Page 36 - BusinessWest November 24, 2025

COMPANY NOTEBOOK>>
Pittsfield Cooperative Bank
Partners with Brown & Brown
PITTSFIELD — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank
announced a new partnership with Brown & Brown,
one of the nation’s leading insurance brokerages.
Together, the two organizations will offer custom-
ers and community members throughout the Berk-
shires access to a wide range of insurance products
backed by local service. Unlike national call centers
or impersonal online platforms, this partnership
brings together two organizations with deep ties to
Berkshire County. Brown & Brown’s regional team
of insurance professionals live and work in the com-
munity, offering local personal attention and pro-
viding responsive support. Through this partnership,
customers can access comprehensive insurance
coverage — including auto, home, umbrella, life,
recreational vehicles, commercial property, liability,
and organizational employee benefits — delivered
with the same personal touch and community com-
mitment that define both organizations.
Berkshire Money Management
Expands to Williamstown
WILLIAMSTOWN — Berkshire Money Management
(BMM), a fixture in the Central and Southern Berk-
shires, will open a new office at 136 Water St. in Wil-
liamstown later this year to better serve clients and
neighbors in the Northern Berkshires and Southern
Vermont. The move expands BMM’s physical pres-
ence across Berkshire County — with offices now
in Dalton, Great Barrington, and Williamstown — so
clients can meet with their advisors close to home,
wherever they live. The Water Street location, just
around the corner from Spring Street and the Wil-
liams College campus, brings the firm’s financial
planning expertise to the heart of Williamstown’s
business district. Advisors will begin meeting clients
in Williamstown by appointment later this year,
with a grand opening planned for early 2026. The
building is owned by BMM co-founder and Chief
Engagement Officer Stacey Carver, who purchased
the property earlier this year.
WNE School of Law Launches
Online JD Access Program
SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University
School of Law announced the launch of JD Access,
a part-time evening online juris doctor program
designed to expand access to legal education for
working professionals, non-traditional students, and
individuals whose life circumstances make attend-
ing on-campus programs difficult. The first cohort
will begin in the fall of 2026. Fully accredited by the
American Bar Assoc. (ABA), JD Access is among only
about 20 ABA accredited online JD programs nation-
wide. The program offers an innovative blend of syn-
chronous online classes, asynchronous coursework,
and limited in-person residencies, giving students the
flexibility to pursue their law degree while balancing
work, family, and other commitments. The part-time
evening structure is ideal for working professionals,
with short, required residencies designed to foster
connection and collaboration. The program also
provides opportunities for meaningful pro bono and
community engagement through the Center for
Social Justice at Western New England University.
Students can complete the program in three and
a half or four years, with optional summer courses
available, and the program is open to students across
the country, regardless of where they live and work.
Westfield State Named Among
Top 100 Women-led Businesses
WESTFIELD — Westfield State University has been
recognized as one of Massachusetts’ premier wom-
en-led businesses. The university earned a spot on
the 2025 Top 100 Women-led Businesses list pre-
sented annually by the Women’s Edge and the Bos-
ton Globe. The winners were honored at an awards
ceremony and celebratory breakfast event held on
Oct. 24. Key factors in the evaluation of businesses
included workplace and management diversity,
board makeup, and innovative projects, alongside
revenue or operating budget.
Bulkley Richardson Named
Best Law Firm in 14 Areas
SPRINGFIELD — Best Lawyers, in partnership with
U.S. News and World Report, ranked Bulkley Rich-
ardson as 2026 Best Law Firm in the Springfield
region in the following 14 practice areas: banking
and finance law, bankruptcy and creditor debtor
rights / insolvency and reorganization law, busi-
ness organizations (including LLCs and partner-
ships), commercial litigation, corporate law, crimi-
nal defense – general practice, criminal defense
– white collar, employment law – individuals,
employment law – management, litigation – labor
and employment, medical malpractice law – defen-
dants, personal injury litigation – defendants, real
estate law, and trusts and estates law. To be eligible
for a ranking, a law firm must have at least one
lawyer included in the list of Best Lawyers. Bulkley
Richardson has 12 lawyers included on the 2026
Best Lawyers list, and Mary Jo Kennedy was named
2026 Springfield-area Lawyer of the Year for both
employment law (management) and litigation (labor
and employment). Rankings are based on a rigorous
evaluation process that includes the collection of
client and lawyer evaluations and peer reviews from
leading attorneys in the field.
