Page 12 - BusinessWest January 24, 2022

Editorial
BContinuing a Proud Tradition
BusinessWest
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usinessWest launched its Top Entrepreneur program By the time MassMutual, which built the complex, decided back in 1996 to recognize individuals, groups, and to sell it in 2017, it was, in many respects, tired. There were institutions that were honoring a tradition that went many intriguing tenants, including UMass Amherst and Cam-
back centuries and made Greater Springfield a hub for inno- vation and industry.
For much of that decade, and into the next one, the list of honorees was top-heavy with those from the IT sector, as might be expected. Indeed, that realm was booming, and a legion of young entrepreneurs were starting businesses focused on hard- ware, software, and developing solutions for clients.
But over the years, this award has also gone to a college president, a hospital president, a municipal utility (Holyoke Gas & Electric), and a hockey team — actually, the owners and operators of that team, the Springfield Thunderbirds. And there have been more traditional entrepreneurs as well, in fields ranging from auto sales to hardware stores; trash hauling to home care.
The common denominator — and there’s certainly more than one — is calculated risk taking and a desire to meet identi- fied, and often unmet, needs. In most all cases, they’ve done so by overcoming several challenges, and, in the case of decades- old businesses (Rocky’s Ace Hardware and Balise Auto Sales come to mind), adapt to changing times.
This pattern is certainly continuing with this year’s honor- ees, Vid Mitta and Dinesh Patel, the serial entrepreneurs who have made Springfield’s Tower Square their latest and most ambitious undertaking to date (see story on page 16).
Tower Square, originally known as Baystate West, was con- ceived and built in the ’60s. It was designed to change the landscape in the city, and it did just that, its office tower rising far above everything around it for another two decades. It was created to be a destination, a place where people would work, shop, and dine, and for a while, it worked.
But when shopping patterns changed and malls were erect- ed in the suburbs, it didn’t.
Opinion
bridge College, but still many vacancies on both the retail and office sides. Meanwhile, the hotel on the property had lost its Marriott flag, was operating as the Tower Square Hotel, and had lost most of its original luster.
While most potential investors saw a troubled property and had visions of a fire sale, Patel and Mitta saw a gem — albeit one that needed some polishing. They rolled the dice, knowing their $17.5 million investment was only the first of many that would have to be made.
Since acquiring the property, they have used imagination — attracting White Lion Brewing Co. and the YMCA’s fitness and daycare operations, for example — and persistence (something that’s certainly needed during a pandemic now entering its third year) to bring new life and energy to the property.
The new façade that has gone up on the hotel is somewhat symbolic of this entire project — it is shiny, it is new, and it is turning a lot of heads.
The partners still have a long way to go with this endeavor, to be sure. There are still many vacancies to fill, and the prop- erty is still not entirely worthy of the term ‘destination.’
But three years and more than $30 million in investments later, their gamble is showing signs that it will pay off — for them, the city, and the region.
We don’t know how this story will end, but for now, there are many intriguing plotlines. One of them concerns entrepreneurs taking a chance, planning, and working diligently to make a dream become reality.
That’s the same general pattern followed by all the winners of the Top Entrepreneur award since 1996, and it explains why Mitta and Patel are worthy additions to a distinguished list of honorees. v
Take a Personal Learning Inventory
By Michelle Desaulniers
Most everyone has been a pas- senger on an airplane and heard the safety talk. Very
often, the ‘put your own mask on first before helping others’ analogy is used to remind people, in myriad situa- tions, that it is OK — in fact, it is pref- erable — to practice self-care.
Most of us push self-care and every- thing that goes along with that notion to the bottom of our to-do list — and we just keep on flying. But what if, at the beginning of 2022, you decided to put yourself and your career first? Start this new year on a different note by taking a personal learning inventory.
At the Employers Assoc. of the North- East (EANE), we are challenging our members to bring their personal devel- opment to the number-one position on their to-do list for 2022 by asking them- selves these questions:
• How will you make next year count?
• What will you do to take your career to a new level?
• How will you challenge yourself in 2022?
What will it take to get you into a personal growth mindset? Start by think- ing about the last time you took a class, attended a training session, or went to
a conference. Remember that feeling of accomplishment, the renewed sense of purpose and engagement that you felt afterwards? It was great connecting with peers outside of your organization and sharing ideas, wasn’t it? Wouldn’t you like to feel that again and really get into that forward-thinking growth mindset?
EANE offers a variety of formal opportunities and options to refresh your attitude and to add substance to your learning inventory. The coming year should be punctuated with your
own personal learning events that will enable you to return to your daily chal- lenges feeling refreshed, re-energized, and ready to tackle those challenges with a new outlook and armed with freshly minted skills. Not only do you owe it to yourself, but you owe it to your co-work- ers. They will see your example, and they will follow it.
No doubt everyone is feeling the weight of the world lately, and no one wants to poke their head up for fear of flying objects. But allowing your profes- sional growth to stagnate for yet another year is like putting someone else’s mask on before your own. On an airplane — and in your career — that could lead to disaster. v
Michelle Desaulniers is a member of the Learning & Development team at EANE.
12 JANUARY 24, 2022
OPINION
BusinessWest