SPRINGFIELD — Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, a local nonprofit organization that provides financial-literacy, entrepreneurship, and career-readiness education, was awarded a $5,000 grant from Webster Bank to support the JA: A Valued Added Authentic Learning Project, providing students with the tools to develop the 21st-century skills needed to become highly skilled, autonomous employees.

Through its charitable-giving programs, Webster Bank focuses on helping a broad set of organizations build a strong and self-reliant community. Webster has a long history of supporting Junior Achievement and its efforts to deliver K-12 programs that foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial-literacy skills. Webster Bank employees volunteer to teach the JA curriculum at a variety of schools throughout the area.

JA: A Valued Added Authentic Learning Project leverages the skills, talent, and educational and career opportunities of this region to create a cadre of role models from the community to weave multiple intersecting pathways for middle-grade and high-school students to engage with JA’s relevant curriculum and instructional materials, supplemental technology-driven simulations, job-shadow experiences, and competitions. The project’s goals are to improve students’ knowledge of financial literacy in order for them to make sound financial judgments in the future; boost students’ entrepreneurial skills; increase students’ critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, and raise awareness of career and post-secondary education and career opportunities in Western Mass.

“JA of Western Massachusetts is very excited to once again work with Webster Bank to bring our programs to area youth,” said Jennifer Connolly, president of JA of Western Massachusetts. “Webster Bank, like Junior Achievement, is dedicated to strengthening economic opportunities in underserved communities by empowering individuals with knowledge and tools needed to ensure financial self-sufficiency to inspire own their economic success.”

Kathy Luria, senior vice president of Community Affairs and director of Philanthropy at Webster Bank, added that “Webster is dedicated to giving of ourselves in the communities we serve. We know our long-standing investment in JA has a positive impact on the students, their financial literacy, and their readiness to be the employees and leaders of tomorrow.”

BOSTON — Nexamp Inc. and HCG are working together to promote community solar projects totaling more than 21 megawatts across Western Mass., enough to power approximately 4,000 homes. The solar arrays provide the opportunity for residents, businesses, and municipalities to save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on their annual electricity bills while supporting local, renewable electricity. The collaborative effort is known as Hampshire Renewables.

“Our community solar projects show the immense potential of thoughtful energy policy in the Commonwealth,” said Zaid Ashai, Nexamp CEO. “Nexamp is committed to making solar power accessible and affordable for everyone, even if they don’t have the ability to install solar panels on their own home or building for any reason. Community solar fuels the growth of local, renewable energy, and this collaboration with HCG makes it even easier for consumers to benefit in this region.”

Hundreds of local residents, nonprofits, and small businesses have already signed up through the Hampshire Renewables website or with HCG or Nexamp representatives. Customers who subscribe to Nexamp’s community solar projects through Hampshire Renewables will realize a guaranteed 15% discount on electricity from the solar projects delivered to their National Grid or Eversource utility bills.

“It was an easy decision to work with Hampshire Power to get energy credits from community shared solar,” says Peter St. Martin, owner of Roberto’s and Sylvester’s restaurants in downtown Northampton. “Our electricity costs are lower every month, and we’re supporting green power in our area. We are already working with Hampshire Power to get our electricity supply, so this was just another way to use green energy, work with a local nonprofit, and save money.”

“We are proud to expand our partnership with Nexamp to bring local solar savings to customers in Western Massachusetts who want to power their values, while saving money and supporting renewable energy,” said Todd Ford, executive director of HCG.

In Eversource/WMECo territory, projects are located in Amherst, Whately, Plainfield, and Hadley (Nexamp’s third project in Hadley). In National Grid territory, project locations include Palmer, Wales, Granby, Oakham, Winchendon, and Charlton (Nexamp’s third project in Charlton).

Anyone interested in participating should visit hcg-ma.org/hampshire-renewables.

AMHERST — The Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley is looking for business owners or key managers who would contribute to a presentation on March 12 called “Building a Company People Crave to Work For.”

Several years ago, Jack Stack, father of the Great Game of Business and open-book management, said, “build a great company — because a great company can’t help but make great products.” But what does it take to make a company great?

The presentation will be made up of people from businesses with strong policies, attractive cultures, and impressive numbers of high potential employees rising through the ranks. Attendees will hear how they did it, and learn how to adopt anything that would work for their own companies. Get in touch at fambizpv.com.

ANDOVER — Wright-Pierce, a multi-disciplinary engineering firm, announced that Thomas Hogan has joined the firm as regional group leader for Western and Central Mass.

“We are extremely happy to welcome Tom to our team,” Wright-Pierce President and CEO John Braccio said. “The depth of his experience and professional presence allows us to better serve our clients in Western and Central Massachusetts.”

Bringing a diverse skill set to Wright-Pierce’s growing Massachusetts operation, Hogan has more than 20 years of experience working with municipal, institutional, industrial, commercial, and energy-sector clients. He has served as a consultant to municipalities throughout Massachusetts, conducting site-plan reviews and providing expert testimony, master planning and design, permitting, materials testing, and construction inspection and administration. He has successfully permitted complex projects through local, state, and federal agencies throughout New England, and is considered a leader in implementing stormwater best management practices, dam improvements, and watershed protection measures.

Hogan’s technical expertise in the energy sector includes project management of deepwater dredging for a hydroelectric generating facility, renewable-energy-source development, and a combined heat and power plant for a regional medical center, significantly increasing its utility crisis backup operations capability. 

LONGMEADOW — Campus safety is a top consideration for many individuals and their families when it comes to choosing a college to attend. Niche.com compiled a list of the safest college campuses in America, and Bay Path University ranked third out of nearly 1,500 reviewed. The university ranked first for safety in both Massachusetts and New England. 

