Page 60 - BusinessWest April 28, 2021

Bulkley Richardson Launches Blockchain, Cryptocurrency Group
SPRINGFIELD — Bulkley Richardson recently launched a Blockchain and Cryptocurrency practice group to provide solutions for businesses adopting blockchain technology in a complex and changing reg- ulatory landscape. The group’s attorneys have broad- based experience in key areas affecting blockchain technologies, including financial services and banking, intellectual property, securities regulation, emerging businesses, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, taxation, and digital privacy and cybersecurity. Block- chain technologies like cryptocurrencies and non-fun- gible tokens (NFTs) are changing the way businesses operate. The rise of the blockchain has spurred a wave of innovation that is disrupting the market and spawn-
solutions and services to customers throughout New England and upstate New York for 42 years. While it boasts a diverse customer base from small customers to numerous Fortune 100 companies in a wide array of industries, WCA is one of North America’s leading technology solution providers to healthcare, retail, finance, K-12, higher education, and government agencies on both the state and local levels.
Darby O’Brien Advertising Launches Catch & Keep Initiative
SOUTH HADLEY — For more than 40 years, Darby O’Brien Advertising has created and executed innova- tive branding, advertising, and political campaigns. In recent years, clients have increasingly asked the agen-
Benner, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineer- ing and a team of educators from the university including Dean Hossein Cheraghi, Michael Rust, and Anthony Santamaria from the College of Engineering; Raymond Ostendorf from the College of Arts and Sci- ences; and Bryan Gross, vice president for Enrollment Management and Marketing. Benner will serve as principal investigator and project director. The proj- ect will increase the number of high-school students who have access to enroll in the WNEU Mechanical Engineering program. The grant provides funding for an annual need-based scholarship that will be added on top of each student’s WNEU merit scholarship and can be combined with the university’s Women in Engineering or FIRST Robotics Scholarships. In addi- tion, the grant will fund critical resources for students in the program to receive targeted support to help them successfully graduate.
Elms College Athletics to Join GNAC This Fall
CHICOPEE — Elms College and the Great Northeast Athletic Conference announced that the Blazers’ GNAC core membership will begin this fall with the upcoming 2021-22 academic year. Last October, both the institution and the league office issued a joint announcement indicating Elms would join the GNAC with the 2022-23 academic year; however, that time- line has since been adjusted. Elms had been a mem- ber of the New England College Conference since 2007, claiming 19 league championships while lead- ing the way in All-Academic selections. The Blazers’ swimming and diving programs have been associate members of GNAC since 2006, last competing at the 2020 GNAC championships just prior to the COVID- 19 pandemic shutdown. Now all 17 sport programs will compete in the same conference, including baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, as well
as men’s and women’s volleyball. GNAC Commis- sioner Joe Walsh, the conference office, and current members are working diligently to make scheduling adjustments to accommodate the Blazers’ programs, as Elms will now begin its GNAC journey this fall with men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s golf, and women’s volleyball.
Company Notebook
cy to bring its same out-of-step approach to another important area of business: recruit- ing. Many businesses, especially in technol- ogy and manufacturing, are facing unique challenges in today’s job market. Many have plenty of well-paid positions open but are unable to find the right candidates to fill
ing new areas of the digital economy. As blockchain innovation continues to grow and evolve, so do the legal, regulatory, and business challenges. The Block- chain and Cryptocurrency practice group includes attorneys Mark Cress, Dan Finnegan, Scott Foster, Bart Galvin, Lauren Ostberg, Ron Weiss, and Sarah Willey. With a cross-disciplinary approach, Bulkley Richard- son aims to assist clients in capitalizing on new busi- ness opportunities and meeting the challenges in this rapidly evolving industry.
Whalley Computer Associates Named One of Tech Elite 250
SOUTHWICK — Whalley Computer Associates (WCA) has once again been named to the Tech Elite 250
list comprised of solution providers in the U.S. and Canada that have made the investments necessary to earn the highest level of certifications from the largest and most prestigious manufacturers of technology products and services, such as Amazon Web Services, Cisco, Dell, IBM, Microsoft, Nutanix, VMware, HPI, and HPE, to name a few. CRN, a brand of the Chan- nel Company, named WCA to the Tech Elite 250 in 2016 and 2019 as well. WCA’s engineering team has earned about 125 certifications with nearly 30 dif- ferent manufacturers by numerous dedicated engi- neers. Founded in 1979, WCA has been providing IT
them. Then, when they find the right people, it can be a challenge to keep them. Traditional headhunt- ers and online hiring services often fall short, offering boilerplate approaches to a problem that needs cus- tomized solutions — and offering no follow-up. The agency decided to launch Catch & Keep after devel- oping successful recruiting campaigns for clients including VSS CNC Machining, the Mental Health Assoc., Paragus IT, and Berkshire Real Estate. Case studies and more information on Catch & Keep can be found at darbyobrien.com/recruiting.
National Science Foundation Grants $649,000 to WNEU
SPRINGFIELD — The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Western New England University (WNEU) $649,111 for a five-year grant to offer schol- arships to students. The target populations are stu- dents who are high achievers in high school whose family demonstrates they will benefit from financial aid. The grant will create a community-outreach program to increase the number of high-school and middle-school students entering and succeeding in STEM fields. The grant, titled Sustainable Pathways to Success for Low-income STEM Students Emphasiz- ing Research and Innovation, was awarded to Jingru
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in New Hampshire, and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 2.0 accredited professional (LEED 2.0 AP), Harris is also adjunct faculty at the University of Connecticut, teaching a class on how to conduct ASTM phase
I and II environmental site assess- ments in Connecticut. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in geology from Ohio Wesleyan University and his master’s degree in geoscience from the Univer- sity of Connecticut.
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Continuing a period of unprecedented growth, Pixel Health, a five-company,
national healthcare-consulting eco- system, appointed two seasoned IT professionals to fill new brand-level operations manager roles. Former Yan- kee Candle Chief Information Officer Dennis Shockro assumes the role of
director of Opera- tions at engineer- ing consultancy VertitechIT. IT managed-services industry manager Jennifer Brown joins baytechIT as senior direc- tor of Operations. In addition to Yankee Candle, Shockro held senior opera- tional roles at Brookstone and Northern Tool and Equipment. Brown has more
than 20 years of customer-focused and technical experience, both in the human-services and IT managed-ser- vices industries. Pixel Health compa-
nies VertitechIT, baytechIT, Nectar Stra- tegic Consulting, akiro, and Liberty Fox Technologies work with health systems, hospitals, clinics, and medical practices across North America. VertitechIT is the leading certified HIMSS Analyt-
ics INFRAM consultant in the world. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began a year ago, Pixel Health has expanded its overall workforce by approximately 40% across its U.S. operations.
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Kayombo Kamawu, a long- time administra- tor and advocate in the human- services field, was recently tapped by Pathlight to join its leader- ship team as vice
president of Residential Supports. Prior
to joining Pathlight, Kamawu served
as vice president of Adult Services at the Kennedy-Donovan Center, where he was responsible for residential, day, and community Services, including shared living, family-support centers, and individual/supported living. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer and management information systems. Kamawu has also served in various leadership capacities in community- based day supports, employment, and day habilitation service lines. He prides himself in developing strong teams and enjoys the hands-on experience gath- ered while working with those teams. Pathlight, established in 1952, is a pio- neer in services for children, teens, and adults with intellectual and develop- mental disabilities throughout the four counties of Western Mass.
DENNIS SHOCKRO
JENNIFER BROWN
KAYOMBO KAMAWU
60 APRIL 28, 2021
DEPARTMENTS
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