HOLYOKE — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced that Tiffany Raines has been hired as assistant vice president and branch officer of the new Holyoke branch located at 170 Sargeant St.

Raines brings more than 18 years of experience in banking, most recently serving as assistant vice president and banking center manager of PeoplesBank’s West Springfield banking center. In addition to 10 years as a branch manager and spending time managing the West Springfield, Amherst, and East Longmeadow offices, she also spent six years supervising the High Street and Hampden Street offices in Holyoke.

“We are very excited to welcome Tiffany to our team and back into the Holyoke community,” Sosik said. “Her experience and strong ties to Holyoke will be such a positive factor in establishing bankESB’s presence in the community.”

Raines has a strong commitment to serving surrounding communities. She is a past board member of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Rotary Clubs of Amherst, Holyoke, and East Longmeadow. Raines is a graduate of Leadership Holyoke, which is an 11-week community leadership course designed to train and motivate people to volunteer in order to make a positive difference in their community.

Along with Raines, Tenaya Read has been selected as assistant branch manager. Read joined the bank in 2004 and, over the last 14 years, has held the positions of teller, customer service representative, and, most recently, senior teller at the main office in Easthampton (36 Main St.). In addition to Read, Nadean Eaddy has been selected as senior teller. Eaddy joined the bank this past May with 15 years of banking experience, 11 of which were in a supervisor role. She has been promoted from her current role as teller in the South Hadley branch.

The Holyoke branch will have its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Nov. 5. To celebrate the opening, bankESB will raffle off a 2018 Hyundai Accent. In order to win, employees will be giving out 1,000 $1 bills (first come, first served) to anyone who visits the branch. On Saturday, Nov. 10, the winner will be drawn. Second- and third-place prizes are valued at $500.

CHICOPEE — The board of trustees of Elms College voted recently to grant the title of president emerita to Sr. Kathleen Keating in recognition of the lasting impact she has had on the college. 

Keating, a native of Springfield, was installed as the college’s seventh president in 1994. During her tenure, from 1994 to 2001, Elms College underwent extensive changes. In 1997, the college voted to admit male students to all programs of the college, which helped stabilize a declining enrollment. In addition, the college added four new undergraduate majors and one new master’s degree program. She more than doubled the school’s endowment from $2.3 million to $5.8 million and oversaw various campus-improvement projects, including the building of the Maguire Center. She also oversaw the establishment of the Irish and Polish Cultural Centers on the Elms campus.

A 1952 graduate of Elms College, Keating received a master’s degree from Villanova University and a doctoral degree from Fordham University. She joined the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1953.

She worked as a teacher at St. Joseph High School in North Adams and was assistant professor of History at Elms College from 1966 to 1975. She also served as chair of the college’s Division of Social Sciences. From 1975 to 1978, she was president of the National Assembly of Women Religious in Chicago, and she served as president of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from 1979 to 1987. From 1989 to 1993, she ministered in Nicaragua as an associate member of the Maryknoll Sisters, working as a pastoral minister and a professor of English at the Jesuit University of Central America in the city of Managua. She received the Elms Distinguished Alumni Award in 1983 and a number other national and regional awards over the years.

“Sr. Kathleen’s contributions to Elms College are not relegated in the past — her wisdom is very much sought after in the present, as I have turned to her counsel on more than one occasion for decisions that require a firm grasp of the college’s history and the guidance of one who has traveled the road before,” said Elms College President Harry Dumay. “We are thankful for Sr. Kathleen’s vision, determination, and the strong example she has set of tireless service.”

HATFIELD — What do cider-brined pork chops and improv comedy have in common? On Sunday, Nov. 11, Good Stock Farm will hold one of its celebrated four-course wine lover’s meals as a benefit for Happier Valley Comedy, an improv comedy theater and nonprofit organization based in Hadley.

Good Stock Farm offers unique culinary experiences that are one part hosted dinner party and one part expert cooking class. James Beard Award-winning Chef Sanford (Sandy) D’Amato has been cooking and teaching for more than 40 years all over the world, most recently with his partner and wife, Angie D’Amato. Three years ago, the couple discovered another passion: learning and performing improvisational comedy. “Improv has opened our eyes to a whole new way of life and community,” Angie said. “Our only regret is not finding it sooner.”

The D’Amatos are part of a large and growing community of adult students committed to learning the in-the-moment artform of improvisation. In response to this growth, Happier Valley Comedy opened the doors on its new 60-seat performance venue and classroom at the end of the summer. The theater buildout was entirely paid for by fundraising efforts, including a successful Valley Gives Day, when the local community and a far-flung network of supporters — from Seattle to London — raised close to $27,000. Happier Valley Comedy is continuing to raise funds as it reaches for the next goals in the theater, which include installing theatrical lighting, additional acoustic enhancements, and making the stage ADA-compliant to accommodate performers of all physical abilities.

The evening on Nov. 11 will begin with French champagne and hors d’oeuvres in the Good Stock teaching kitchen, then move to the family table for a four-course seasonal dinner with wine pairings. This is where the D’Amatos go deep in their cellar to share some of their favorite wines they have collected and laid down over the years. Various regions like Rhone Valley, Burgundy, Northern Italy, Spain, and Portugal may be represented to complement the evening’s menu. The meal is followed by after-dinner drinks and a casual improvised performance featuring Happier Valley Comedy’s founder, Pam Victor, and Artistic Director Scott Braidman.

There are only 14 spots available at the table. The full menu and tickets are now available at www.happiervalley.com.

SPRINGFIELD — The Hampden County Bar Assoc., in conjunction with WGGB Channel 40, will present a Lawyer on the Line event on Monday, Nov. 19 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Volunteers will provide legal advice on a variety of topics from callers during the evening news broadcast. Individuals needing advice should call (413) 846-0240 to speak to a volunteer.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Employees of hospitality businesses across Western Mass. will have a little extra hop in their step on Oct. 26-31. Starting today, the American Rabbit Breeders Assoc. (ARBA) will hold its 95th annual convention at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield.