“We do as much as we can to ensure that the Bay Path University campus is a safe place,” said Michael Giampietro, vice president for Finance & Administrative Services. “Campus safety is a top priority here. Our Longmeadow campus, in particular, is well-lit with emergency call boxes, and our staff performs routine building checks.”

He also credited Bay Path’s small size, and the fact that students, facuty, and staff tend to know each other. “We’re also fortunate for our location in the very safe town of Longmeadow, where we work to maintain a good relationship with the local fire and police departments.”

According to Niche.com, the 2019 Safest College Campuses ranking is based on key statistics and student reviews using data from the U.S. Department of Education. The site states that top-ranked colleges offer a safe and healthy environment with little or no campus crime, drugs, or alcohol usage. Specific factors considered include campus crime rate, local crime grade, student surveys on safety, residence-hall date violence rate, residence-hall rape rate, alcohol-related arrests, and drug-related arrests.

SPRINGFIELD — Twenty-four student teams wll participate the FIRST LEGO League Into Orbit Challenge at a regional competition at Western New England University on Saturday, Dec. 8.

From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the university’s Alumni Healthful Living Center, teams of elementary- and middle-school students from Agawam, Brookfield, Chicopee, Greenfield, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Northampton, South Hadley, Springfield, West Springfield, Westhampton, and Wilbraham will take part in the competition.

Students will put LEGO robots that they have programmed through a series of challenges, competing for the opportunity to advance to the championship competition later this month. 

The FIRST LEGO League challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers. During the Into Orbit season, teams choose real-world problems to solve and then build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO Mindstorms technology to solve a set of missions. Throughout their experience, teams will operate under the FIRST signature set of core values, celebrating discovery, teamwork, and gracious professionalism.

At the competition, students will be joined by their professional mentors, sponsors, and family members. Admission is free and open to the public.

CHICOPEE — David Fernandes has joined Polish National Credit Union as retail operations manager.

Fernandes has more than 11 years of retail banking and management experience. He has taken on an array of roles during his career, including retail banking officer, branch manager, and mortgage loan specialist, which has provided him with widespread knowledge of the industry.

Fernandes is a graduate of American International College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He has held communication and community assignments with the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the membership committee; the Chicopee Portuguese American Club, where he is a member of the scholarship committee; and the Gremio Lusitano Portuguese Club of Ludlow, where he is on the executive board.

Fernandes is also a Ludlow Special Police officer and treasurer, completing countless hours of community service. He assists with organizing community events and maintains the finances of the association. In 2010, he graduated from the Basic Reserve/Intermittent Academy and has his Western Mass. Chiefs of Police Assoc. certification.

“We look forward to David’s success in supporting the Polish National Credit Union and promoting its products and services to both future and current members,” said James Kelly, president and CEO of the Polish National Credit Union. “We are pleased to welcome him to our team.”

CHICOPEE — The Elms College School of Nursing held a white-coat ceremony on Dec. 5 to honor the college’s fourth cohort of DNP (doctor of nursing practice) students as they transition from the classroom into clinical practice experiences. The 15 honorees started in the DNP program in fall 2017 and will begin their clinical practice in January.

“Each one of you brings depths of knowledge, expertise, and dedication to the profession of nursing,” said Teresa Kuta Reske, director of the DNP program at Elms College, in a speech during the ceremony. “The next few months will be a journey of self-discovery as you begin to develop your own set of guiding principles and humanistic qualities most important in advanced nursing practice.”

The DNP white coat ceremony included opening remarks from Kathleen Scoble, dean of the School of Nursing; an address from Elms College President Harry Dumay; and a keynote address from Br. Michael Duffy, conventual Franciscan friar and associate dean of the School of Nursing. The ceremony also included an oath, a blessing of the white coats, and the presentation of the coats to the students. 

“Today, you are needed more than ever,” Dumay told the honorees. “The demands on our healthcare system are more varied and complicated than ever before. The need for skilled and experienced nurse practitioners who are trained at the highest level, and are ready to evolve as knowledge expands and technology advances, is ever more pressing. Your training as a doctor of nursing practice is preparing you well to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.”

The DNP degree is a clinical practice doctorate. Students also take advanced specialty courses to become nurse practitioners. Elms College’s DNP graduates will be eligible to take the advanced certification examination in one of the two specialty tracks: family nurse practitioner or adult-gerontology acute-care nurse practitioner. Qualified master’s-prepared nurses who are advanced-practice nurses or nurse leaders are eligible to apply to a third DNP track: health systems innovation and leadership.

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest is honoring its inaugural Women of Impact this morning at a sold-out gala at the Sheraton Springfield. 

More than 80 nominations were submitted, and candidates were scored by an esteemed panel of three judges. There are eight winners in this first class. Honorees were profiled in the Nov. 12 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com. This year’s honorees are:

• Jean Canosa Albano, Assistant Director for Public Services, Springfield City Library;

• Kerry Dietz, Owner and Principal, Dietz & Company Architects Inc.;

• Denise Jordan, Executive Director, Springfield Housing Authority;

• Gina Kos, Executive Director, Sunshine Village;

• Carol Leary, President, Bay Path University;

• Colleen Loveless, President and CEO, Revitalize Community Development Corp.;

• Janis Santos, Executive Director, HCS Head Start Inc.; and

• Katie Allan Zobel, President and CEO, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

The Women of Impact awards were created to honor women who have the authority and power to move the needle in their business, are respected for accomplishments within their industries, give back to the community, and are sought out as respected advisors and mentors within their field of influence. 

