GREENFIELD — Melanson Heath announced the admittance of its new principal, Donna Yetter, CPA, CES. She has been working in public accounting for more than 30 years and is a part of the Commercial Services team out of the Greenfield office.

Yetter joined the Melanson Heath team in 2007 and advises businesses and individuals on tax, management, and other accounting matters. She prepares corporate, partnership, individual, trust, and estate-tax returns; consults on business acquisitions and sales; and performs compilation and review services for financial reporting.

Yetter received her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Salem State University in 1985 and has been a certified public accountant licensed in Massachusetts since 1991. In 2016, she received her CES, (certified estate and trust specialist) designation, which expands her range of services to include estate planning and asset repositioning on behalf of financial-planning clients. She is a member of the Massachusetts Society of CPAs and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

WARE — Community outreach has been a part of Country Bank’s mission since its inception in 1850. Now, during this season of giving, the bank will continue its ongoing support to organizations with a mission to help friends and neighbors in need.

Country Bank will partner with the USO Council of Pioneer Valley Inc. to collect much-needed holiday supply donations for military veterans in surrounding communities.

“With the spirit of the holiday season in mind, what better way to show our gratitude and appreciation for their commitment and sacrifice in serving our country?” said Paul Scully, the bank’s president and CEO. “Country Bank is also honored to donate a $25 gift card to each family that will be receiving the community donations.”

Donations will be accepted throughout all branch network locations through Tuesday, Dec. 18. The following items are being requested by the USO: canned cranberry sauce, canned vegetables, corn, green beans, carrots, stuffing mix, pasta, rice, canned gravy, juices (cranberry and apple in plastic bottles), cookie mixes, brownie mixes, and cake and frosting mixes.

HOLYOKE — Registration is now open for Intersession 2019 at Holyoke Community College (HCC), where new and returning students can earn a semester’s worth of credits for a single class in just 10 days. 

Intersession begins Thursday, Jan. 3, and ends Wednesday, Jan. 16. Intersession students can earn up to four credits by taking a single class.

This academic year, during Intersession 2019, HCC is offering 30 different courses in 21 different academic areas, both online and on campus. They include anthropology, business administration, communication, criminal justice, economics, education, engineering, environmental science, general studies, geography, health (fitness and nutrition), law, management, marketing, mathematics, nutrition, philosophy, psychology, social science, sociology, and sustainability.

“We have quite a wide variety of options, from a one-credit weight-room workout course all the way up to four-credit lab-science courses in robotics, environmental geology, and sustainability, as well as more general-education-type courses such as math and sociology,” said Monica Perez, vice president of Academic Affairs. “Intersession is a great opportunity for students to pick up extra credits in a very short period of time, and many are also available online, so you don’t even have to get up from your cozy, warm couch.”

For more information about Intersession at HCC or to see a full listing of course offerings, visit www.hcc.edu/intersession.

SPRINGFIELD — Carmine DiCenso, executive director at Dakin Humane Society, was unanimously appointed to serve on the board of directors for the Assoc. for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA).

The national organization, formerly known as the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators, is based in Surprise, Ariz. Its purpose is to create an association with professional administrators employed by organizations generally accepted to be a part of the humane movement. The goal of the board of directors is to design its management and annual conferences in an effort to continually enhance the standards of competence and integrity of its membership, as well as provide a significant benefit to the humane movement.

DiCenso joins a team of more than a dozen animal-welfare professionals from around the country in serving on the board, which is chaired by Lisa LaFontaine of Humane Rescue Alliance.

“The association helps set the bar for excellence in animal welfare; it creates connections between people and facilitates individual growth and impact,” LaFontaine said. “I’m thrilled to work with Carmine, and so many talented and compassionate people who have both wisdom and knowledge to share, and I am particularly proud of the AAWA’s collaborative approach in a profession that inspires passion and profoundly affects so many animals and people.”

Added DiCenso, “I am honored and humbled to have been appointed to this board. I look forward to working closely with top leaders and innovators in the field of animal welfare. I know that I will be inspired and learn so much from this experience, and I look forward to bringing that knowledge to Dakin to assist animals and people in the Pioneer Valley.”

BusinessWest’s inaugural Women of Impact Awards Luncheon is set for Dec. 6 at the Sheraton in Springfield beginning at 11 a.m.

The program recognizes women from the four western counties who are making a true impact in this region through work in their chosen field and within the community. The eight honorees are:

• Jean Canosa Albano, assistant director of public services, Springfield City Library;
• Kerry Dietz, owner and president, Dietz Architects;
• 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; and
• Katie Allen Zobel, president and CEO, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts

Keynote speaker for the event will be Lei Wang, the first Asian woman to climb the highest mountain on every continent and to ski to both the North and South Poles.

The awards luncheon will begin at 11 a.m. with registration and networking. Lunch will begin at noon, followed by the program and introduction of the Women of Impact by Kate Campiti, associate publisher of BusinessWest and Healthcare News and Tamara Sacharczyk, news anchor and I-Team reporter for WWLP-22 News.