Representatives of the Pennsylvania-based organization expect to have more than 16,000 rabbits and cavy (animals similar to rabbits, such as guinea pigs) on display.

“This is a major convention event that will have a tremendous impact on our region,” said Mary Kay Wydra, president of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (GSCVB). “The organizers are expecting 1,500 attendees with registrants from many European nations, and some from as far away as China.”

GSCVB officials are estimating that the six-day event will have an economic impact of nearly $3 million. The Springfield Sheraton Monarch Place Hotel will serve as the headquarters property, and 14 additional local hotels have reserved room blocks for convention-goers.

Attractions all over the region hope to see a boost at the turnstile. ARBA organizers touted the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Dr. Seuss Museum, Six Flags New England, MGM Springfield, Yankee Candle Village, and many more options for attendees to enjoy their downtime. 

“We honestly couldn’t have been more impressed with Western Mass.,” said Randy Gebelein, ARBA’s general chairperson. “From a top-shelf convention facility to outstanding hotels to so many one-of-a-kind attractions, this region met all our needs perfectly. We’re looking forward to an excellent event.”

HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank recently appointed Suzanne Rosenberg as assistant vice president and manager for its West Springfield banking center, and Michael Gay as manager for its Amherst banking center.

In her new position, Rosenberg aims to cultivate a customer-focused, engaging, one-stop resolution environment focused on identifying and providing solutions for all customers’ financial needs. She has 15 years of financial-services and banking experience. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Stonehill College in Easton. She formerly served as a volunteer for the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and the Mashpee Boys & Girls Club.

In his new position, Gay aims to provide a positive banking experience to both consumer and small-business customers. He has eight years of financial-services and banking experience. He attended Holyoke Community College and Franklin-Covey organizational training. He formerly served as a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the Therapeutic Equestrian Center of Holyoke.

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) marked the official opening of its new Center for Life Sciences yesterday with a ribbon-cutting celebration featuring lab demonstrations and tours of the 13,000-square-foot, $4.55 million, state-of-the-art facility.

“This is an amazing space,” said HCC President Christina Royal, standing in the crowded lobby of the center on the first floor of the Marieb Building. “This building has not been renovated since 1972. With this facility, we’ve just brought the education level of our biotechnology and life-science programs into the 21st century.”

The Center for Life Sciences, which opened for classes in September for the start of the fall semester, features a suite of new science labs and classrooms and the only ISO-certified cleanroom at any community college in Massachusetts.

“Today we all celebrate another great achievement for Holyoke Community College,” said U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who noted the importance of community colleges for providing opportunities to aspiring students. “As we’ve watched what’s happened to the cost of higher education, we are all reminded that it is more important than ever to have a flourishing community-college system.”

Jim Peyser, state secretary of Education, said the ribbon-cutting celebration was an important part of the state’s first annual STEM Week.

“What we’re trying to do is shine a spotlight on all the great things that are going on around the Commonwealth in STEM education,” he said. “In Massachusetts, there is something on the order of 600,000 jobs in STEM fields. There are 270,000 or so postings for STEM jobs in the state. This is not just a big part of our economy, but the fastest-growing part.”

Among the other officials and dignitaries on hand for the celebration were Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse and state Reps. Aaron Vega and Angelo Puppolo, who, along with the many visitors and guests, toured the new science labs and talked to biotechnology and microbiology students as they conducted experiments dressed in white lab coats.

“These are our future doctors, future scientists, and future researchers,” Royal said. “These are the types of aspirations that they have as they start here at HCC and look to move on into the workforce or toward opportunities to transfer and continue their educations. It’s wonderful to watch.”

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center provided the majority of funding for the project in the form of a $3.8 million grant, with the balance of the total cost coming from the HCC Foundation.

“We are committed to providing the innovative infrastructure, alongside dynamic educational and experiential opportunities and other necessary resources, to develop the next generation of great scientists, engineers, and life-science entrepreneurs,” Travis McCready, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, said in a statement before the event. “HCC is providing its students with state-of-the-art equipment, facilities, and instruction to gain the skills necessary to further fuel our world-class talent pipeline.”

ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College, with support from Enfield Together Coalition and funding from the Connecticut Healthy Campus Initiative, is hosting former NFL player and University of Pennsylvania graduate Jeff Hatch in the college’s conference center on Wednesday, Nov. 7.

Hatch, who played for the New York Giants and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will speak to students, staff, and faculty at 12:30 p.m. and will present a second time for the public at 6 p.m. He will share his story of sports injuries, opioid addiction, and recovery. Drafted in 2002 by the Giants, he battled addiction on and off the field until his retirement in 2006. He is now in long-term recovery.

Food and beverages will be served during both presentations. The event is free to everyone.

SPRINGFIELD — Berdie Thompson recently joined the staff of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts as the Development director. She previously served as the Charitable Gifts and Events coordinator for the Chicopee Savings Bank Foundation for 10 years. In addition, she has six years of fundraising experience and six years of office management in the nonprofit sector and a solid track record of meeting and exceeding fundraising goals. She brings with her a plethora of knowledge about fundraising from both sides of the table. Prior to her involvement in nonprofits, she was in the banking industry for 15 years.

“We are thrilled to have Berdie join our team,” said Jennifer Connolly, president of JA of Western Massachusetts. “She is passionate, well-versed in nonprofits, and, through her work at the Chicopee Savings Bank Foundation, very familiar and supportive of JA’s mission.”

SPRINGFIELD — The New England Commission on Higher Education has granted Springfield College approval to offer distance-education programming. Springfield College will launch its first fully online programs in January 2019.

Fully accredited online programs will be available to students in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with programs including a bachelor of Science in human services, with concentrations in criminal justice, early childhood education, substance-use disorder counseling (addictions), as well as community youth development; and a leadership MBA with a concentration in nonprofit management.