This year’s program is sponsored by Bay Path University, Comcast Business, Country Bank, Granite State Development, and WWLP 22 News.

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Savings Bank (GSB) named Pamela Stobierski chair of its board of directors. Stobierski has been a trustee of the bank since 2008 and most recently has been serving on the executive board of directors and as chair of the trust committee. She takes on the board chair position following the death this past spring of the prior chair, Edward Margola.

“Greenfield Savings Bank is an extraordinary company,” Stobierski said. “It’s an honor to be appointed chair of an organization that improves the quality of life in our community.”

Following her graduation from Smith College in 1983, Stobierski obtained her juris doctorate from Suffolk University in 1988 and became a partner with her husband, John Stobierski, in Stobierski and Connor, one of the largest law firms in Greenfield. Her law practice has been concentrated in elder law, estates, and real estate. Recently, she became ‘of counsel’ to the firm to give greater attention to her duties as chair of the GSB board.

Stobierski is a member of the Franklin County Bar Assoc., the Real Estate Bar Assoc. of Massachusetts, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the South Deerfield Women’s Club, and a member and a former vice president of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Assoc. of Deerfield. Her community-service record also includes previously serving as an executive committee member of the Franklin County Bar Assoc. and as treasurer of the Pioneer Valley Symphony.

“Pam has distinguished herself as a member of both our executive board and trust committee as an outstanding, thoughtful, and strong leader,” said John Howland, president and CEO of Greenfield Savings Bank. “We feel fortunate to have her serve as chair of the organization.”

AGAWAM — OMG Inc. named Karly Grimaldi to the newly created position of Sales & Operations Planning manager. She reports to Geri McCarthy, director of Operations.

“OMG has established a strong S&OP forecasting tool which various functions in the business utilize,” said Dewey Kolvek, senior vice president of Operations. “In her new position, Karly will capitalize on the tool to help these functions drive process improvements within their organizations.”

Grimaldi started with OMG in 2011 as a sales and marketing assistant for the Roofing Products Division. Most recently, she has been an S&OP analyst, helping to design and launch the initial sales and operations planning tool. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in information management and communications, both from Bay Path University.

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) is celebrating the first anniversary of Rex’s Pantry, a food and necessities pantry founded a year ago to assist community members in need.

Rex’s Pantry was launched in December 2017 and since that time has prepared and served more than 1,500 hot meals in Springfield, assisted in the collection and local distribution of thousands of pounds of canned food; supported various community food efforts; distributed cold weather gear, including gloves, caps, socks, and hand warmers to the homeless; provided hundreds of Rex to the Rescue kits, which included boxed lunches; and offered fellowship led by Father John McDonagh, head of AIC’s campus ministry and outreach, to those participating in the Rex’s Pantry hot meal program.

Rex’s Pantry is a college initiative that has mobilized a dedicated and ever-expanding corps of volunteers, including undergraduate and graduate students, student athletes, coaches, faculty, and staff.

“American International College founded Rex’s Pantry in an effort to provide for those who cannot always provide for themselves. It is this higher dedication to community service that has further opened the hearts of the AIC family to assist those in need,” said AIC Vice President for Marketing and Communications Robert Cole, founder of Rex’s Pantry.

He added that “Rex’s Pantry would never have become a reality without the support of AIC President Vince Maniaci, Associate Vice President for Auxiliary Services Jeff Bednarz, and Todd Alden, Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services director at AIC. The Chartwells team has been remarkable. They plan the menus and prepare all of the food being plated and served by our volunteers.”

Beneficiaries of the efforts of Rex’s Pantry include the Loaves & Fishes Community Kitchen at both South Congregational Church and Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield, Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry in Chicopee, Friends of the Homeless, and the Springfield Rescue Mission.

Rex, a yellowjacket, is the AIC mascot.

SPRINGFIELD — ValleyBike Share recently extended thanks to all users, sponsors, and supporters during its inaugural season. While the system experienced some expected (and unexpected) issues during this year’s startup, users successfully traveled over 88,000 miles together and made the bike-share system a success. People have been using the system instead of their cars for commuting to work and school, running errands, and even just for exercise and fresh air.

“We are excited by the enthusiastic response in this first season of bike share, which has exceeded our original ridership projections,” said Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz. “We look forward to Easthampton joining the program next spring and also filling in the gaps in the system to continue expanding this important transportation alternative in the region.”

Added Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, “the arrival of electric bikes has complemented and energized our community-development efforts in Holyoke and our region. As we close on our maiden season, I look forward to expanding the service and implementing lessons learned to make our network even better next year.”

Tim Brennan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, noted that, since ValleyBike has been in existence, residents and visitors of the five founding communities and UMass Amherst have traveled the equivalent of three and half times around the Earth — “something truly worth celebrating as its inaugural season comes to a close.”

ValleyBike Share also reminds the public that, as originally programmed, the system shut down completely on Nov. 30 and will be re-opened on April 1 (weather permitting).

During the time ValleyBike Share bikes are over-wintering, ValleyBike will be working to fix the issues noted in the startup season to provide the public with new and improved riding opportunities next season.

MONSON — For the ninth year in a row, Monson Savings Bank is asking the community to help plan the bank’s community giving activities by inviting people to vote for the organizations they would like the bank to support during 2019.

“Every year, we donate over $125,000 to organizations doing important work in the communities we serve,” said Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. “For several years now, we’ve been asking the community for input on which groups they’d like us to support. We’ve been so pleased by how many people inquire each year as to when the voting will begin again and how many people actually participate.”