The Inaugural Women of Impact is sponsored by Bay Path University, Comcast Business, Country Bank, and Granite State Development Corp, with media sponsor WWLP-22.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call (413) 781-8600, or visit www.businesswest.com.

CHICOPEE — Mercedes-Benz of Springfield is partnering with MGM Springfield during the holiday season on a number of programs and events.

Starting Nov 1, MGM began the “Choose Your Ride” promotion offering one lucky patron a chance to win a new Mercedes-Benz. The drawing will be held Dec. 1 at the casino. Three Mercedes-Benz have been on display in the plaza since Nov 1.

Also, Mercedes-Benz of Springfield is proud to have the naming rights for another Springfield first from Nov. 23 to March 3. The plaza will transform into The Ice Rink at MGM Presented by Mercedes-Benz of Springfield where guests of all ages can enjoy the outdoors with a traditional ice skating rink, pop-up entertainment and tasty treats for the entire family. Special guest, U.S. National Figure Skating Champion Nancy Kerrigan, will help kick-off the holiday celebration on Nov. 23 at 1:45 p.m. Guests can relax and revive in the Mercedes-Benz of Springfield igloo and are invited to enjoy complimentary skating until 10 p.m. that evening.  Special Mercedes-Benz branded sleds are available for young children to enjoy.

Hours of operation are: Monday through Thursday, 2-9 p.m.; Friday, 2-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10; and Sunday, noon-9.

Owners of Mercedes-Benz vehicles will have dedicated parking on the second floor of the parking garage. They should ook for the reserved parking signage and don’t forget to bring your Mercedes-Benz when visiting the resort.

Also, MGM Springfield will light up the night sky with a community tree lighting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 23. The festive ceremony will feature a 38-foot tall LED holiday tree that will display a spectacular light show set to beloved holiday music. After the tree is lit, Santa Claus will be on hand for photos with kids of all ages.

In addition, Mercedes-Benz customers and friends were given an exclusive invitation to the MGM New Year’s Eve celebration taking place in the armory prior to tickets going on sale.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University has announced the launch of a new Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies: Severe Special Needs (PreK-12), Initial Licensure, now enrolling for Spring 2019.

Graduates of this program will be eligible for an educator’s license in the state of Massachusetts teaching students who have severe special needs (PreK-12). Bay Path University is the only undergraduate teacher preparation program in the Western Massachusetts area offering a focus on severe special needs. 

“The national teacher shortage area list has identified a high need for educators who are qualified to teach students with severe special needs,” said Ellen Rustico, associate professor of Education, chair of Education Programs, and director of Teacher Licensure. “With more than 17% of school-aged children in the state of Massachusetts eligible to receive special education services, and at higher rates than students across the country in the categories of Intellectual Disabilities, Autism, Emotional Disturbance, Multiple Disabilities, and Developmental Delay, there is a strong need for teachers of students with severe disabilities.”
The licensure program in Severe Special Needs empowers undergraduate women to become leaders in education at all career stages while preparing teacher candidates to work in a constantly changing world. This initial licensure program seeks to provide teacher candidates with the skills, knowledge, and creativity needed for success in the classroom, community, and organizations. The specializations, certifications, and licensure provide depth in a particular area of educational practice, policy, curriculum, and state-of-the-art inclusionary best practices.
The Severe Special Needs license qualifies for reciprocity with states that participate in the Interstate Agreement and endorse similar licensure. This allows Bay Path University education graduates to teach in states other than Massachusetts, pending meeting specific requirements of the state. Those interested in learning more about this program can attend a free open house on Dec. 2, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., on the university’s Longmeadow Campus, or visit www.baypath.edu.

HOLYOKE — On Tuesday, Comcast staged a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of its newest Xfinity Store, which is located on the upper level of the Holyoke Mall.

The 4,691-square-foot space is the first Xfinity Store in the region to open in a mall setting and is focused entirely around the needs of customers. Consumers will have the opportunity to explore, learn about, and interact directly with the latest Xfinity products and services, including Xfinity Mobile. In addition, the store offers a dedicated space where Comcast Business customers and prospects can discover cutting-edge business solutions and get connected with a local expert to discuss their business technology needs.

Local officials and community leaders, including Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, State Representative Aaron Vega, City Council President Todd McGee, Ward 3 City Councilor David Bartley, Ward 2 City Councilor Nelson Roman and Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce President Barry Feingold, came out to celebrate the grand opening and tour the new store.

“The opening of Comcast’s new Xfinity Store bears testament to the thriving business climate in Holyoke,” said Barry Feingold, president of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce “We love to see this kind of investment in the area, especially with the latest technology that Xfinity and Comcast Business can offer customers for their homes and to help grow their businesses.  We’re excited to work with Comcast at its beautiful, new Xfinity Store at the Holyoke Mall.”

