang Family Property LLC
Seller: JJS Capital Inv. LLC
Date: 10/29/13

112 Fountain St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: Luis R. Ulloa
Seller: Wendy F. Rojas
Date: 10/24/13

44 Gail St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Yisroel Gesin
Seller: Saw Construction LLC
Date: 11/01/13

390 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Kristin Duke
Seller: Michael D. Maynard
Date: 10/24/13

84 Governor St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Jacqueline Perez
Seller: Zhenhua Li
Date: 11/01/13

22 Gowey St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Robert Velez
Seller: John A. Robertson
Date: 10/28/13

100 Green Lane
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Christopher E. Johnsen
Seller: Fortsch, John J. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 11/01/13

35 247 Hanson Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $117,500
Buyer: Brittney C. Patrie
Seller: Eleanor M. Sullivan

Island Pond Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $303,675
Buyer: Jill M. Giard
Seller: John F. Daniele
Date: 10/31/13

102 Kirk Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Ashley A. Pietras
Seller: Richard S. Silvester LLC
Date: 10/30/13

15 Litchfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Grace James Realty LLC
Seller: Anndor Properties LLC
Date: 10/28/13

206 Mazarin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $180,200
Buyer: Grahams Construction Inc.
Seller: Merigian, Anne Z., (Estate)
Date: 10/23/13

66 Midway St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Leshawn A. Polk
Seller: Holly A. Gray
Date: 10/24/13

80 Milford St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Kenardo H. Douglas
Seller: Victoria J. Pierce
Date: 10/22/13

139 Moss Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Fitzgerald
Seller: Michael A. Vallee
Date: 10/22/13

48 Oregon St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Warren R. Tanguay
Seller: Beth Adams
Date: 10/29/13

40 Pecousic St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $134,900
Buyer: Nicholas A. Laferriere
Seller: Steven D. Dzubak
Date: 10/22/13

18 Porter St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $138,775
Buyer: Donville Riley
Seller: Tilley, Doris, (Estate)
Date: 10/25/13

15 Rosella St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $122,150
Buyer: Nydia E. Crespo
Seller: Steven J. Raucci
Date: 10/31/13

58 Sherbrooke St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $116,500
Buyer: William J. Lapponese
Seller: Anthony Mbagara
Date: 10/25/13

16 Varney St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Russell C. Pecenak
Seller: Scott D. Rumplik
Date: 10/25/13

156 West Canton Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Roberto L. Maymi
Seller: Lloyd R. Bredenbeck
Date: 10/29/13

191 Westford Circle
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Richard Rodriguez
Seller: Leila M. Holness
Date: 10/30/13

55 Wing St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $141,500
Buyer: Shawn M. Jiles
Seller: Daniel R. Alpiarca
Date: 10/31/13

137 Winton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,063
Buyer: Jeffrey E. Fritz
Seller: Aimee J. Mooneyham
Date: 10/25/13

SOUTHWICK

96 Point Grove Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Christopher Allen
Seller: Lakeside Motors Inc.
Date: 10/28/13

87 Powder Mill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Xavier Cody
Seller: Robert R. Ferreira
Date: 11/01/13

35 Ranch Club Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $585,000
Buyer: Aaron B. Gorvine
Seller: Steven P. Beals
Date: 11/01/13

WALES

79 Mount Hitchcock Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $157,250
Buyer: Ruth Curboy
Seller: FNMA
Date: 11/01/13

31 Shore Dr.
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Henry F. Decoteau
Seller: Wilfred J. Anair
Date: 10/25/13

WEST SPRINGFIELD

304 Edgewood Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Jonathan H. Frost
Seller: Katherine S. Laposta
Date: 10/24/13

116 Garden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Miguel A. Albert
Seller: Kathleen Riley
Date: 10/23/13

22 Hill St.
Amount: $130,100
Buyer: Alim Radzhabov
Seller: James C. Durand
Date: 10/31/13

123 Jensen Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $188,500
Buyer: Stephen J. Hutton
Seller: William F. Balicki
Date: 11/01/13