“We are pleased to offer new, transformational online programming for prospective and current Springfield College students,” said President Mary-Beth Cooper. “Not only will our online programs deliver a uniquely immersive and collaborative learning experience, they will also remain true to our mission of educating leaders in service to others. We couldn’t be more excited to share this news.”

The same high-touch, supportive, personalized, and interactive learning experience for which Springfield College has been known for more than 130 years will continue in the online environment, she added. The online courses are offered via the learning management system Brightspace by D2L, a state-of-art network that makes online learning highly interactive, social, and engaging.

“The new online programs usher in a new era of technological sophistication and instructional innovation at Springfield College,” said John Eisler, dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Studies. “Through advanced course design and creation of a highly interactive online classroom, with a maximum class size of 24, our students will experience a more engaging, flexible, time-efficient, and highly social learning environment. Online students will also benefit from a close connection with their own academic success coach who mentors them through the entire program, as well as the support of experienced faculty experts who are dedicated to student success.”

SPRINGFIELD — Heather Smith, a student at Holyoke Community College and a participant in MHA’s Safe Haven program, was the recipient of a new laptop computer donated by Delcie Bean IV, CEO of Paragus Strategic IT in Hadley. Smith, who was a featured speaker at MHA’s annual Night of Recognition on Oct. 10, was both surprised and grateful for the donation.

“I can’t thank Delcie Bean and Paragus enough for thinking of me,” said Smith. “Earning my college degree is my goal, and this laptop gives me an important tool to help with my education that I wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Smith, who has struggled with her mental health since her teens and is now in recovery from substance use, returned to college last month as part of her long-term goal to live her best life. MHA Safe Haven is providing her a safe and supportive place to live and access to resources designed to help her become stable and confident, with the ultimate goal of living independently.

“After hearing Heather’s story and knowing that she was starting a renewed pursuit of a college degree, Paragus stepped in to be sure she had the equipment she needed to be successful,” said Bean. “Paragus is committed to enhancing the role of IT at all levels, including at the level of individual people. We were inspired by Heather’s personal strength and desire to overcome obstacles, so we wanted her to know her community has her back.”

Smith has been in and out of hospitalization for her mental health since she was 14, when she experienced her first symptoms. “By the time I was 16, I dropped out of high school because everything was so overwhelming,” she explained. “I did get my GED because I’m smart, just not when I was doing the things I was doing then, like self-medicating with crack cocaine, heroin, or anything I could get my hands on. Then my mother got cancer. I watched her fight it, which was terrible to witness. When I lost my mom to cancer, I lost myself, too.”

Soon after her mother died, Smith became homeless. She lived in her car until it got impounded because she didn’t have insurance, and then she lived outside. “On so many levels it was bad,” she recalled. “On March 28, 2018, I tried to kill myself and I ended up in the hospital. Two days later, my brother overdosed on heroin. He died. You can imagine I had reached a low point in my life. But this was also when I met Samantha Gulsvig, who works for MHA Safe Haven.”

Launched in 2016, MHA Safe Haven is a transitional homeless shelter where participants may reside for up to two years. Each individual enrolled has a mental-health diagnosis and is chronically homeless. While participants reside at Safe Haven, MHA staff connects them with community resources, such as medical, mental-health and money-related services. In addition, Safe Haven supports them in developing coping and symptom-management skills so they can overcome barriers to housing, find a safe and affordable place to call home, and build the life skills and confidence to live independently.

“I have been clean since March 28,” Smith said. “I don’t ever want to go back, and with the help I’m getting through Safe Haven, I don’t need to. I plan to be a psychology major, partly because of the amazing therapist I work with. I can relate to her because she has lived experience with many of the same challenges I have faced. I think the best therapists are the ones who get it because they lived it. They found a way to move forward and now are helping others, including me, to do the same.”

SPRINGFIELD — More than 50 students from Elms College volunteered to serve as mentors at a JA Economics for Success event hosted by Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts on Oct. 10. The event was held at Putnam High School in Springfield.

The JA Economics for Success event offered ninth-grade students practical information about personal finance, as well as the importance of identifying education and career goals based on a student’s skills, interests, and values. Through a series of six 45-minute sessions, students learned how to explore their skills, interests, values, and the world of work to make informed education, career, and life decisions. They also developed their knowledge of personal finance so they can apply strong financial-management skills regardless of their income.

The program was designed to correlate with state social studies, English, and math standards, as well as to the Common Core state standards in English/language arts and mathematics.

The Elms College students were on hand to act as mentors, guiding the ninth-graders through the sessions and helping them learn important life skills, including decision making, planning, spending, and more.

“The students were into credit and debit cards, saving money to benefit their future. I enjoyed communicating about saving money to younger students, helping them prepare for their futures,” said accounting major Kami Sierra.

Added management major Josh Keaton, “I didn’t have this in high school, and I wish I did.”

Putnam teacher Theodore Hawkes said the program exceeded his expectations. “Our students gained problem-solving, teamwork, and decision-making skills, and were able to explore different career options.”

Amanda Garcia, director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and associate professor of Accounting and Finance at Elms College, called the event “such a great experience for Elms students. This opportunity allows our students to apply their critical thinking and presentations skills, to be role models, and to give back to our local community, which is part of the mission at Elms College.”

SPRINGFIELD — WWLP announced that Brenda McGiverin has been promoted to general sales manager of WWLP-22News, wwlp.com, and the CW Springfield.

McGiverin has been with WWLP since 2007. She began her career at the media outlet as a digital account executive/new media coordinator. She was then promoted to digital sales director, where she led a sales team of seven account executives, and was responsible for generating and managing all digital revenue.  Most recently, she has served as local sales manager overseeing the entire local sales staff and coordinating all aspects of broadcast and digital sales.

Outside of her responsibilities at WWLP, she is the board president of the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts, a member of the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round board, and on the advisory committee for Providence Ministries. 