To cast their vote, people can go to www.monsonsavings.bank/about-us/vote-community-giving. On that page, they can see a list of organizations the bank has already supported in 2018 and provide up to three names of groups they’d like the bank to donate to in 2019. The only requirement is that the organizations be nonprofit and providing services in Hampden, Monson, Wilbraham, or Ware.

The voting ends at 3 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31. The bank pledges to support the top 10 vote getters and will announce who they are by the middle of January.

HOLYOKE — Jose Delgado, a Springfield native who has been active in local and statewide government affairs for most of his professional career, was appointed to the Holyoke Community College (HCC) board of trustees by Gov. Charlie Baker. Delgado is director of Government Affairs for MGM Springfield and a former aide to Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.

“Despite my age, I’ve been out in the community for a while, particularly in Springfield,” Delgado said after his first HCC trustees meeting on Nov. 27. “It’s good to see some familiar faces on the board, but also some folks that I don’t know. It’s exciting to hear what’s going on at HCC. I’m honored to be part of it and looking forward to what’s to come.”

Born and raised in Springfield, Delgado graduated from Central High School before attending Westfield State College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communications with a minor in business management. Earlier this year, he completed his MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.

“I’m a first-generation college student and not too different from many of the students here at HCC,” he said. “My mom didn’t make it to high school. My dad graduated high school, and that was about it. So higher ed, education in general, is important to me because I’ve seen what it did in my life. I’m a kid who grew up on public assistance, was able to break that cycle, and I’m looking forward to doing the same thing here at HCC in terms of motivating students — whatever I can do to help.”

Since graduating from Westfield State in 2008, Delgado has also worked as a program coordinator for the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce, a field operations supervisor for the U.S. Census Bureau, and a pre-admissions advisor and recruitment coordinator for University Without Walls at UMass.

As a volunteer, he has served as vice chair of the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade committee and is a founding board member of Suit Up Springfield. In 2014, he was named one of the 40 Under Forty by BusinessWest.

AMHERST — The vast majority of speech perception research has focused on how we recognize what the speaker says through listening only, and has failed to capture the value of speaking face-to-face, says speech-perception expert Alexandra Jesse at UMass Amherst.

Now she has a two-year, $100,000 grant from the National Institute on Aging to explore the mechanisms underlying audiovisual speech perception, which is how listeners, in particular older adults with age-related hearing loss, combine information from both hearing and seeing a speaker to their benefit.

Jesse, a cognitive psychologist in the department of Psychological and Brain Sciences who has devoted her research career to the study of auditory and audiovisual speech perception, says she and others have found that almost everyone recognizes speech better when they can hear and see the speaker than when they just hear the speaker. Her new studies will look at “how we process audiovisual speech and how that changes with aging,” she said.

She adds that most older adults — the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population ­— at some point will experience difficulty understanding what others say, primarily due to age-related hearing decline. “It is estimated that, by 2030, 20% of the population will be over 65, and the probability of hearing loss doubles with every decade,” she said. “In the over-70 group, nearly two-thirds of adults are affected, and 70% of adults who could benefit from a hearing aid never use one.”

Age-related hearing decline leads to poor speech comprehension, which is not only a problem for communication, but is associated with accelerated cognitive decline, increased risk for dementia, and social isolation of the elder and his or her family. “With social interaction as a primary predictor of general cognitive functioning, this affects the whole family,” Jesse said. “Seeing the speaker can help older listeners with comprehension and thus have a far-reaching impact on their healthy aging.”

So-called ‘visual speech’ can often help, especially in noisy situations, and earlier studies have shown that people benefit, but to widely varying degrees, she noted. “Some people understand tremendously better when seeing the speaker, while for others it doesn’t seem to help so much. In some people we find larger benefits for recognition, and in some smaller ones.”

When listeners can hear and see the speaker at the same time, they show, within 100 milliseconds after the onset of a word, a different response than when they can just hear, and not see, the speaker, she explained. “The early brain response is modulated by visual speech. It’s different, but we don’t know what it means for the listeners’ ability to recognize what was said. What role does it potentially play for how much listeners benefit from audiovisual speech? This is one thing we are trying to figure out.”

Specifically, Jesse and her colleagues will also study the most difficult type of speech perception for older adults — that is, in a noisy situation when just one other person is talking. She plans a series of electrophysiological and cognitive experiments in three groups of volunteer study participants — those under age 30, middle-aged people 45 to 59 years old, and adults 65 to 80 years old — to define age-related differences in audiovisual processing.

Her studies will also look at how individual differences in cognitive skills such as memory and attention affect the use of audiovisual speech in older adults. “I hope we may be able to predict why one person can achieve good comprehension from audiovisual speech and another can’t,” she said. “This could allow us to propose treatment regimes to boost the benefits of audiovisual speech in those who are not currently able to take full advantage.”

The cognitive psychologist hopes her findings will significantly advance the theoretical understanding of how listeners in different age groups benefit from audiovisual information during real-time speech processing. She expects the results will help set the basis for clinical assessments and interventions that can improve the use of audiovisual speech to achieve functional speech perception and enhance healthy aging.

SPRINGFIELD — Warm apple cider. A warm fire on snowy day. Warm holiday greetings from faraway friends and family. It’s the season of filling our hearts and bodies with warmth.

The team at Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C. is doing its part to spread warmth to more than 250 children in need of winter coats this season. The local accounting firm has organized a campaign through Operation Warm to purchase the new coats for children served by Square One.