Michael Parker, senior vice president for Comcast’s Western New England Region, which includes Western Massachusetts, added, “We’re proud to be a part of the Holyoke community and are excited to open this store in a convenient location for a greater number of our customers. Xfinity Stores are the ultimate showcase for consumers to experience how Xfinity products — including Xfinity X1, Xfinity Internet, Xfinity Home and Xfinity Mobile — connect and simplify their lives.”

SPRINGFIELD — Area families can kick off the holidays with a wide array of events at the Springfield Museums. Grinchmas at the Springfield Museums begins the day after Thanksgiving, when the Museums offer festive programs for all — most activities are free with museum admission — and the Lighting of the Quad with music, Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the Grinch himself.

On the Friday after Thanksgiving, visitors can meet the Grinch, explore the Museums’ new gingerbread exhibit and cast their vote for the best creation, use their STEM skills to create a mini-sled in the Mount Crumpit Derby, sing along to the animated classic Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and more. All this is free with museum admission.

In the evening, Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive to set the outdoor decorations alight. There will also be rides on a fanciful train, hot chocolate and cookies and much more, all free and open to the public.

Overall, there be a slew of holiday happenings involving the Museums on Nov. 23, including:

• The Big Balloon Parade, starting at 11, on Main Street, Springfield: The Grinch will be riding in 1 1916 Gudson and the Museums will have a new float.
• The Music of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, noon to 1. Local musician Chris Eriquezzo performs songs from the animated special.
• Mount Crumpit Derby, Noon-4 pm: Design a mini-sleigh and race to see who can bring the Grinch down to Whoville the fastest!

• Who Hair Wacky, Noon-4 pm:  Wearable balloons that will make you look like a resident of Whoville.

• Meet the Grinch, 1-4 pm: Get a hug or high five from Dr. Seuss’s lovable curmudgeon.

• The Music of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, 2-3 pm: 

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, 3 p.m., asing-along and screening of the 1966 animated classic, based on the book by Dr. Seuss. 

Ongoing Activities include: Gingerbread: The Pop Culture Edition Exhibit; a Christmas Photo Booth, an exhibit on caves, and an Art Discovery Center, featuring hands-on art and gallery games.

Also, the lighting of the Quadrangle will take place between 5 and 7 on Nov. 23.

WESTFIELD — Westfield State University will host a Nov. 28 lecture that will serve as the kick-off to an historical lecture series comprised of 14 topics that pertain the city of Westfield’s rich history, traditions, and character. The “Westfield Wednesdays” lecture series is part of the City’s 350th anniversary celebration and was coordinated by the Westfield 350th Subcommittee on Educational Programming.

City of Westfield Celebrations: 1869, 1919, 1969, presented by Dr. Robert Brown and Bruce Cortis, will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 in the Scanlon Banquet Hall on Westfield State’s campus. In addition to hosting the Nov. 28 lecture, the university will host five of the other lectures in the series as part of its ongoing support of the City of Westfield’s 350th anniversary.

“We are honored to further our support of the anniversary celebration by kicking off this series that showcases the depth and breadth of the City that Westfield State University calls home,” said Westfield State University President Ramon S. Torrecilha, Ph.D.

Each “Westfield Wednesdays” lecture is free to attend, begins at 6:30 p.m., and is hosted at an easily accessible venue in the City. For a full list of lectures and locations for the series, visit http://westfield350.com/fundraising-events/historical-lecture-series. 

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — Bradley International Airport will experience a very heavy travel period from now until Nov. 25 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The busiest days will be Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

Kevin A. Dillon, A.A.E., Executive Director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, advises that Bradley International Airport passengers should be aware and plan accordingly. 

“We look forward to welcoming and assisting passengers to ensure that they have an enjoyable experience traveling through Bradley International Airport this week,” said Dillon. “Due to the higher volume of activity, we’re encouraging passengers to plan ahead and give themselves extra time for their journey through the airport.” 

Passengers traveling domestically are advised to allow themselves at least 90 minutes for check-in with their respective airlines and the TSA screening. Those traveling internationally should give themselves three hours. 

Additionally, to help navigate the journey quickly and smoothly, passengers are encouraged to follow these tips during this peak travel period:

• Check and confirm the status of your flight with your airline prior to your departure for the airport;
• Check in online with the airline and bring a printed boarding pass to the airport;
• Visit www.flybdl.orgto familiarize yourself with Bradley’s parking options and terminal facilities; and
• Speed up the screening process by reviewing the TSA screening guidelines ahead of time. For more information, visit www.tsa.gov. 

For up-to-date information about the status of your flight on the day of travel, please visit www.flybdl.org. Twitter users can also receive free, automated updates via Twitter, by tweeting their fight number @BDLFlightInfo.

The Connecticut Airport Authority is also reminding passengers that the Route 20 roadway access to Bradley International Airport has recently changed and all inbound traffic is now entering the airport through the partially open modern roundabout. 