McGiverin is a graduate of Northeastern University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business marketing and management. While attending Northeastern, she worked as a marketing coordinator for 8MinuteDating – Boston, and as a client services coordinator for MTV2-Y2M: Youth Media & Marketing Networks, the parent of College Publisher, the largest interactive network of online college newspapers in the U.S.

LONGMEADOW — Tickets are now available for one of the area’s most taste-ful events of the season: the 18th annual Fall Feastival, benefiting Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH). The event takes place on Thursday, Nov. 1 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Twin Hills Country Club, 700 Wolf Swamp Road, Longmeadow.

The evening will feature networking, cocktails, and food from local restaurants, including Nadim’s Mediterranean Restaurant and Grill, The Log Cabin and the Delaney House, Elegant Affairs, Tekoa Country Club, the Magic Spoon, Twin Hills Country Club, Center Square Grill, and Holyoke Hummus. Evening festivities also include live and silent auctions, featuring items such as four VIP tickets to the Dropkick Murphys on St. Patrick’s Day weekend at the House of Blues in Boston, five Red Sox-Yankees tickets at Yankee Stadium in the Jim Beam Suite, and much more. Habitat will also auction off a week-long Napa Valley getaway.

Platinum sponsors include Bank of America and iHeartRadio. Gold sponsors include Excel Dryer and PeoplesBank. Silver sponsors include Berkshire Bank, the Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc. of Western Mass., Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., Mortgage Network, the Perry Family, and Reminder Publications.

Tickets are $75 per person and available online at www.habitatspringfield.org or by calling (413) 739-5503. A limited number of tickets are available, and, as with previous years, the event is expected to sell out.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Springfield has built 65 houses for partner families in Hampden County since it was founded in 1987. GSHFH’s retail and donation center, ReStore, opened in Westfield in 2015, is designed to collect and resell new and gently used home and construction goods for a fraction of the retail price. All proceeds from the store support the mission of serving families. Fall Feastival is an event to celebrate all the work that has been done through the organization as well as a chance to share the stories of homeowners that have benefitted from Habitat.

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College is hosting a grand-opening celebration and ribbon cutting for the 13,000-square-foot, $4.55 million Center for Life Sciences today, Oct. 24.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal and state Secretary of Education James Peyser will be the featured speakers at the event, which runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Center for Life Sciences, located on the lower level of HCC’s Marieb Building.

The facility features a suite of biotechnology labs and classrooms and what is believed to be the only ISO-certified cleanroom at any Massachusetts community college and one of very few at any college or university in Western Mass.

“These state-of-the-art facilities and new equipment will allow us to train our students in laboratory settings similar to what they will experience in industry, making them more competitive for the biotech job market,” said HCC Professor Emily Rabinsky, Biotechnology program coordinator.

The celebration will include tours of the facility, lab demonstrations by HCC faculty and their students, refreshments, and a ceremonial ribbon cutting at about 10:45 a.m. Among the others expected to attend are state Sen. Donald Humason; state Reps. Aaron Vega, Brian Ashe, and Angelo Puppolo; as well as officials from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, which awarded HCC a $3.8 million grant for the project.

SPRINGFIELD — Big Y World Class Markets collected donations from customers and employees from Sept. 19 through Sept. 29 for American Red Cross disaster relief.

Community and employee donations, along with additional support from Big Y, resulted in a donation of $35,000, which will be donated to both Massachusetts and Connecticut American Red Cross chapters in support of the ongoing relief efforts in the U.S.

A formal check presentation to the Massachusetts American Red Cross was held on Oct. 23 at the Chicopee Big Y World Class Market. Mike Matyszewski, store director of Big Y Foods, presented the contribution to Erin Ryder, regional manager of Donor Relations for the Massachusetts chapter.

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors like the Big Y. The Red Cross responds to an emergency every eight minutes. From small house fires to events like the Merrimack Valley gas-leak explosions and fires in September, to multi-state natural disasters like Hurricanes Florence and Michael, the American Red Cross goes wherever it’s needed, so people can have clean water, safe shelter, and hot meals when they need them most.

Big Y, its customers, and employees have a strong tradition of supporting those in need through the American Red Cross. Past relief campaigns include the 2004 tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and the earthquakes in both Japan and Haiti. The partnership has raised more than $1.5 million to support both international and domestic disasters.

SPRINGFIELD — The second annual class of Healthcare Heroes will be honored at the Starting Gate at GreatHorse in Hampden on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Healthcare Heroes, a recognition program involving the Western Mass. healthcare sector, was launched last spring by HCN and BusinessWest. The program was created to shed a bright light on the outstanding work being done across the broad spectrum of health and wellness services, and the institutions and people providing that care.

This year’s honorees include Mary Paquette, director of Health Services and nurse practitioner, American International College; Celeste Surreira, assistant director of Nursing, the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke; Peter DePergola II, director of Clinical Ethics, Baystate Health; Dr. Matthew Sadof, pediatrician, Baystate Children’s Hospital; TechSpring; the Consortium and the Opioid Task Force; and Robert Fazzi, founder, Fazzi Associates. The seven winners were profiled in the Sept. 4 issue of BusinessWest and the September issue of HCN, and will be feted at the Oct. 25 gala.

Tickets cost $90, and tables of 10 are available. To order tickets, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit www.businesswest.com. Healthcare Heroes sponsors include American International College (presenting sponsor), Baystate Health/Health New England (presenting sponsor), National Grid (partner), and supporting sponsors Renew.Calm, the Elms College MBA program, Bay Path University, and Mercy Medical Center/Trinity Health Of New England.

AMHERST — The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced that it has selected UMass Amherst to be one of its national network of Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Sites. The program is intended to increase research commercialization and campus startups while enriching existing innovation infrastructure. Organizers hope to help new ventures bring economic development and jobs to the region.