“Being a strong community partner is an intergral part of our culture at the firm,” said Julie Quink, managing principal at Burkhart, Pizzanelli.  “As part of our commitment to the community that we work and live in, we believe giving back is important. Many of our clients share the same philisophy and joined our efforts, for which we are very appreciative. Partnering with Operation Warm to provide brand-new winter coats for the families served by Square One is one way for us to make a small difference in our community. We believe that all children should have opportunities to grow without worry.”

The coats will be distributed by employees of Burkhart Pizzanelli today, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. at Square One’s Tommie Johnson Child & Family Center, 255 King St., Springfield.

“We are so grateful to Burkhart Pizzanelli and Operation Warm for recognizing the tremendous need amongst our Square One families,” said Kristine Allard, chief Development & Communications officer for Square One. “To be able to provide our children with beautiful, brand-new winter coats does wonders for them. Not only does it help to protect them from the elements, but having a new coat of their own builds confidence and self-esteem.”

Operation Warm is a national organization that provides new winter coats to children in need, helping to improve self-confidence, peer acceptance, school attendance, and overall wellness. Funding support comes from businesses and individuals within the communities they serve.

HOLYOKE — Harvard University says strategic plans are useless … but strategic planning is crucial. The Family Business Center dinner forum on Tuesday, Dec. 11 will feature a panel of four experts in strategic planning.

Panelists Karen Utgoff, Beth Spong, Paul Brown and Paul Silva will reveal how to make strategic planning the effective tool it needs to be, why even brilliant-seeming strategy so often goes awry, how you can make everyday thinking strategic, and how to overcome the many misunderstandings that owners and managers have about strategy.

The event will be held from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. To register, click here. For more information, visit fambizpv.com.

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) has been awarded a $150,000 matching grant from the George I. Alden Trust in Worcester to be applied to the Colaccino Center for Health Sciences building project.

George Alden established the George I. Alden Trust in 1912 for the purpose of maintenance of charitable or philanthropic enterprises, with specific interest in the promotion of education in schools, colleges, or other educational institutions.

This grant is the largest ever given to AIC by Alden Trust and offers a unique and inspiring challenge: the funds will be realized only if the college’s alumni match the pledge within 18 months.

“It is an all-or-nothing match,” said Heather Gawron, executive director of Institutional Advancement for AIC. “We must raise the full $150,000 in order to receive any of the matched funds. With the support of our alumni, we are confident that this prerequisite is achievable and will strive to meet our goal by September 2019.”

The recent grand opening of the Colaccino Center for Health Sciences represents more than just a successful new construction project on campus, college officials say, as it embodies AIC’s commitment to teaching and preparing students for healthcare professions that are increasingly more critical and competitive.

Alumni interested in learning more about the Alden Trust challenge are encouraged to contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at (413) 205-3520, [email protected], or www.aic.edu/give/alden-grant.

LONGMEADOW — The physician assistant (PA) studies class of 2018 from Bay Path University posted a 100% first-time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).

The PANCE must be taken before a PA can be licensed for the first time upon graduation from an accredited program. Bay Path University’s PA program currently holds a three-year average pass rate for first-time exam takers of 97%.

“We are incredibly proud of the PA class of 2018 for achieving a first-time PANCE pass rate of 100%. These graduates are as bright as they are driven, and their commitment to this field shows,” said Theresa Riethle, program director and associate professor of the university’s Physician Assistant program. “I am also very proud of our whole team who shares in their success. From program inquiry to thoughtful curriculum to stellar clinical sites, our faculty and staff demonstrate true leadership and commitment to student success.”

The MS in physician assistant studies from Bay Path University is an intensive, accelerated degree program that combines on-campus classroom and laboratory work with off-site clinical experience. Students gain the knowledge and skills necessary for evaluating, monitoring, diagnosing, treating, and counseling patients across their lifespan. This degree prepares graduates to work in primary care, surgery, emergency medicine, and medical and surgical subspecialties.

HOLYOKE — PeoplesBancorp, MHC, the parent company of PeoplesBank, has closed on its acquisition of the First National Bank of Suffield, effective Nov. 30. All the current branches of the First National Bank of Suffield opened and conducted business on Dec. 1 under the trade name First Suffield Bank, a Division of PeoplesBank.

“First Suffield Bank customers will notice that they are still working with the same people they have always worked with,” said Tom Senecal, president, CEO, and chairman of the board of PeoplesBank. “We think that’s important. One of the things that attracted us is the loyalty and the commitment that customers have to the bank and that the bank has to the community.”

Senecal suggested that PeoplesBank will soon bring enhanced product offerings and technology improvements to the market. “Commercial and consumer banking customers will notice improvements in technology,” he said. “PeoplesBank was one of the first community banks in the country to roll out mobile banking. Our mortgage process is one of the fastest in the market because of our online application and processing technologies. For business customers, of which we have a significant number in Connecticut already, we will be able to offer cash management with the ability to do positive pay and remote deposit capture. This will make business banking with us an extremely efficient process.”

First Suffield Bank has four branches located in Suffield, West Suffield, East Granby, and Windsor Locks, Conn. PeoplesBank has 20 banking centers located throughout Hampden and Hampshire counties in Massachusetts.

In connection with the completion of the acquisition, one member of the board of directors of First Suffield Bank will join the board of directors of PeoplesBank and the board of trustees of PeoplesBancorp, MHC, the parent company of PeoplesBank, and certain other directors of First Suffield Bank will be provided the opportunity to serve as corporators of PeoplesBancorp. The combined organization has approximately $2.8 billion in assets and $1.9 billion in deposits.