Family and friends who are picking up passengers from Bradley International Airport during the Thanksgiving holiday week are encouraged to use the free cell phone waiting lot located on Light Lane while waiting for the passengers to arrive and retrieve any luggage. 

LONGMEADOW — According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare occupations will add more new jobs than any other occupational group in the next decade, projecting overall growth of 18% by 2026. The American Women’s College at Bay Path University prepares graduates to help meet that growing demand with its online bachelor of science in health service administration program, which has just been recognized on a list of the 30 best in the nation by TheBestSchools.org.

“We’re so pleased to see our health services administration degree program gaining recognition for the flexibility and quality of education it provides students,” said Amanda Gould, chief administrative officer. “All of our programs offer adaptive coursework, so each student follows a learning path customized to their level of knowledge and understanding. Combined with The American Women’s College’s fully-online, accelerated schedule and generous transfer policy, many students are obtaining their undergraduate degrees at a significantly faster rate than the national average.”

TheBestSchools.org formulates rankings based on six informational categories: academic excellence; strength of faculty scholarship; reputation; financial aid; range of degree programs; and strength of online instruction methodology. The university’s degree program was #18 on the list.

The American Women’s College’s digitally-enhanced learning model, SOUL (Social Online Universal Learning), uses data-driven intervention strategies to help mitigate achievement gaps, and has been recognized with more than $5 million in support from industry thought leaders and organizations, as well as awards from national foundations, the federal government, and awarding agencies

SPRINGFIELD — The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) announced the addition of three new business leaders to its full Board of Directors.

The three were formally voted onto the board during the organization’s recent annual meeting, staged at The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, and will serve two-year terms, expiring in September 2020.

They are:

• Dinesh Patel, DGP Properties, Chicopee and Springfield;
• Hershal Patel, BK Investments, Chicopee; and
• Peter Carmichael, director of Operations, Six Flags Theme Parks, Agawam

“We are so fortunate to have these three new Directors on our Board,” said GSCVB Board Chairman Anthony Frasco. “They each are well-respected leaders within their own organizations, and represent geographically and categorically diverse industries which are in turn important to travel and tourism. With Dinesh Patel, our doard gains an individual committed to the development of downtown Springfield with the recent purchase of Tower Square Hotel. Hershal Patel, who has strong expertise in the strategic dynamics of Massachusetts’ hotel industry, is excited to bring new travelers to the region with the modern and refreshed hotel property Tru by Hilton in Chicopee. Peter Carmichael comes to us from the world of theme parks, which draws many thousands of visitors into our economy annually.”

Frasco said that each new member brings talent, expertise, and energy to the table and acknowledged that their input will help the GSCVB to shape more effective policies and programming for the years ahead. These three appointments bring the full GSCVB Board to a strength of twenty-four individuals.

WESTFIELD — The College of Graduate and Continuing Education (CGCE) at Westfield State University will host information sessions for master’s degree programs in counseling, applied behavior analysis, and social work in early December.

An information session for WSU’s M.A. in counseling and its M.A. in applied behavior analysis programs will be held on Dec. 8, at 11 a.m. in the lobby of Horace Mann Center, 333 Western Ave., Westfield. The session is aimed toward individuals interested in careers such as behavior analysts, clinicians, family and marriage counselors, and guidance or adjustment counselors.

The Department of Psychology offers a 60-credit graduate program designed to serve the student who plans to enter the applied fields of counseling or psychology after earning the master’s degree. The program offers four specialized tracks in school guidance counseling, school adjustment counseling (non-licensure), forensic mental health counseling, and mental health counseling.

WSU also offers a 48-credit Master of Arts in applied behavior analysis program to individuals who work, or aspire to work, in a number of different settings, such as schools, including regular and special education classrooms, business and industry, healthcare, and other community-based settings.

An information session for the WSU Master of Social Work program will be held on Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. in Scanlon Banquet Hall, 577 Western Ave., Westfield. This program is one of only three located in Western Massachusetts and is within commuting distance of the Berkshires, Central Massachusetts, northern Connecticut, southern New Hampshire and Vermont, and eastern New York. The program is also offered at the YWCA at Salem Square in Worcester.

The MSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and prepares students to become Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) and to work in a variety of positions in the human services field. The program aims to prepare advanced-level social work practitioners who have specialized knowledge and skills for clinical practice that is based on a firm generalist foundation.

Attendees of either information session will have an opportunity to speak with faculty and members of the Outreach Team about the respective program and their application process. The $50 application fee will be waived for all attendees. To RSVP, visit www.GoBackNow.com. For more information, call 413-572-8020 or e-mail [email protected]

LONGMEADOW — Seven new members have been elected to the Bay Path University Board of Trustees: Kirk Arnold, technology executive; Lamont Clemons, senior vice president, Proton Energy, and executive vice president, S-Cel-O Painting; Laura Grondin, president and CEO of Virginia Industries Inc.; Andrea Hill-Cataldo, founder and president of Johnson & Hill Staffing;  Stefano Martini, chief information officer for MassMutual Financial Group; Wayne Webster, vice president of Commercial Lending for Westfield Bank; and Michelle Wirth, owner, Mercedes-Benz of Springfield, will each serve a three-year term.