Kenneth Carter, professor of Polymer Science and Engineering and a faculty inventor, leads the site as its principal investigator. “This is tremendous news for our students in STEM fields, their faculty advisors, industry partners, and our alumni who want to give back to the campus through mentoring and other support,” he said. “We are extremely excited about it.”

His co-principal investigators are Robert MacWright, director of the campus’s Technology Transfer Office, and Nilanjana Dasgupta, professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences.

“The idea is to have faculty, students, and mentors team up to advance a technical idea and take it from the laboratory out into the real world,” Carter said. “I-Corps is a curriculum that leads you to discover the potential value of those ideas. While it is clear we would like to see our students and researchers making a product or starting a new company, the major goal of the training is simply to get off campus and interview potential users of a particular idea or technology. From there, one can make informed business decisions.”

Carter is part of a successful startup company, FogKicker, that recently brought a UMass Amherst lab invention to market — a biodegradable, non-toxic anti-fog solution made from nanocellulose that can prevent fog from forming on surfaces such as scuba masks, car windshields, and bathroom mirrors.

NSF funds I-Corps Sites to nurture and support mixed teams of students, faculty, and mentors who learn together and explore translation of their tech concepts into the marketplace.

UMass Amherst’s Technology Transfer Office, Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship, Institute for Applied Life Sciences, College of Information and Computer Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Natural Sciences, College of Nursing, and the offices of the Provost and the Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement, among others, supported the bid to bring the I-Corps program to campus and continue to contribute to its innovation ecosystem, Carter said.

The NSF award will provide training and funding to 24 teams per year beginning with a cohort of 12 in the spring of 2019. The I-Corps organizers expect most participants to be graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, or recent graduates, but the program is open to undergraduate participation as well.

“We pulled these resources together to design a program that will continue long after the NSF funding has ended,” Carter said. “We see a continuous program going into the future because this seed money is not as important as the creation of teams, winning more small-business innovation grants, seeing more successful startups, boosting the entrepreneurial spirit of the campus, and getting more students trained to participate in the innovation economy.”

SOUTH HADLEY — The South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Hartley Economic Forum on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7:45 a.m. at the Willits-Hallowell Center at Mount Holyoke College.

There will be a hot breakfast, followed by James Hartley’s annual analysis of the economic picture. Hartley chairs the Department of Economics at Mount Holyoke, and his economic forum is a perennial favorite of the South Hadley & Granby Chamber. It will be an interactive presentation, with Hartley speaking briefly about the state of the economy as he sees it, followed by questions and answers.

Attendees are asked to pre-register to ensuren adequate space. The cost is $15 for chamber members and $20 for non-members. To register, click on the event link at www.shgchamber.com, e-mail [email protected], or call (413) 532-6451.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announced a new collaboration with Google to offer computer science, data science, and machine-learning courses to its undergraduate students. Bay Path is one of only four colleges and universities and the only women’s college selected nationally to collaborate with Google to pilot all three offerings in its new Applied Computing Series. 

“Bay Path students from just about every discipline have been engaged in our Google partnership courses during the pilot period,” said Tom Loper, associate provost and Dean for Bay Path University’s School of Science and Management. “They have been learning how to program using Python, and they love it. As they approach increasingly challenging problems with Python, they are learning how to ‘think like a data scientist,’ just as one of the course titles suggests. We could not be more pleased with the quality of the learning process. Our faculty have truly enjoyed collaborating with their Google colleagues, as well as the faculty from other colleges and universities in the partnership.”

These courses aim to increase undergraduate access to quality data science and machine-learning education by leveraging new technologies and teaching styles. The Applied Computing Series teaches the foundations of computer and data science through hands-on, project-based course content, topically designed to attract students who might not consider themselves destined for a technology career.

The most advanced of these offerings, the Applied Machine Learning Intensive, will be a 10-week summer program designed to offer non-computer science majors a crash course in data engineering and machine learning. All the courses leverage tools and techniques used at Google and in the wider tech industry, while also teaching the non-tech skills needed for success in every industry, such as critical thinking and problem-solving, collaboration, and the ability to communicate and network.

The learning content for the Applied Computing Series is distributed via a ‘flipped classroom’ model of instruction, where students review, study, and practice material on their own, then work on collaborative projects in groups with coaching by their instructors. To develop the most robust curriculum, Google is building these courses in partnership with highly-regarded computer-science academics. The Google instructional team builds the centralized content and in-class projects so that students have relevant, real-world problems to solve; the courses are then facilitated by Bay Path University faculty in STEM-adjacent fields. 

Students participating in the program develop skills that will position them for entry-level positions in the burgeoning machine-learning workforce; work with Google engineers to learn about the tech industry’s working environments, challenges, and nuances; and immerse themselves in a project-based curriculum to help reinforce the computer- and data-science principles they are learning.

SPRINGFIELD — The second annual class of Healthcare Heroes will be honored at the Starting Gate at GreatHorse in Hampden on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Healthcare Heroes, a recognition program involving the Western Mass. healthcare sector, was launched last spring by HCN and BusinessWest. The program was created to shed a bright light on the outstanding work being done across the broad spectrum of health and wellness services, and the institutions and people providing that care.

This year’s honorees include Mary Paquette, director of Health Services and nurse practitioner, American International College; Celeste Surreira, assistant director of Nursing, the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke; Peter DePergola II, director of Clinical Ethics, Baystate Health; Dr. Matthew Sadof, pediatrician, Baystate Children’s Hospital; TechSpring; the Consortium and the Opioid Task Force; and Robert Fazzi, founder, Fazzi Associates. The seven winners were profiled in the Sept. 4 issue of BusinessWest and the September issue of HCN, and will be feted at the Oct. 25 gala.

Tickets cost $90, and tables of 10 are available. To order tickets, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit www.businesswest.com. Healthcare Heroes sponsors include American International College (presenting sponsor), Baystate Health/Health New England (presenting sponsor), National Grid (partner), and supporting sponsors Renew.Calm, the Elms College MBA program, Bay Path University, and Mercy Medical Center/Trinity Health Of New England.