WESTFIELD — NetLogix announced that CRN, a brand of the Channel Company, named NetLogix to to its 2018 Next-Gen 250 list. The annual list identifies IT solution providers who have embraced emerging technologies and are setting the pace for the rest of the channel in their adoption. Those on the list have been able to meet their customers’ ever-changing IT needs in leading-edge technologies such as cloud computing, IoT, virtualization, mobility, business analytics, and business intelligence.

NetLogix is a network-management, cloud, and systems-technology integrator providing end-to-end solutions that ensure business integrity for small, medium-sized, and enterprise-level clients. The Westfield-based company designs, implements and manages IT solutions spanning computing infrastructure, enterprise management, VoIP, security, and cloud solutions.

“We are pleased and humbled to be included on the Next-Gen 250 List by CRN,” said Marco Liquori, NetLogix CEO. “Our inclusion shows our commitment to develop our skills to master the managed-services industry and is a true reflection on our team at NetLogix.”

Added Bob Skelley, CEO of the Channel Company, “these innovative solution providers have adapted to a rapidly evolving marketplace and learned to leverage new technology as a competitive advantage. Our 2018 Next-Gen 250 list is comprised of forward-thinking companies who deliver solutions designed to meet an unprecedented set of customer needs. We congratulate each team on its vision and influence in the overall progression of the IT channel.”

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College Office of Multicultural Affairs recently presented community leader, social activist, and police-brutality survivor Leon Ford. The event, which was sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the School of Arts, Sciences, and Professional Studies, the Racial and Ethnic Issues Working Group, and the departments of Humanities, Psychology, and Criminal Justice, was free and open to the public.

Ford, author of Untold, shared his personal story about police brutality, racial profiling, discriminatory practices, victimization, and how he has used his experience as a tool to positively impact society. Through his dialogue, he aimed to interrupt oppressive systems, cultivate authentic relationships, and promote community healing, empowerment, and social change.

In 2012, Ford, then 19, was shot five times by a Pittsburgh police officer during a routine traffic stop, leaving him paralyzed. Since that time, he has told his story all over the country, including delivering a TEDx Talk, “Turning Pain into Purpose,” about his experiences.

SPRINGFIELD — LUSO Federal Credit Union is collecting new, unwrapped toys this holiday season to benefit the Wonderfund. All toys collected will be distributed locally to Springfield-area children in the care of the Department of Children and Family.

“Each year, our friends and neighbors generously donate toys to help children in the communities we serve, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support,” said Jennifer Calheno, president and CEO of LUSO Federal Credit Union. “I’m confident this year will be no different and that, through our efforts, we’ll help to make Christmas morning bright for children throughout Greater Springfield.”

Toy donations may be dropped off at LUSO’s Ludlow and Wilbraham branches through Friday, Dec. 14. For each toy given, donors will receive a raffle ticket to be entered to win a $250 gift-card wreath.

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank announced that Paul Hillsburg has joined the bank as vice president of Financial Advisory Services. He has more than 15 years of experience in the wealth and financial-services industry. He began his career as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch and is now a financial advisor with Infinex Financial Group, located at Monson Savings Bank.

Hillsburg specializes in all aspects of retirement and income planning for clientele consisting of small-business owners, successful professionals, families, individuals, and retirees. His primary objective is to work with clients on retirement income planning, wealth transfer, increasing income, maximizing overall returns, and reducing taxes. He holds FINRA Series 7, 66 securities registrations as well as life- and health-insurance licenses and a degree in business management.

“We are extremely pleased to have Paul join us,” said Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. “We look forward to Paul helping customers with various types of investments and enhancing and expanding our financial-advisory services with his expertise.”

SPRINGFIELD — Justine Siegal, the first female coach in the history of Major League Baseball, will be the keynote speaker for the sixth annual Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame induction banquet to be held on Thursday, Jan. 31.

The ceremony, hosted by the Valley Blue Sox, will take place at 7 p.m. at La Quinta Inn and Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield.

“The Blue Sox are excited to host another Hall of Fame induction banquet,” said Blue Sox President Fred Ciaglo, who is entering his second season as the head of the franchise. “There are so many people that do a great deal of work to help baseball prosper in Western Massachusetts. We hope that this event serves as an avenue to celebrate those individuals and their accomplishments.”

Siegal is the president and founder of Baseball for All, a nonprofit organization that empowers women to play, coach, and lead in baseball. She earned her doctorate in sport and exercise psychology from Springfield College, where she served as an assistant coach for the baseball team from 2008 to 2010. She also coached youth baseball. In 2009, Siegal became the first female coach of a professional men’s team when she worked as the first-base coach of the Brockton Rox in the independent Canadian American Assoc. of Professional Baseball.

In 2011, she became the first woman to throw batting practice to a big league team, the Cleveland Indians. She also has served as a batting-practice pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, and New York Mets. In October 2015, Oakland invited her to serve a two-week stint as guest instructor in the instructional league in Arizona, making her the first female to coach in the major leagues.

Siegal will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2019. Other members will be announced in the coming weeks. This year’s class is the sixth since the inaugural banquet in 2014. Since its inception, 35 individuals and four teams who have represented and served the baseball community of Western Mass. have been honored.

Tickets for the banquet are $50, or $450 for a table of 10. Dinner is included, and every guest will receive a pair of tickets to a 2019 Blue Sox home game. To purchase tickets, call (413) 533-1100 or visit valley-blue-sox.ticketleap.com/2019-hof.

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College Department of Visual and Performing Arts will host an “Immerse Yourself in Dance” performance starting on Friday, Dec. 7 through Sunday, Dec. 9 in the Fuller Arts Center. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 and 8, followed by a 2 p.m. start time on Dec. 9.

