Page 48 - BusinessWest Macrh 6, 2023

THE FACES OF HOLYOKE BUSINESS >>
Hazen Paper Co.
This Family Business Has Been Innovating for Nearly a Century
John Hazen figured there was some risk in purchasing his first holographic printer back in 2005. But, as the third-generation co-owner of Hazen Paper Co. in Holyoke, he also saw the potential.
“I always say I was like Jack and the beanstalk,” he told BusinessWest. “Dad sent me out with a bag of beans — ‘grow the busi- ness, son!’ — and I bought this crazy thing called a holoprinter.”
But he was determined to build Hazen’s footprint in the world of holographic printing, and plenty of other technology at the company sprung from that first investment.
These days, Hazen regularly wins awards from the Assoc. of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators for everything from beverage packaging to annual programs for the Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and the Super Bowl. The 200-employee com- pany has also been recognized for workforce- development efforts like an internship program with Western New England University that helps engineering students gain experience.
Clearly, Hazen Paper has come a long way from its origins in 1925, when Hazen’s grandfa- ther, also named John, launched the enterprise as a decorative paper converter and embosser.
Crave
His younger brother, Ted, joined Hazen in 1928 to help manage the growing company, which grew rapidly in the 1930s and expanded into printing and foil laminating by the 1940s.
Ted’s son, Bob, joined the company in 1957, and John’s son, Tom, signed on in 1960, and the second generation dramatically expanded the company, which became known worldwide for specializing in foil and film lamination, gravure printing, specialty coating, and rotary emboss- ing. Hazen products became widely used in lux- ury packaging, lottery and other security tickets, tags and labels, cards and cover stocks, as well as photo and fine-art mounting.
The third-generation owners, John and Rob- ert Hazen, joined the company at the start of the 1990s, and have continued to grow and expand, with a special emphasis on coating, metallizing, and — of course — holographic technology.
“It really was a startup, a technology startup in an older company. And ultimately, we really reinvented Hazen Paper,” John told Business- West. “The holographic technology ended up feeding the old business. So it’s like we installed a new heart in an old body.” BW
—Joseph Bednar
President and CEO John Hazen
Nicole Ortiz Has Turned a Love of Food into a Growing Enterprise
Nicole Ortiz was born in Springfield, but became intrigued by food during her four years in Cleveland.
There, she worked her first job in a kitchen, prepping and washing dishes in a small Puer- to Rican restaurant, and the city’s West Side Market — filled with fresh foods from all over the world — became her favorite place, where she became captivated with food culture, local ingredients, and ... food trucks.
After moving back to New England in 2016, she put her business degree and an
itch for entrepreneurship to work, enrolling
in the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Center, then winning a pitch contest and setting up a suc- cessful pop-up restaurant experience at HCC. She bought a food trailer, graduated from both HCC and EforAll Holyoke, and launched a food-truck business called Crave, specializing in modern Puerto Rican cuisine, all in 2020.
“My father is from Puerto Rico, and my mom’s family is from Italy and Finland,” she said. “I think the food we offer is different and unique, and draws inspiration from the many walks of life that I have had the opportunity to experience.”
Despite opening into the teeth of the pan- demic, Crave Food Truck was a big-enough hit that Ortiz started sharing storefront space on High Street with Holyoke Hummus early in 2021, where she could prep meals and sell takeout orders. In June, she solely took over the lease, and Crave had a full-service restau- rant, which now offers sit-down and takeout service, in addition to the food-truck operation and catering gigs.
Now managing a staff of eight, Ortiz is proud to be part of an ongoing entrepreneurial renaissance on High Street (see related story on page 36).
“We want to build on that and let people know what’s going on down here. Before, this street had a bad image, and a lot of people didn’t want to come down here. We created a High Street Business Association to look at all the businesses here on High Street and get all of us on the same page, working for a com- mon goal — you know, bringing more people down here. That’s really exciting.” BW
—Joseph Bednar
Owner Nicole Ortiz
Staff Photo
48 MARCH 6, 2023
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Staff Photo