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) announced the grand opening of the new Colaccino Center for Health Sciences will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. Dignitaries scheduled to attend include U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, state Sens. Eric Lesser and James Welch, and Springfield City Council President Orlando Ramos.

Located at 1020 State St., the newly built center offers spacious classrooms and hands-on labs for undergraduate and graduate students in exercise science, nursing, physical therapy, public health, and occupational therapy. The 20,000-square-foot facility provides AIC students with simulation, rehabilitation, and human performance laboratories, as well as smart classrooms, ample study areas, faculty offices, and conference space. Athletic training programs will be introduced beginning in 2021.

The Colaccino Center for Health Sciences was named in recognition of Frank Colaccino, an AIC alumnus and founder, president, and CEO of the Colvest Group in Springfield. While serving as chair of the board of trustees finance committee in 2005, Colaccino was instrumental in helping restore the college’s solvency after facing extreme financial jeopardy. In 2007, and again in 2015, he assumed the role of chair of the board of trustees. Colaccino is the first alumnus in the college’s history to hold this position.

“Through Frank’s leadership, unwavering service, and financial support, we have seen the college grow immeasurably,” AIC President Vince Maniaci said. “It is fitting that the board of trustees elected to name this new facility, focused on developing highly trained healthcare professionals, in his honor. The impressive, state-of-the-art center provides an educational environment that allows for and advances interdisciplinary learning.”

Located in the geographic center of Springfield, the Colaccino Center for Health Sciences complements the ongoing redevelopment of downtown by extending revitalization efforts up the State Street corridor to the Mason Square/Upper Hill neighborhood.

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate remained at 3.6% in September, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts lost 6,200 jobs in September. Over the month, the private sector lost 6,000 jobs, although gains occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; professional, scientific, and business services; construction; and financial activities. The jobs level for other services remained unchanged over the month.

From September 2017 to September 2018, BLS estimates Massachusetts has added 63,400 jobs. 

The September unemployment rate was one-tenth of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.7% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Last month, preliminary data indicates that there were 17,500 more employed residents and 1,500 fewer unemployed in the Commonwealth. The continued labor-force gains and an estimated addition of 48,800 jobs year-to-date are signs that our economy is attracting more residents to enter and gain employment in Massachusetts,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta.

The labor force increased by 16,100 from 3,806,000 in August, as 17,500 more residents were employed and 1,500 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6%.

The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — is up two-tenths of a percentage point over the month at 67.8%. Compared to September 2017, the labor-force participation rate is up 2.4%. 

The largest private-sector percentage job gains over the year were in construction; professional, scientific, and business services; other services; and manufacturing.

SPRINGFIELD — Comcast announced it is the nation’s largest provider of gigabit broadband, with the ultra-fast Xfinity Gigabit Internet and Comcast Business Gigabit services now available to nearly all of the company’s 58 million homes and businesses in 39 states and the District of Columbia.

This availability includes nearly 100% of Comcast Internet serviceable households in Western Mass., including the communities of Agawam, Amherst, Bernardston, Buckland, Chester, Conway, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Granby, Granville, Greenfield, Hatfield, Hardwick, Holyoke, Huntington, Longmeadow, Monson, Montague, Northfield, Northampton, Palmer, Pelham, Shelburne, South Hadley, Southwick, Springfield, Sunderland, Ware, West Springfield, Westfield, Westhampton, Whately, and Williamsburg. 

This national deployment represents the fastest rollout of gigabit speeds to the most homes in the country. Comcast has increased speeds 17 times in 17 years and doubles the capacity of its broadband network every 18 to 24 months.

Comcast’s residential broadband service is powered and controlled by Xfinity xFi, a digital dashboard that personalizes, monitors, and manages wi-fi-connected devices in the home. Consumers now can add xFi Pods, which are small, easy-to-install extenders that plug into any electrical outlet, pair with xFi Wireless Gateways, and help customers create a mesh network that extends coverage to hard-to-reach areas of their home.

Outside the home, Xfinity Internet customers also have access to more than 19 million WiFi hotspots, so they can stay connected on the go at no additional cost.

Comcast’s residential Xfinity Gigabit internet service uses the existing network connections that are already in most customers’ homes. Installation is easy and requires no special construction or digging up lawns, the company notes. In many cases, customers don’t need a service visit, as the broadband equipment comes with a simple self-installation kit.

SPRINGFIELD — The second annual class of Healthcare Heroes will be honored at the Starting Gate at GreatHorse in Hampden on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Healthcare Heroes, a recognition program involving the Western Mass. healthcare sector, was launched last spring by HCN and BusinessWest. The program was created to shed a bright light on the outstanding work being done across the broad spectrum of health and wellness services, and the institutions and people providing that care.

This year’s honorees include Mary Paquette, director of Health Services and nurse practitioner, American International College; Celeste Surreira, assistant director of Nursing, the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke; Peter DePergola II, director of Clinical Ethics, Baystate Health; Dr. Matthew Sadof, pediatrician, Baystate Children’s Hospital; TechSpring; the Consortium and the Opioid Task Force; and Robert Fazzi, founder, Fazzi Associates. The seven winners were profiled in the Sept. 4 issue of BusinessWest and the September issue of HCN, and will be feted at the Oct. 25 gala.

Tickets cost $90, and tables of 10 are available. To order tickets, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit www.businesswest.com. Healthcare Heroes sponsors include American International College (presenting sponsor), Baystate Health/Health New England (presenting sponsor), National Grid (partner), and supporting sponsors Renew.Calm, the Elms College MBA program, Bay Path University, and Mercy Medical Center/Trinity Health Of New England.

