Page 10 - BusinessWest July 7, 2025

EDITORIAL >>
Jim Vinick Made a Difference
When Jim Vinick put his mind to doing something —
whether it was the next iteration of the Naismith Memo-
rial Basketball Hall of Fame or a statue in honor of the
man who would be identified as the ‘Jimmy’ in the Jimmy Fund —
he got it done.
And that’s just one of the character traits that people remem-
ber as they celebrate the life and accomplishments of Vinick,
most recently the managing director of Investments for Moors &
Cabot, who passed away in June.
Mostly, they remember that he didn’t just get things done — he
got them done right, the way he thought they should be done.
With the statue of Einar Gustafson (‘Jimmy’), that meant
removing Red Sox slugger Ted Williams, a close friend, from the
original plans for the piece — because it was the Boston Braves,
not the Red Sox, that were originally associated with the non-
profit that raised money to battle cancer in children — and being
steadfast in his efforts to have it located in a prominent area.
This determination to have things done his way sometimes
ruffled people. Indeed, John Doleva, president and CEO of the
Hall of Fame, who worked with and beside him for decades, said
of Vinick: “while his exterior was gruff, his heart was pure.”
Indeed, it was, especially when it came to the Hall. For Vinick,
it was literally a life-long passion.
“As a young teenager, he worked with his father, brother, and
others to help establish the original Basketball Hall of Fame on
the campus of Springfield College and since then has been a
OPINION >>
tireless advocate for the various iterations of the Hall,” Doleva
noted. “He has served as our longtime finance committee chair
and treasurer of the organization keeping a watchful eye on the
Hall’s financial condition, and he helped guide the long-sought
economic renaissance of the Hall and reveled in the current fis-
cal condition of the Hall and our growing impact on the game. He
stands as the bedrock of the current Hall. He will be missed, but
never forgotten.”
Those are sentiments shared by many, including those who
tuned in to “The Vinick Report” on Channel 40, dedicated to
financial literacy and helping viewers make smart, informed
financial decisions. And those who worked with him on the Jef-
frey Vinick Memorial Golf Tournament, staged in honor of his
son, who lost his battle with a rare form of testicular cancer. And
those who benefited from his many contributions to community
institutions such as Jewish Geriatric Services, Temple Beth El,
and the Willie Ross School for the Deaf.
Those sentiments explain why Vinick was honored by Busi-
nessWest with its prestigious Difference Makers award in 2013.
Only a few dozen people have earned that title, which is reserved
for those who go above and beyond — in his case, with everything
he did — and make this region a better place to live, work, and do
business.
He certainly did that, and, as Doleva noted, he’ll be missed, but
never forgotten. BW
PUBLISHER
John Gormally
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SALES MANAGER &
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Kate Campiti
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EDITOR
Joseph Bednar
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CONTRIBUTING
WRITER
George O’Brien
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ADVERTISING
CONSULTANTS
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EXECUTIVE
ADMINISTRATOR
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From the Field to the Front Lines
BY DENZEL AGYEMAN
I spent four years chasing victory on the track as a Division 1
athlete at UMass Amherst. I trained for long hours and learned
the importance of sacrifice, teamwork, and dedication. I pushed
myself physically and mentally while balancing the rigorous train-
ing with taxing academic studies.
Upon graduation, I wanted to take these skills into a career
that demanded the same focus, resilience, and collaboration, but
in a way that I could make a difference. I decided to pursue a path
into medicine and I set my sights on becoming a physician assis-
tant (PA). I knew I had to sacrifice long hours to get hands-on
patient care experience before applying to PA school. I shadowed
a neurosurgeon at Baystate Medical Center, who advised me to
become an emergency medical technician (EMT).
I turned to American Medical Response’s (AMR) Earn While
You Learn program, where I was compensated to take EMT
classes. Within 12 weeks, I learned how to be a first responder
for the city of Springfield. It exposed me to the reality of medical
care in the field, before patients are handed off to the hospital.
Becoming an EMT combines everything I love about being an
athlete — teamwork, communication, and discipline — but with
a much deeper sense of purpose. My experience on the track
helped prepare me for the moment I heard my first call come
over the radio as a first responder. The feeling of adrenaline was
familiar. It pushed me to move faster, assess what’s ahead, and
work efficiently under pressure. But now the stakes were even
higher.
On the track, and now in the ambulance, teamwork is at the
forefront of everything I do. My colleagues at AMR are the ulti-
mate team players. We work together to make quick decisions
and offer support. We keep each other and our community safe.
And we consistently push each other to provide the best patient
care possible. We also collaborate with other skilled first respond-
ers, including Springfield firefighters, police officers, and hospi-
ART DIRECTOR
Mike Nasuti
[email protected]
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Ryan Leary
[email protected]
MARKETING &
EVENTS MANAGER
Natasha
Mercado-Santana
[email protected]
10 << OPINION >>
JULY 7, 2025
tal personnel, all dedicated to helping our neighbors in times of
need.
In track, I learned that communication isn’t always about talk-
ing; it’s about listening — to my coach, my teammates, and my
body. As an EMT, that skill translates into every call I go on. I
listen to our patients and help them through some of their worst
possible moments. I listen to family members and provide com-
fort and reassurance. I listen to my instincts and the guidance of
my partner. Earn While You Learn has taught me to communicate
both professionally and personally with patients, making chaotic
situations run smoothly with empathy and integrity.
I’ve traded in the medals for stretchers. I’m still running, but
now it’s to help ease someone’s pain, make them breathe easier,
or simply help them feel safe. My new team may look different,
but it’s not unique. Emergency medical service is filled with ath-
letes, veterans, and caregivers, all doing extraordinary things to
be there at a moment’s notice for our community. For anyone
OFFICE MANAGER
Darlene Clarke
officemanager@
businesswest.com
looking for a greater purpose in life, consider this uniform.
Entire contents of this
AMR’s Earn While You Learn program is designed to cultivate
publication are Copyright
the next generation of EMTs by providing trainees with full-time
© 2025, and cannot be reprinted
employment from day one. Participants receive free tuition, train-
in whole or part
without special written
ing, lab fees, books, testing, and equipment — all while earning a
permission by the publisher.
paycheck during class. Upon completion of the program and EMT
Yearly subscription price is $45.00. BusinessWest assumes
certification, graduates receive a pay increase and comprehensive
no responsibility for mistakes in
benefits.
advertisements, but will make
Since its inception by AMR’s parent company, Global Medi-
corrections if written notice
cal Response (GMR), the Earn While You Learn program has
is received within 7 days of
publication date. BusinessWest
expanded to 42 states and 173 cities and has graduated nearly
reserves the right to reject
3,000 students. BW
an advertisement it deems
misleading or inappropriate.
Denzel Agyeman is a former UMass Amherst athlete and
recent graduate of American Medical Response’s Earn While
You Learn program.
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Springfield, MA 01103
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