57 Maple Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $181,613
Buyer: RSP Realty LLC
Seller: Robert W. Castor
Date: 10/29/13

10 Sherwood Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Lindsay A. Giaquinto
Seller: Joseph E. Lynch
Date: 10/31/13

40 Worthy Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Danny Silva
Seller: Debra Himmen
Date: 10/29/13

WESTFIELD

16 Berkshire Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Robert A. Kulas
Seller: FNMA
Date: 10/24/13

36 Camelot Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Ralph P. Megliola
Seller: Cynthia A. Sutter
Date: 10/30/13

10 Carroll Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $182,400
Buyer: Robert Martin
Seller: Susan M. Sawyer
Date: 10/22/13

10 Columbia St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $143,833
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Carrie S. Dearing
Date: 10/21/13

41 Day Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Anna Michael
Seller: Stuart B. Gordon
Date: 10/30/13

10 Dubois St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $117,750
Buyer: Karl L. Scholpp
Seller: Gary D. Hagar
Date: 10/29/13

41 Flynn Meadow Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $379,900
Buyer: Robert W. Castor
Seller: RSP Realty LLC
Date: 10/29/13

6 Hickory Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Kimberly P. Michaud
Seller: Frederick R. Benda
Date: 11/01/13

6 King Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $143,900
Buyer: Matthew P. Rolfe
Seller: Adrian B. Dion
Date: 10/31/13

15 Lawton Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Richard F. Tirrell
Seller: Mary Gayle Ahearn
Date: 10/31/13

28 Linden Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $187,200
Buyer: Jon Randel Quarles
Seller: Kimberly A. Douglas
Date: 10/25/13

68 Old Quarry Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,500
Buyer: Christopher M. Bush
Seller: Marciano Rodriguez
Date: 10/31/13

61 Overlook Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Robert J. Carey
Seller: William V. Ashton
Date: 10/31/13

47 Pequot Point Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Linda M. Keeler
Seller: Saris Resources LLC
Date: 10/25/13

239 Springdale Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: B. R. Jarvis-Sipitkowski
Seller: Peter A. Lemieux
Date: 10/21/13

67 Susan Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Ruslan V. Mukha
Seller: Henry J. Stebbins
Date: 10/30/13

234 Union St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Jennifer Sears
Seller: David M. Jez
Date: 10/28/13

WILBRAHAM

123 Beebe Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Donald E. Libiszewski
Seller: Robert G. Skinner
Date: 10/31/13

15 Highridge Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: James E. Rooks
Seller: Andrew F. Sears
Date: 11/01/13

7 Pidgeon Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Scott Barrus
Seller: Henry W. Lis
Date: 10/28/13

870 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Matthew N. Chaplin
Seller: Silver Key Properties LLC
Date: 10/25/13

22 Tinkham Glen
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: William J. Lapalm
Seller: Gregory W. Eaton
Date: 11/01/13

13 Wellfleet Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Elliott T. Eady
Seller: Paul R. Falvey
Date: 10/30/13

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

74 Blue Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $332,000
Buyer: Henry E. Whitlock
Seller: Elaine P. Bowditch
Date: 11/01/13

2 Carriage Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Jon L. Alix
Seller: Mark A. Matasavage
Date: 10/21/13

125 Cottage St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Hall
Seller: Goddard, Helen B., (Estate)
Date: 11/01/13

337 East Hadley Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Zhenhua Liu
Seller: Fretsaul LP
Date: 10/25/13

37 Harris St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Nicola M. Usher
Seller: John H. Fanton
Date: 10/31/13

6 Lawrence Circle
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $559,000
Buyer: Christopher Blount
Seller: Saddle River Partners
Date: 10/31/13

35 Newell Court
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Molly R. Strehorn
Seller: Marian H. Ware
Date: 10/24/13

49 Owen Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $770,000
Buyer: John H. Fanton
Seller: David R. Coulombe
Date: 10/31/13