AMHERST — Professor Ramesh Sitaraman of UMass Amherst’s College of Information and Computer Sciences is one of a large team of scientists and engineers who have been honored by the Assoc. for Computing Machinery with its SIGCOMM Networking Systems Award for work that “has had a significant impact on the world of computer networking,” the association said.

Sitaraman and colleagues are credited with building the Akamai content-delivery network (CDN), the world’s first major CDN and now one of the largest ever built, and for pioneering the concept of internet content delivery. The Akamai CDN currently consists of 240,000 servers in 130 countries and serves about one-quarter of all internet traffic.

CDNs deliver a majority of internet traffic today, including much of the world’s e-commerce, news, media, entertainment, social networks, and online applications. Two decades after their creation, Sitaraman noted, CDNs have completely transformed the internet as we know it while simultaneously spawning a business sector valued at tens of billions of dollars.

“CDNs may be the most important technical breakthrough you have never heard of,” he noted. “That’s because CDNs work unnoticed, under the cover of your browser, video player, or application. But CDNs are what make your web pages load faster, make your videos play continuously without freezes, and enable billions of people around the world to watch a live soccer game on the internet.”

CDN creators accomplished this using algorithms that continuously monitor the state of the global internet, balance server load, map users to the nearest server, cache content requested by the user, and reliably transport content to billions of users.

Sitaraman, who helped build Akamai and left academia to translate his research into practice there, observed that “the future looks even more exciting since much foundational scientific research is needed to make the internet much more secure and more sustainable than what it is today. CDNs are a good example of how academic research can fundamentally change the world.”

He now directs the CICS Laboratory for Internet-Scale Distributed Systems and is a member of its Theoretical Computer Science group. His research involves all aspects of internet-scale distributed systems, including algorithms, architectures, performance, and energy efficiency. He is currently focused on the next-generation internet. Sitaraman received also 2014 College Outstanding Teacher Award.

SPRINGFIELD — Invesco Ltd. and MassMutual announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement, whereby Invesco will acquire MassMutual asset-management affiliate OppenheimerFunds Inc. In turn, MassMutual and OppenheimerFunds employee shareholders will receive a combination of common and preferred equity consideration, and MassMutual will become a significant shareholder in Invesco, with an approximate 15.5% stake.

This strategic transaction will bring Invesco’s total assets under management to more than $1.2 trillion, making it the 13th-largest global investment manager and sixth- largest U.S. retail investment manager, further enhancing the company’s ability to meet client needs through its comprehensive range of high-conviction active, passive, and alternative capabilities.

“The combination with OppenheimerFunds and the strategic partnership with MassMutual will meaningfully enhance our ability to meet client needs, accelerate growth, and strengthen our business over the long term,” said Martin Flanagan, president and CEO of Invesco. “This is a compelling, highly strategic and accretive transaction for Invesco that will help us achieve a number of objectives: enhance our leadership in the U.S. and global markets, deliver the outcomes clients seek, broaden our relevance among top clients, deliver strong financial results, and continue attracting the best talent in the industry.”

“We have long held OppenheimerFunds’ people and strong investment performance track record in high regard,” Flanagan continued. “OppenheimerFunds’ culture and commitment to high-conviction investing complement our own, and the combination will create significant opportunities for the talented professionals of both companies.”

MassMutual Chairman, President, and CEO Roger Crandall added that “MassMutual is excited for the next chapter in our successful asset-management strategy. Invesco is a highly regarded asset manager, and OppenheimerFunds has been an incredibly successful affiliate of MassMutual for the past 28 years. We look forward to participating in the future growth of the combined entity as a long-term partner and shareholder. This strategic combination positions us well to continue to benefit from a strong, diversified, global asset-management business, which will further strengthen our financial position and support our ability to invest in the long term, provide increased value to our policy owners and customers, and help us deliver on our purpose to help people secure their future and protect the ones they love.”

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) is offering two one-day seminars aimed at teaching people how to better manage difficult conversations, both in their professional and personal lives.

“Facilitating Difficult Conversations” will run on Friday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and again on Saturday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in HCC’s Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development on the main HCC campus at 303 Homestead Ave.

“Poor or ineffective communication is the biggest impediment to success at work and happiness in one’s private life,” said Ken White, HCC dean of Community Services. “In these seminars, people will learn the skills necessary to achieve both.”

White said the seminars, led by Debbie Lynangale, director of the Mediation & Training Collaborative in Greenfield, are appropriate for managers, public officials, educators, parents, customer-service personnel, law-enforcement professionals, or anyone else who wants to learn techniques for setting up and preparing for difficult conversations, conveying tough messages, receiving challenging feedback, and harnessing the creative energy that conflict can bring. Participants will practice de-escalation techniques and ways to develop better listening skills to support problem solving.

The cost of each one-day seminar is $125. For more information or to register, visit hcc.edu/bce or call HCC Community Services at (413) 552-2123.

SPRINGFIELD — Pathlight, a Valley leader in residential and community services for people with intellectual disabilities or autism, has been awarded $23,000 in funding from the Westfield Bank Future Fund and the Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation to support a sex-education and relationships program that gives people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism the skills to build and maintain healthy relationships throughout their lives.

The program, called Whole Selves, is the result of 10 years of teaching the social skills of relationships to adolescents, teens, and adults with a variety of disabilities at Pathlight’s Whole Children program. Whole Selves is flexible and individualized, uses explicit instruction, and has proven to be successful in local high schools where it is taught. Pathlight is developing the program to be available online to middle and high schools nationally.

“Whole Selves is a game changer for people with disabilities,” said Pathlight Executive Director Ruth Banta. “We are so grateful to the Westfield Bank Future Fund and the Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation for supporting our vision for people with intellectual disabilities.”

One goal of the Whole Selves project is to prevent the staggering rate of sexual abuse among people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (ID/DD). According to a recent report by NPR, people with ID/DD are sexually assaulted at a rate seven times higher than those without disabilities.