In addition, there will be free dance lessons open to the campus community and general public on Dec. 8, with a focus on building community through dance. Starting time for the free classes will be at 3:30 p.m. in the Fuller Arts Center. From 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., dancers and choreographers from the weekend performance will lead a dance class titled “Playing with Gravity,” followed by a community hip-hop class from 5 to 6:15 p.m. There will be a reception for attendees starting at 6:45 p.m. before the performance beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The weekend performances will feature Springfield College dancers performing Set and Reset/Reset by internationally renowned choreographer Trisha Brown, the creator of more than 100 choreographic works and six operas. Guest choreographer Andrea Vazquez-Aguiree will also set an original work about discovering identity.

Dance faculty member Angela Vital-Martowski, who has performed with the Boston Ballet and the American Repertory Ballet Theater, and Sarah Zehnder, director of the dance program and choreographer of New York City-based Zehnder Dance, will premier new works as well.

Suggested general admission is $5; students, senior citizens, and children are free. Tickets may be purchased at the door or reserved by calling (413) 748-3930.

SPRINGFIELD — Judith Ward, an accomplished healthcare marketing professional, has been named vice president of Marketing & Communications for Baystate Health.

In her new role, Ward will oversee marketing, digital/web, communications, public affairs, social media, creative services, loyalty programs, and special events at the Springfield-based health system, which includes hospitals in Springfield, Greenfield, Palmer, and Westfield, along with more than 100 medical practices at some 80 locations throughout Western Mass.

Among the strategic marketing executive’s past accomplishments include conceiving and executing strategies that define, differentiate, and drive increased brand recognition, preference, customer loyalty, and market share.

Ward comes to Baystate Health from Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, Calif., where she led the organization’s strategic marketing efforts, developed award-winning advertising campaigns, and executed engaging Facebook Live strategies.

Prior to her role at Stanford, she served as vice president of Network Marketing for Danbury Hospital and Western Connecticut Health Network, where she led the brand creation and strategy for the newly formed health network. She also served as principal of Judith Ward Associates, providing consulting services centered on the development and execution of strategic digital marketing plans.

“Judith is a seasoned professional whose expertise in traditional media and public relations, as well as digital, social, web, and mobile marketing, makes her a perfect fit for this important leadership role for our health system,” said Jane Albert, senior vice president of Marketing, Communications & External Relations for Baystate Health. “We look forward to the creativity, innovation, and expertise that she will bring to our marketing and communications team and welcome her to the Baystate family.”

Ward holds an MBA with a marketing concentration from University of Connecticut and a bachelor’s degree from University of New Hampshire. She has served as an adjunct professor in the Master of Health Administration program at Western Connecticut State University and Marlboro College in Vermont. She is a member of American College of Healthcare Executives, the Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development, the Healthcare Executives Forum, and the California Assoc. of Healthcare Leaders.

HOLYOKE — The state’s third annual Manufacturing Award Ceremony, sponsored by the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus, was recently held at the State House in Boston. Hazen Paper was one of 58 manufacturers recognized for their success.

Hazen is known worldwide for its holographic paper and manufacturing in Holyoke. Well-known examples its work include the Stadium Edition Super Bowl Program and the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Yearbook.

“In 2009, when the world was embroiled in the Great Recession, Hazen launched a new holographic and metallizing factory in the industrial sector on Main Street in Holyoke,” said John Hazen, president of Hazen Paper. “This was bold timing, and it was an aggressive, forward-driving venture that required extreme fortitude on the part of Hazen Paper.”

Hazen started an apprentice program in 2007 to train the expert workers required for this high-tech factory. Hazen has hired and trained more than 50 apprentices in the last 10 years. In 2010, Hazen started an internship program with engineering students from Western New England University, several of whom now work full-time on the Hazen management team. Hazen has been proactive in helping to build the future workforce via the World Is Our Classroom program, whereby every fifth-grader in Holyoke public schools visits Hazen for a full day of teaching and tours. Hazen started the program in 2004, and an estimated 4,000 fifth-graders have participated since that time.

The State House ceremony honored the manufacturers and showcased their innovative and revolutionary manufacturing capabilities and products. The event included companies who make furniture, jewelry, handcrafted electric bicycles, precision-screw-machined parts, marble and granite, custom paper, flutes and piccolos, precision-machined parts for the aerospace industry, and even hummus and peanut butter.

Hazen Paper was nominated by state Rep. Aaron Vega. “Manufacturing is not only an essential component of our economy in Massachusetts, it’s in the DNA of cities like Holyoke,” he said. “We are a city born of innovation and manufacturing. Most of Western Mass. has a rich history of making things, from paper to bikes, motorcycles to parts for our military and NASA.”

HOLYOKE — Parents at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke agree that having reliable transportation is the biggest challenge to their children’s participation in after-school activities in Holyoke. Lack of reliable transportation is even more of a stressor for low-income families in need.

With that in mind, Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO) surprised youth at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke with a brand-new, eight-passenger Toyota Sienna van, valued at $35,000. The van was recently presented by Joe DeAngelis, New England Region manager, and Scott Zimmerman, area manager for Bridgestone Retail Operations, to Eileen Cavanaugh, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club.

The club will utilize the van to engage in experiential learning opportunities, take youth on field trips, visit colleges, increase volunteer opportunities for teens, and participate in more career-readiness activities. In addition to these benefits, the four satellite units located within Holyoke Housing Authority communities will now have more access to the main club. The van allows transportation to nearly 1,400 club members to and from the club.