517 Pine St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Daniel Berry
Seller: John H. Martin
Date: 10/29/13

50 Station Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $313,000
Buyer: Alison E. Wilson
Seller: Mares In Charge Ltd
Date: 10/30/13

395 West St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Donald A. Laverdiere
Seller: HAP Inc.
Date: 11/01/13

BELCHERTOWN

33 2 Ponds Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Jane A. Taubman
Seller: William J. Morrissey
Date: 10/30/13

344 Amherst Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Carl J. Morin
Seller: Robert V. Letourneau
Date: 10/30/13

13 Dogwood Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Mark E. Burdzy
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 10/29/13

Hickory Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $343,700
Buyer: James P. O’Connor
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 10/25/13

59 Maple St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Ivy A. Lenihan
Seller: Brian L. Adams
Date: 10/31/13

30 North St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Jeri Baker
Seller: Thomas H. Carmean
Date: 10/25/13

233 Old Enfield Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Matthew E. Lavallee
Seller: Leroy W. Flohr
Date: 10/29/13

22 Rimrock Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: Michael W. Forcum
Seller: Ivy A. Lenihan
Date: 10/31/13

142 Rockrimmon St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Haiying Gao
Seller: Suzanne M. Smith
Date: 10/21/13

CHESTERFIELD

79 Indian Hollow Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $117,500
Buyer: Alice J. Williams
Seller: Grace A. Kingsbury
Date: 10/23/13

215 Willicutt Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Jaime M. Berrian
Seller: Clark, Merwin S., (Estate)
Date: 10/25/13

CUMMINGTON

38 Trouble St.
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Raymond R. Rex
Seller: Helen Chillman
Date: 10/31/13

80 West Main St.
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $605,000
Buyer: Wood Eye LLC
Seller: Scott E. Magoon
Date: 10/21/13

EASTHAMPTON

1 Autumn Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Mary C. Coyle
Seller: Summit Ridge Builders Inc.
Date: 10/24/13

1 Beechwood Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Raj Kumar
Seller: Priscilla M. Hatch
Date: 10/29/13

59 Briggs St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $131,250
Buyer: Mark Delisle
Seller: Lyla L. Durant
Date: 10/31/13

78 Highland Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Walfredo Rolon
Seller: Christopher J. Lyons
Date: 10/22/13

12 Keddy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Amanda Barrow
Seller: Daniel L. Routhier
Date: 10/30/13

43 Knipfer Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Marianne F. Foote
Seller: Stanislawa Ciborowski
Date: 10/25/13

GOSHEN

4 Highland Road
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: James F. Heroux
Seller: Alyssa N. Dawson
Date: 11/01/13

174 Loomis Road
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Peter F. Lafogg
Seller: Polansky FT
Date: 10/25/13

GRANBY

126 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Ealine M. Bergeron
Seller: Wilson, Barbara R., (Estate)
Date: 10/30/13

HADLEY

27 Middle St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Christian Stanley
Seller: John A. Edwards

35 Newton Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Marian Chapman
Seller: Clara L. Chapman
Date: 10/21/13

298 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Buyer: Hollrock Realy LLC
Seller: Chun S. Yoon
Date: 10/29/13

111 West St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Mark J. Krause
Seller: PDV Inc.
Date: 10/30/13

HATFIELD

145 Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Raymond C. Laflamme
Seller: Angela Borer
Date: 11/01/13

73 Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Judith A. Strong
Seller: Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield
Date: 10/30/13

HUNTINGTON

58 Harlow Clark Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Michael D. St.Martin
Seller: Thomas A. Luppi
Date: 11/01/13

NORTHAMPTON

30 Avis Circle
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: James A. North
Seller: Daniel A. Gingras
Date: 11/01/13

73 Bridge St.
Northampton, MA 01039
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Tamar Shadur RET
Seller: JEM RT
Date: 10/29/13

145 Chestnut St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $369,000
Buyer: Marie Helene Charlap
Seller: Katheleen F. Jerome
Date: 10/25/13

149 Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $823,526
Buyer: ADB 1 Properties LLC
Seller: Noho Partners LLP
Date: 10/31/13