Arnold is a CEO, advisor, board member, and teacher with a demonstrated history of leadership in the technology industry. She is an executive-in-residence at General Catalyst Ventures, an independent member of the board of Ingersoll Rand, serves on the board of Cylance and a former board member of EnerNOC. She also serves on the board of trustees and the executive committee of the Mass. Technology Leadership Council and is a member of the board of the UP Education Network. A lecturer for the MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she began her career at IBM working her way up a ladder that would lead her eventually to become a founder and the chief executive officer of NerveWire Inc., a management consulting and system integration firm. Under her direction, that company grew from $1 million to $40 million in three years. Most recently, Arnold was the CEO of Data Intensity, a cloud-based data, applications, and analytics managed service provider. She has also served as an executive leader for Keane Inc., Computer Sciences Corp, Avid, and Fidelity Investments.

Clemons, a Springfield, native, is a business leader in the region. He is the senior vice president of Commercial Energy Sales for Proton Energy Group, an Agawam-based company that brokers deals with energy suppliers to reduce commercial costs. He is also executive vice president of S-Cel-O Painting, his family’s 30-year-old business. In this position, Clemons was involved with the opening of MGM Springfield, where his company was contracted for painting on site. He has also held positions at Dominion Power, Wachovia Securities, Capital One, and American Express. He is president of the Springfield Rotary Club, and has served as president of the McKnight Neighborhood Council, and assistant treasurer of the Greater Springfield YMCA. Clemons is credited with launching programs at the Dunbar Community Center, including one that teaches teens essential financial and business skills. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering, MBA in Finance, and an MS in Project Management.

Grondin is president and CEO of Virginia Industries Inc., a privately held industrial products company operating manufacturing and distribution facilities in the US and China. Grondin currently serves on the board of the American Foundry Society, YaleWomen Inc., and The Committee of 200 (C200), an invitation-only group of the world’s top female entrepreneurs and C-Suite executives who work to foster, celebrate, and advance women’s leadership in business. Grondin earned her bachelor of arts degree at Yale University and is a resident of West Hartford, Conn.

Hill-Cataldo is the new chair of the Bay Path University Advisory Council. She is the founder and president of Johnson & Hill Staffing Services Inc., a woman-owned staffing company with offices in West Springfield and Northampton that service Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Isenberg School of Management, where she earned her bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in marketing and a minor in economics. She is a longtime resident of Longmeadow, where she lives with her husband and son. Hill-Cataldo volunteers her time to local organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, St. Mary’s Academy in Longmeadow, and Girls Inc. among others.

Martini is currently serving as chief information officer for MassMutual Financial Group in Springfield. Martini has been with MassMutual since 1996, where he first worked as an IT Project Manager, subsequently holding other positions such as director, IT department head, and senior vice president, Technology. Martini is also director of the Society of Grownups (a MassMutual start-up in Brookline); and CEO of Buy Time LLC. He earned his MBA at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, and his BS in Information Technology and the UMass Amherst. Martini lives in Suffield, Conn.

A banking and financial services executive with more than 22 years of experience, Webster is vice president, Commercial Lending, for Westfield Bank in Westfield, a position he has held since 2009. He is chair of the Board of Trustees for the Horace Smith Fund in Springfield, an organization helping deserving students in Hampden County cover the cost of post-secondary education. Webster earned his bachelor of arts degree in English literature from the University of Hartford and was past president of the alumni board. He is a resident of Hartford, Conn., where he lives with his wife and two children.  

Owner of Mercedes-Benz of Springfield, Wirth is an expert in integrated marketing communications, agency management, media relations, project management, strategic planning, and event planning and execution. She opened Mercedes-Benz of Springfield in the fall of 2017 with her husband, Peter. Her tenure with Mercedes-Benz dates back to 2000, where she began as an engineering associate in Montvale, N.J., after earning her BS in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University. Wirth also was an automotive industry advisor and consultant to the global sales and marketing teams on the automotive industry go to market strategy at Quantcast, serving as strategic brand partner and head of industry – Automotive. Wirth delivered Bay Path University’s 2017 Innovative Thinking and Entrepreneurship Lecture. She lives in Leeds with her husband and four children.

BusinessWest’s inaugural Women of Impact Awards Luncheon is set for Dec. 6 at the Sheraton in Springfield beginning at 11 a.m.