ENFIELD, Conn. — Registration is now open for Wintersession at Asnuntuck Community College, with classes to be held Dec. 27 to Jan. 13.

Students may apply or register online 24 hours a day at www.asnuntuck.edu, or in person at the Registrar’s office Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Academic advisors are available for walk-ins on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All other times are by appointment only. E-mail [email protected] for additional information.

Students can earn three credits in three weeks at Wintersession, which is available to current students, new students, and students home on break from their four-year school. Online classes are available in art, biology, business, computer science, early childhood education, human services, psychology, and sociology.

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest, the business journal covering Western Mass., will honor its inaugural Women of Impact on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Sheraton Springfield, One Monarch Place. 

BusinessWest has consistently recognized the contributions of women within the business community and has now created the Women of Impact awards to honor women who have the authority and power to move the needle in their business, are respected for accomplishments within their industries, give back to the community, and are sought out as respected advisors and mentors within their field of influence. 

More than 80 nominations were submitted, and candidates were scored by an esteemed panel of three judges. There are eight winners in this first class. Honorees are profiled in the Nov. 12 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com. This year’s honorees are:

• Jean Canosa Albano, Assistant Director for Public Services, Springfield City Library;

• Kerry Dietz, Owner and Principal, Dietz & Company Architects Inc.;

• Denise Jordan, Executive Director, Springfield Housing Authority;

• Gina Kos, Executive Director, Sunshine Village;

• Carol Leary, President, Bay Path University;

• Colleen Loveless, President and CEO, Revitalize Community Development Corp.;

• Janis Santos, Executive Director, HCS Head Start Inc.; and

• Katie Allan Zobel, President and CEO, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

The Women of Impact Awards Luncheon on Dec. 6 will begin with registration and networking at 11 a.m., with the formal program to start at noon. Tickets are $65 per person, and tables of 10 are available. Tickets may be purchased online at businesswest.com/women-of-impact, or by calling (413) 781-8600. The Women of Impact program is sponsored by Bay Path University, Comcast Business, Country Bank, Granite State Development, and WWLP 22 News.

NORTHAMPTON — CLICK Workspace is set to put on its third annual Pastiche: A Makers Market. Featuring a variety of handcrafted art, goods, and gifts by local artists and companies, Pastiche is slated for Friday, Dec. 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 15 from 11a.m. to 3 p.m.

This pop-up market features local artists and craftspeople without a retail or storefront presence, offering a unique shopping experience. Custom-made women’s outerwear, hand-woven textiles, and raw, handmade soap are just a few of the wide variety of offerings at this year’s market.

For a complete list of the Pastiche 2018 vendors and more information about the Makers Market, visit ​www.clickworkspace.org​.

AGAWAM — As part of a continuing effort to position the company for stronger growth and faster product innovation to better meet the changing global needs of its customers, OMG has promoted two employees into key sales positions in its FastenMaster Division.

Nikki Long has been promoted to the newly created position of director of Key Accounts, which was established to bring a strategic focus to the role that key-account management plays in FastenMaster’s growth plans. She will design and implement strategies to improve sales growth, customer relationships, customer service, and on-time product delivery at FastenMaster’s key accounts. She reports to John McMahon, vice president.

A 15-year veteran of the company, Long has held a variety of sales and marketing positions since starting in 2003. Most recently, she was the manager of Home Centers for FastenMaster, where she excelled at driving the FastenMaster brand and footprint in the home-center channel. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Smith College.

Tom Ellerbrook has been promoted to director of Sales, responsible for developing and implementing strategic plans to exceed sales targets and expand market share. In addition, he is responsible for coaching and mentoring the sales team to achieve assigned goals, and for building a bench for the future. He also reports to McMahon.

Ellerbrook has been with FastenMaster since 2011, most recently as the Northeast regional sales manager, where he was instrumental in building FastenMaster’s sales throughout the region. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UMass and an MBA from Western New England University.

AMHERST — A visiting group of college students from El Salvador, in a program organized by the Amherst-based Institute for Training and Development (ITD), will visit a Western Mass. manufacturer to learn about the world of lean manufacturing, and how precision and quality also lead to improved decision making and innovation.

Sanderson MacLeod is the world’s largest manufacturer of mascara brushes, plus many other uses of twisted wire brushes, in industries including medical, cosmetics, and firearms. The students are from Monica Herrera School of Communication and visit the Pioneer Valley and elsewhere for the purpose of learning about how business is done in the U.S.

This day of training, including lessons on lean manufacturing and an exercise involving Ohno Circles (developed in the early days of the Toyota Production System, by Taiichi Ohno), is organized by Ira Bryck, president of the Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley. The FBCPV and ITD have collaborated regularly over the years, as teams of business students and owners visit via ITD’s programs. ITD’s purpose is to provide inter-cultural experiences that bring together professionals and/or students from around the world to share cultures, exchange ideas, deepen understanding, and spread knowledge. 

SPRINGFIELD — Attendees of a workshop on Thursday, Dec. 6 will learn how to tap into their passion to identify a fulfilling encore career. The event is slated for 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Jewish Family Services’ Community Room, 1160 Dickinson St., Springfield (the parking lot is on the Converse Street side).

The road to retirement is not the clear path it once was. If you’re retired or planning on being retired in the next few years, presenter Suzanne McElroy of Home Instead Senior Care will help you recognize the benefits of ‘unretiring’ or returning to the workforce; discover what you can do after retirement if you’re still working; and identify ways to stay connected if you’re not in the workforce or follow your passions to a different career.

The program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is requested by visiting www.jfswm.org or calling (413) 737-2601. For other upcoming events, visit www.jfswm.org.