36 Highland Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Andrea L. Garon
Seller: Elizabeth B. Fitzpatrick
Date: 10/25/13

Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Wright Builders Inc.
Seller: Hospital Hill Development LLC
Date: 10/24/13

86 Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $504,172
Buyer: K. M. Pastrich-Klemer
Seller: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Date: 10/29/13

139 Nonotuck St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Lisa H. Henderson
Seller: Kregg C. Strehorn
Date: 10/24/13

184 North Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $391,800
Buyer: Brian A. Hagan
Seller: James J. Young
Date: 10/31/13

15 Nutting Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Jonathan D. Weil
Seller: Shirley M. Rodgers
Date: 11/01/13

247 Riverside Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Daniel K. Dacri
Seller: Philip Perrault LT
Date: 10/25/13

334 Spring St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Jonathan Langmuir
Seller: Weigele, Louis C., (Estate)
Date: 10/25/13

74 Straw Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Jane Myers
Seller: Brian A. Hagan
Date: 10/31/13

SOUTH HADLEY

47 Boynton Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: David R. Michaud
Seller: Tammy Koske
Date: 10/31/13

96 College St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $322,500
Buyer: Susan R. Carson
Seller: Pitt, Sallie H., (Estate)
Date: 10/28/13

24 High St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Allen G. Croteau
Seller: Jeffrey Labrecque
Date: 10/31/13

9 Hunter Terrace
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Sara J. Whitcomb
Seller: Matthew P. Ryczek
Date: 10/30/13

31 Lathrop St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Alan J. Anischik
Seller: Michael Forcum
Date: 10/31/13

4 Los Angeles St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Joshua H. Cloutier
Seller: Bocon, Frances, (Estate)
Date: 10/31/13

29 Queen Circle
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Lorraine R. Bail
Seller: Carlotta D. Michel
Date: 11/01/13

303 River Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Richard F. Marjanski
Seller: Wallace, Karen A., (Estate)
Date: 10/25/13

26 River Lodge Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $343,000
Buyer: Kari B. Kastango
Seller: Patrick J. Spring
Date: 10/29/13

29 San Souci Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Buyer: Sean M. Dean
Seller: Carolyn J. Anischik
Date: 10/25/13

72 School St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Brian Duffey
Seller: Viviane A. Wailgum
Date: 10/24/13

57 Searle Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Cheryl C. Danek
Seller: Vincent M. Muto
Date: 10/25/13

18 Waite Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: John Courtney
Seller: Daniel R. Cantin
Date: 11/01/13

SOUTHAMPTON

42 Bissonnette Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $439,900
Buyer: Robert P. Korpela
Seller: G&F Custom Built Homes
Date: 10/22/13

30 Gilbert Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Paul M. Furgal
Seller: Jacinthe Giroux-Slavas
Date: 10/25/13

27 Helen Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Anthony Fedirko
Seller: Barcomb & Buteau FT
Date: 10/30/13

74 Pleasant St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Nicholas M. Simonich
Seller: Robert Barcomb
Date: 11/01/13

85 Pleasant St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $529,900
Buyer: Vanderberghe FT
Seller: James F. Boyle
Date: 10/31/13

153 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: James Boyle
Seller: Daniel H. Kowal
Date: 10/24/13

WARE

136 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Natasha Bourdeau
Seller: Beatrice L. Pajak
Date: 11/01/13

2 Desantis Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Christopher Proulx
Seller: Daniel D. Slattery
Date: 10/31/13

83 Fisherdick Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Michael Jackson
Seller: Frederick J. Shea
Date: 10/30/13

33 Greenwich Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $167,900
Buyer: Tyler J. Siegel
Seller: Mary E. Stelmokas
Date: 10/30/13

86 Greenwich Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Aileen R. Kelly
Seller: Stasia Wroblicki
Date: 10/25/13

258 Malboeuf Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Hampshire East Properties LLC
Seller: D. C. Fontaine-Pincince
Date: 11/01/13