Allied Flooring & Budget Cabinets
Supports Two Regional Nonprofits
AGAWAM — Allied Flooring & Budget Cabinets
announced the results of its second annual Char-
ity Golf Tournament, raising a total of $31,385 to
benefit two local nonprofit organizations, Sunshine
Village and Project New Hope. In Agawam on Oct.
29, the leadership team presented Sunshine Village
with a donation of $15,692.50 to support the orga-
nization’s programs for adults with developmental
disabilities throughout Western Mass. Then on
Oct. 30 in Leominster, they presented the remain-
ing $15,692.50 to Project New Hope, a nonprofit
dedicated to providing veterans and their families
with support programs, retreats, and community
resources designed to help them rebuild their lives
after military service. The annual tournament, held
in September at Chicopee Country Club, brought
together more than 100 golfers, dozens of spon-
sors, and community partners for a day of friendly
competition and fundraising. The event’s success
reflects Allied Flooring and Budget Cabinets’ ongo-
ing commitment to supporting local causes and
building strong community connections beyond the
showroom. Plans are already underway for the third
annual Allied Flooring & Budget Cabinets Charity
Golf Tournament, with hopes of raising even more
funds in 2026.
36 << DEPARTMENTS >>
NOVEMBER 24, 2025
AIC Opens Food Pantry to
Combat Student Food Insecurity
SPRINGFIELD — American International College
(AIC) is helping students facing food insecurity with
the launch of the Buzz Stop, a new campus food
pantry. According to government data, approxi-
mately 3.8 million college students nationwide,
or about 23%, face food insecurity. Many do not
receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Pro-
gram benefits due to application barriers or lack
of awareness. The pantry, located in the Student
Affairs office on the upper level of the Schwartz
Campus Center, offers both perishable and non-
perishable foods as well as basic academic supplies.
Students can fill a shopping basket once per week
without restrictions, ensuring they have access to
essential nutrition while pursuing their studies. Since
December 2024, AIC has been preparing an unused
office on the upper level of the Schwartz Cam-
pus Center to host the Buzz Stop. The renovated
space includes shelves stocked with non-perishable
items, a refrigerator for perishable foods, and basic
academic supplies. Students can find supplies like
canned goods, fresh produce, snacks, macaroni and
cheese, and more with items available on a rotat-
ing inventory. AIC partnered with the Food Bank of
Western Massachusetts to stock the pantry, with
support from an anonymous donor. The college will
continue refining the Buzz Stop based on student
feedback to ensure it meets evolving needs.
Country Bank Makes
Back-to-school Donations
WARE — Country Bank, a full-service financial
institution serving Central and Western Mass.,
announced its recent donation of $250 Visa gift
cards to 44 local schools, totaling $11,000. These
schools have been long-standing partners in the
bank’s financial literacy initiatives, and this contri-
bution aims to support teachers and students as
they head into the new academic year. As part of its
continued commitment to financial literacy, Coun-
try Bank’s Money School program offers engag-
ing, age-appropriate lessons and resources to help
students learn the fundamentals of money man-
agement, budgeting, and saving. From classroom
sessions to interactive fairs, the program provides
real-world financial experiences that make learning
fun and practical. Students and families are encour-
aged to visit any Country Bank location to learn
more about Money School and how to get involved.
The program’s goal is simple: to help young people
develop the knowledge and confidence to make
smart financial decisions throughout their lives.
Market Mentors Raises
$5,000 for Rays of Hope
SPRINGFIELD — Market Mentors, LLC, a fully inte-
grated marketing, advertising, and public relations
agency with offices in Massachusetts and Florida,
announced it has raised $5,000 for Rays of Hope,
the Baystate Health Breast Network initiative sup-
porting breast cancer patients, survivors, and
research since 1994. Each October, during Breast
Cancer Awareness Month, the agency creates
specially designed items to raise funds and aware-
ness. This year’s featured travel mug delivers the
simple, life-saving reminder: “Check them early,
check them often.” The campaign reminds men and
women alike to take small, proactive steps that can
make a big difference in their health.
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