The program recognizes women from the four western counties who are making a true impact in this region through work in their chosen field and within the community. The eight honorees are:

• Jean Canosa Albano, assistant director of public services, Springfield City Library;
• Kerry Dietz, owner and president, Dietz Architects;
• 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; and
• Katie Allen Zobel, president and CEO, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts

Keynote speaker for the event will be Lei Wang, the first Asian woman to climb the highest mountain on every continent and to ski to both the North and South Poles.

The awards luncheon will begin at 11 a.m. with registration and networking. Lunch will begin at noon, followed by the program and introduction of the Women of Impact by Kate Campiti, associate publisher of BusinessWest and Healthcare News and Tamara Sacharczyk, news anchor and I-Team reporter for WWLP-22 News.

The Inaugural Women of Impact is sponsored by Bay Path University, Comcast Business, Country Bank, and Granite State Development Corp, with media sponsor WWLP-22.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call (413) 781-8600, or visit www.businesswest.com.

BOSTON — Opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts decreased in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017, according to the latest quarterly opioid-related deaths report released recently by the Mass. Department of Public Health (DPH).

In the first 9 months of 2018, there were a total of 1,518 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths, as compared with 1,538 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in the first nine months of 2017. This estimated decrease follows a 4% decline between 2016 and 2017.

“The opioid epidemic, fueled by an all-time high level of fentanyl, remains a tragic public health crisis responsible for taking too many lives in Massachusetts,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “While there is much work left for all of us to do, we are encouraged that overdose deaths and opioid prescriptions continue to decline as searches on the Commonwealth’s Prescription Monitoring Program increase.”

The latest report also indicates that the powerful synthetic drug fentanyl present in the toxicology of opioid-related overdose deaths continues to rise and reached an all-time high at 90% in the second quarter of 2018. Meanwhile, the rate of heroin or likely heroin present in those deaths continued to plummet. In 2014, heroin or likely heroin was present in 71% of opioid-related deaths; by the second quarter of this year, that number had fallen to 37%.

Last month, the Baker Administration filed legislation seeking $5 million to support a regional, multi-agency approach to fentanyl interdiction and crime displacement by Massachusetts municipal police departments.  The funding will supplement surveillance work and overtime costs for units engaged, and officers in the field will also work to get buyers into treatment. In addition, last April, Governor Baker signed legislation that included a long overdue “fentanyl fix” to allow law enforcement to pursue fentanyl traffickers.

SPRINGFIELD — As part of the equitable implementation of the “Every Student Succeeds Act” (ESSA), the Urban League of Springfield, in collaboration with The Education Trust and The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, will stage the Massachusetts Education Equity & Excellence Summit on Nov. 29 at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.

Speakers and attendees will be exploring current research and sharing information to enhance educational strategies effecting systemic improvements in underperforming schools and targeted underperforming populations.

Opening remarks will be offered by Henry Thomas, III, president & CEO, Urban League of Springfield; John Davis, Sr. trustee, The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation; John King Jr., president and CEO, The Education Trust; and Lynn Jennings, director of National and State Partnerships, The Education Trust.

Remarks will be offered by Carlos E. Santiago, commissioner of Higher Education for Massachusetts; Paul Reville, Francis Keppel professor of Practice of Educational Policy and Administration, Harvard Graduate School of Education; Phillip Lovell, vice president of Policy Development and Government Relations, Alliance for Excellent Education; Adam Ezring, director of Policy, and Elizabeth Ross (HCM Strategies) with the Collaborative for Student Success;  and David Osborne, director, Reinventing America’s Schools, Progressive Policy Institute.

For more information, call the Urban League at (413) 739-7211.

A proposal by the Five College Consortium to increase its annual payment to the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority by a total of $250,000 over the next four years has been accepted by PVTA and area municipalities.

PVTA’s costs are covered with a combination of federal and state subsidies, payments from towns and cities, and passenger fares. Since 1979 Five Colleges has agreed to pay PVTA the town portion of the cost of bus routes that include its campuses. This has been with the understanding that, to encourage bus use, Five College students do not have to pay fares.

In recent years, however, the cost of operating buses along Five College routes has expanded beyond what PVTA was charging. When the campuses became aware of the gap last year, the consortium developed a schedule for increasing payments that would provide greater support to PVTA without creating an undo burden for its campuses.

Building on the most current charge of $500,000, the agreement has the campuses paying an additional $50,000 each year until total annual payments reach $750,000. The first payment was made in the last fiscal year, and additional payments will be made in each of the coming four years.

“Increasing costs of service and level funding make it impossible for PVTA to maintain the service we currently provide,” said Sandra Sheehan, administrator of PVTA. “This agreement exhibits a true partnership of helping maintain a crucial service in a critical time. The additional funding that Five Colleges has agreed to contribute helps to close that funding gap and allows for service to be preserved.”

Said Sarah Pfatteicher, executive director of the Five College Consortium, “PVTA service is a critical resource for students across the Five Colleges. We’re pleased we were able to develop an agreement that has our campuses paying a more equitable share of the cost of public transportation in the Valley.”