WESTHAMPTON

77 Laurel Hill Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $372,000
Buyer: Patricia L. Reidhead
Seller: Barbara Suddaby
Date: 10/28/13

56 Reservoir Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Rebecca Cummings
Seller: UMass Five College Credit Union
Date: 10/31/13

56 Reservoir Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $277,273
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Jeremy J. Majewski
Date: 10/25/13

WILLIAMSBURG

94 Mountain St.
Williamsburg, MA 01062
Amount: $534,000
Buyer: Glen W. Moon
Seller: Brian B. Alstadt
Date: 10/23/13

WORTHINGTON

44 Old Main Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Brian G. Longley
Seller: Zenon J. Dastous
Date: 10/30/13

Incorporations

By
Departments Incorporations

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

AMH2ERST

From A Birdie Inc., 87 East Pleasant St., Apt. B, Amherst, MA 01002. Agustin Schapira, same. Development, marketing and sale of consumer goods.

CHICOPEE

Confraternidad De Iglesias Del Salvador: Nueva Jerusalen, 237 Hampden St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Saul Ramos, 4711 West 125th St., Cleveland, OH 44135. A fraternity of churches.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Jelescheff Law, P.C., 337 Somers Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Scott Jelescheff, same. Law office.

FEEDING HILLS

Bluestone Insurance Inc., 1325 Springfield, St. Unit 15(6), Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Brett Ralph, 233 North Stone St., West Suffield, CT 06093. Insurance agency.

HOLYOKE

Bialas Custom Interiors Inc., 68 Winter St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Adam Bialas, same. Interior construction and finish work.

NORTHAMPTON

Mayflower Naturals Corp., 10 Highland Ave., Northampton, MA 01060. Joshua Bell, same. Antiquarian, historical, literary, scientific, medical, chiropractic, artistic, monumental or musical purpose.

Mayflower Organix Corp., 10 Highland Ave., Northampton, MA 01060. Jana Edelbaum, 17 East 80th St., New York, 10075. Antiquarian, historical, literary, scientific, medical, chiropractic, artistic, monumental, or musical purpose.

PITTSFIELD

MPS Media Inc., 75 Sherwood Dr., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Andrew Schneider, same. Television production, management, and consulting.

Pittsfield Engineering Corporation, 777 West St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Christine McCrery, same. Industrial services.

Star Tag Inc., 26 Dunham Mall, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Bi Wang, same. Transportation.

SOUTH HADLEY

Construction Labor Unlimited Inc., 17 Forest Dr., South Hadley, MA 01075. Jesus Rodriguez, 273 Roger St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Commercial construction contractor.

SOUTHAMPTON

Pizza 99 Co. Inc., 15J College Highway, Southampton, MA 01073. John Diamandakis, same. Bar and restaurant.

SPRINGFIELD

The Law Offices of David J. Lemasa P.C., 83 State St., Springfield, MA 01103. David Lemasa, 1409 Sunfield Dr., South Windsor, CT 06074. Law.

TSMD Consulting Inc., 73 State St., Suite 310, Springfield, MA 01103. Thomas Spencer, 22 Myrtle Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040. Consulting for horticulture industry.

Way Community Baptist Church, 18 East Alvord St., Springfield, MA 01108. Rev. Viola McCoy Pastor, same. To preserve the Baptist faith, through worship service, Christian education, choir, and community outreach ministry.

World Concrete Contractors Inc., 1655 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103. Santos Rodriguez Gonzalez, same. Concrete solution and construction.

Xtrem Radio Victoria Inc., 26 Haskin St., Springfield, MA 01109. Wilfred Hernandez, same. Civic social education of religion.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Pioneer Flooring Solutions, 116 Grandview Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089. John Spano, same. Construction and flooring contractor.

Wise Truck Inc., 202 Day St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Sergey Mudry. 900 Morgan Road, West Springfield, MA 01089. Truck service.

WILBRAHAM

Paramount Construction ABC Inc., 35 Springfield St., Wilbraham, MA 01095. John Pappanikou, same. Construction and contractor.