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Gaming Commission reported that the month of October at Plainridge Park Casino (PPC) and MGM Springfield generated approximately $35.8 million in gross gaming revenue (GGR).

MGM Springfield generated $14.623 million in revenue from slots and $7.6 million from table games. PPC, an all-slots facility, generated $13.5 million in revenue. MGM Springfield paid a total of $5.56 million in taxes on that revenue, while PPC paid $6.6 million, for a total of more than $12.2 million.

PPC, a category-2 slots facility, is taxed on 49% of GGR. Of that total taxed amount, 82% is paid to local aid, and 18% is allotted to the Race Horse Development Fund. MGM Springfield, a category-1 resort casino, is taxed on 25% of GGR; those monies are allocated to several specific state funds as determined by the gaming statute. 

To date, the Commonwealth has collected approximately $285.5 million in total taxes and assessments from PPC and MGM since the respective openings of each gaming facility, the commission said.

EASTHAMPTON — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced that Michael T. Oleksak has been hired as vice president of Commercial Lending.

Oleksak brings more than 15 years of experience in banking, most recently serving as the vice president of Commercial Lending for Westfield Bank, managing a portfolio of more than $25 million. Before Westfield Bank, Oleksak was the assistant vice president, Business Banking officer at United Bank.

In his new role, Oleksak’s main objective will be to originate and develop commercial-lending relationships involving construction projects, business-acquisition financing, investment real estate, equipment financials, business lines of credit, and lending relationships for the bank.

Oleksak holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University. He has a strong commitment to serving the surrounding communities, currently serving on the board of directors for the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club.

HOLYOKE — As part its year-long “Enduring Racism” speaker series, Holyoke Community College will present “Kids as Currency: Immigrant Children as Pawns in American Social Policy” on Monday, Nov. 26, beginning at 6 p.m. at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute, 164 Race St., Holyoke.

The evening will feature two speakers who are experts in their fields: Moira Maguire, HCC dean of Social Sciences, and David Hernandez, associate professor of Latina/o Studies at Mount Holyoke College.

Drawing on the adoption of Irish children by American couples in the 1940s and 1950s, and the 2018 U.S. policy of separating children from their parents at the Mexican border, Maguire and Hernandez will examine the historical roots of family separation and the ways that immigrant children have, over the past 70 years, represented the biggest hopes and worst fears of American society.

The event is free and open to all. A reception will precede the discussion at 5:30 p.m.

Maguire holds a Ph.D. in history from American University. As a teacher and scholar specializing in 20th-century Irish history, she spent more than 10 years at the University of Ireland Maynooth, where her research on infanticide and the Irish government’s care of unwed mothers and their children led to many articles and a book, Cherished Equally? Precarious Childhood in Independent Ireland. She has also worked as a consultant for the BBC on several documentaries.

Hernandez specializes in immigration policy, detention and deportation, and Latina/o history. His research focuses on immigration enforcement, the U.S. detention system in particular. A prolific writer on the subject, he is completing a book examining the racial genealogy of immigrant detention in the U.S.

The “Enduring Racism” series is a yearlong invitation to join in an open and honest conversation about racism and its many forms in American society.

“Through the sharing of personal stories and scholarship, we trust that, as a community, we will become more knowledgeable, so we can begin the process of overcoming the pain and degradation of racism,” said Mary Jane O’Connor, HCC Wellness coordinator and one of the event organizers. “We do this with the recognition that this can be both a challenging and an affirming conversation and also understand that it is necessary and must be ongoing as we seek truth and reconciliation.”

For more information, contact Mary J. O’Connor at [email protected] or (413) 552-2422, or Camille Close at [email protected] or (413) 552-2277.

SPRINGFIELD — For the ninth year, all Big Y supermarkets are working to help feed the hungry within their local communities through Care to Share Sack Hunger, a large, reusable grocery bag filled with staple non-perishable food items for local food banks.

Customers purchase a Sack Hunger bag of groceries for $10, and Big Y distributes the food to that region’s local food bank. In turn, the food banks distribute the filled sacks to area soup kitchens, food pantries, senior food programs, day-care centers, as well as many of its other member agencies.

All of the donated sacks are distributed within the supermarket’s marketing area, so every donation stays within the local community. Since its inception nine years ago, more than 133,000 bags of food have been donated to area needy via Big Y’s Care to Share Sack Hunger Program. This year’s campaign runs through Wednesday, Dec. 26.

As an additional option, customers may choose to purchase and donate a $10 ‘virtual bag’ at the register that will be used by the agencies to purchase turkeys or whatever is most needed. Online donations will also be accepted. Visit www.bigy.com/rs/giftcards for more information.

As an added bonus, any customer donations made on Saturday, Nov. 17 will be matched by Big Y.

“Our Sack Hunger program makes it easy for our customers to provide nutritious, non-perishable staple food to those less fortunate within our community,” said Donald D’Amour, chairman and CEO. “We all appreciate their efforts to make this a bigger program each year.”

All five food banks within Big Y’s marketing area are participating in Sack Hunger. These food banks, representing more than 2,100 member agencies throughout the region, include the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, the Greater Boston Food Bank, the Worcester County Food Bank, Foodshare of Greater Hartford, and the Connecticut Food Bank.

The sacks include the following non-perishable Big Y items: instant rice, corn flakes, creamy peanut butter, tuna, kidney beans, green beans, whole-kernel corn, quick oats, elbow macaroni, and sweet peas. Sacks are available at all 70 Big Y supermarkets and Fresh Acres. Last year, Big Y customers donated nearly 22,000 bags of food to those in need, and the company hopes to beat that figure this year.

EASTHAMPTON — The second annual TEDxEasthamptonWomen event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Boylston Room East in Keystone Mill from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a reception to follow at Mill 180 Park. 

The independently organized program, licensed by TED, will feature local speakers and TEDWomen videos under the theme of “Showing Up.”

Launched in 2009, TEDx is a program of locally organized events that bring the community together to share a TED-like experience. Some of the best talks from TEDx events have been featured on ted.com and garnered millions of views from audiences across the globe.

TEDWomen, in its ninth year, will take place in Palm Springs, Calif. The conference will be streamed to thousands around the globe at nearly 150 TEDWomen events in dozens of countries.

TEDxEasthamptonWomen has filled its seating limit of 100 attendees. The program will also be streamed live and accessible via the internet and at local viewing parties. Viewing-party information can be found at www.tedxeasthamptonwomen.com/livestream.

“The members this year felt the need to keep the event going for the community to foster learning to the people of Easthampton and the rest of the Pioneer Valley,” said Marketing Coordinator Laura Heisig. “The hope is for other women to hear these stories and feel empowered by them to make some change in their own communities. We’re all connected in some ways, but it also can affect the larger picture of things. I think that’s what’s so powerful about this event. It’s connecting us to this larger event.”

This year’s seven speakers are: 

• Jane Fleishman, a certified sexuality educator on a mission to promote the sexual well-being of older adults;

• Caitlin Kelley, a supervisor of the Mason Square Branch Library in Springfield;

• Brianna Mangano, a graduate student at the UConn School of Social Work who has more than six years of experience in mental health and social services;

• Christine Monska, a program officer at the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts as well as a continuing-education advisor at Bard Microcollege Holyoke;

• Elizabeth O’Gilvie, Bay Path College’s Ethics Speaker in 2017 and a member of the Massachusetts Farm to School advisory board;

• Cinzia Pica-Smith, an associate professor in both the Department of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies and the Education Department at Assumption College in Worcester; and

• Rachel Walker, an assistant professor of Nursing at UMass Amherst, an associate director for the Center for Personalized Health Monitoring, and the first nurse ever to be named an Invention Ambassador by the American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science.

TEDxEasthamptonWomen sponsors include Julia Mines, the Boylston Rooms, bankESB, Cider House Media, CJC Lighting & Production, Easthampton Media, Finck & Perras Insurance Agency LLC, Illuminaria, Mill 180 Park, Northeast Solar, and WBOA.

For more information about TEDxEasthamptonWomen, including how to plan or attend a viewing party, visit tedxeasthamptonwomen.com.

WESTFIELD — Environmental, health, and safety regulations are constantly changing, as are the new and creative ways of managing these regulatory challenges. Every fall, Tighe & Bond holds a series of free seminars that provide an overview of recent regulatory changes along with innovative methods for managing compliance.

The final seminar for this fall will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 27 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Topics will include the use of drones for environmental assessments, the use of geographic information system tools, collecting and managing environmental projects, perfluorinated chemicals, state and federal environmental updates, and state and federal safety updates.

Anyone interested in attending can sign up by clicking here. Call Jessica Frey at (413) 572-3299 with any questions or if you have trouble signing up.

CHICOPEE — Sunshine Village recently welcomed Christine Pollender as the new director of Human Resources. With the organization serving more than 500 individuals, Pollender will oversee employee relations, benefits administration, and procedural compliance for over 260 employees at nine sites across the Pioneer Valley. With an extensive background in human resources in retail and hospital settings, she brings subject-matter expertise to navigate the recent changes to state and federal laws for employers.

Pollender received both a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in business administration from Western New England University. She holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute and is a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, including the local chapter, the Human Resources Management Assoc. of Western New England, where she serves on its diversity and inclusion committee. 

Sunshine Village is a nonprofit organization with a main campus in Chicopee and additional sites in Chicopee, Springfield, Three Rivers, and Westfield. Since 1967, it has provided innovative day services for people with developmental disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum.

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:

The Women of Impact for 2018 are:

• Jean Canosa Albano, assistant director of Public Services, Springfield City Library;

• Kerry Dietz, principal, Dietz Architects;

• 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; and

• Katie Allen 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.