A robust and accessible education is one solution to preventing abuse and isolation, and Whole Selves is developed specifically for this population. Pathlight is piloting the program in several schools this fall, with an eye toward releasing it nationally in 2019.

“The foundation couldn’t be more pleased to lend its support to Pathlight’s successful Whole Selves Program,” said Bill Wagner, president of the Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation. “It’s truly unfortunate that persons with intellectual disabilities are often victims of abuse, and we are grateful to have such an innovative thinker in Pathlight, who had the foresight to develop an educational program designed specifically to reduce that risk and enhance the quality of their lives.”

Added Kevin O’Connor, executive vice president and chief banking officer at Westfield Bank, “every person deserves the opportunity to live a whole life, and to achieve their potential free from abuse. We’re proud to stand with the people of Pathlight who are working to make life better for people in our communities with intellectual disabilites or autism, through education, communication, and support.”

CHICOPEE — Elms College promoted Brother Michael Duffy, conventual Franciscan friar, to the position of associate dean of the School of Nursing. In this role, he will have primary responsibility for the School of Nursing’s undergraduate programs, service learning programs, and international studies.

Duffy most recently served as coordinator of the accelerated second degree in Nursing program, assistant professor of Nursing, and director of the Elms College caRe vaN, a free health clinic on wheels that serves homeless and underserved people of Chicopee while affording clinical experience to pre-licensure students.

Duffy has extensive experience as an adult nurse practitioner and a nurse educator, teaching at Elms from 1988 through 1997, and again since 2011. He has practiced in healthcare in homeless settings in Massachusetts, Philadelphia, and Baltimore for years. In 2011, he returned from a six-year assignment in Jamaica, where he managed a rural clinic, to serve as the coordinator of the accelerated second degree program in Nursing.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from American International College, his master’s degree from the University of Lowell, and his doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree from Regis College in Weston, where his caRe vaN vision came to fruition as his doctoral project.

Today, the caRe vaN is staffed with pre-licensure students, RN-to-BS students, clinical faculty, and DNP students, and provides free healthcare to the homeless and underserved in Chicopee. The caRe vaN started in a renovated RV and is now housed in a larger, up-to-date unit that is towed from site to site.

Duffy returns to Jamaica each winter with second degree accelerated nursing students who fulfill their population-health and community-nursing experience through a broad range of patient care and clinical experiences, which the students have described as “transformative” to their professional identity and future practice as nurses.

“Since Br. Michael joined the Elms nursing faculty, his strong dedication and commitment to the college, students, the School of Nursing, and the community have been evident in all of his work, earning him the tremendous respect of all,” said Kathleen Scoble, dean of the School of Nursing. “His leadership has been integral to the growth of the School of Nursing through the development of the accelerated second degree program, service learning on the local and international levels, and instruction in the DNP program. We are extremely fortunate to have Brother Michael assume this important position.”

Duffy received the Paul Harris tribute by the Rotary Club of Chicopee in 2013. The Paul Harris tribute is the highest recognition the Rotary gives to an individual who lives by the slogan “service above self.”

“There is little doubt that Brother Michael Duffy will make a significant contribution to the college and the School of Nursing in his new position,” Scoble said. “He is simply a very special person who has in many ways positively impacted all those around him.”

SPRINGFIELD — The second annual class of Healthcare Heroes will be honored at the Starting Gate at GreatHorse in Hampden on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Healthcare Heroes, a recognition program involving the Western Mass. healthcare sector, was launched last spring by HCN and BusinessWest. The program was created to shed a bright light on the outstanding work being done across the broad spectrum of health and wellness services, and the institutions and people providing that care.

This year’s honorees include Mary Paquette, director of Health Services and nurse practitioner, American International College; Celeste Surreira, assistant director of Nursing, the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke; Peter DePergola II, director of Clinical Ethics, Baystate Health; Dr. Matthew Sadof, pediatrician, Baystate Children’s Hospital; TechSpring; the Consortium and the Opioid Task Force; and Robert Fazzi, founder, Fazzi Associates. The seven winners were profiled in the Sept. 4 issue of BusinessWest and the September issue of HCN, and will be feted at the Oct. 25 gala.

Tickets cost $90, and tables of 10 are available. To order tickets, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit www.businesswest.com. Healthcare Heroes sponsors include American International College (presenting sponsor), Baystate Health/Health New England (presenting sponsor), National Grid (partner), and supporting sponsors Renew.Calm, the Elms College MBA program, Bay Path University, and Mercy Medical Center/Trinity Health Of New England.

HOLYOKE — Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), the statewide employer association, will honor three distinguished Western Mass. businesses today, Oct. 18, for unique contributions to the state economy.

AIM will present Next Century awards to Six Flags New England of Agawam and United Personnel of Springfield. The association will also present the 2018 Sustainability Award to brush manufacturer Sanderson-MacLeod of Palmer. The awards will be presented at a celebration of Western Mass. employers from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke.

Next Century awards honor employers, community organizations, and individuals who have made seminal contributions to the Massachusetts economy and the well-being of the people who live here. The Sustainability Award recognizes excellence in environmental stewardship, promotion of social well-being, and contributions to economic prosperity.

The economic footprint of Six Flags New England is every bit as unmistakable as the Superman roller coaster that rises along the Connecticut River above the largest amusement park in New England.

Six Flags, which began to operate the former Riverside Park in 1998, has spent millions of dollars over two decades to expand its lineup of 100 rides, shows, and attractions, along with the largest water park in the Northeast. The company is the region’s largest seasonal employer, hiring more than 3,000 people each year during a nine-month season that stretches from the spring through the summer to the holidays.

The 235-acre park is also a linchpin of the tourism economy both for Western Mass. and the entire Commonwealth. The organization’s 13 roller coasters draw thousands of visitors to the region and provide national media exposure for Massachusetts as a destination.

At a time when finding qualified employees remains a defining challenge for Massachusetts companies, United Personnel of Springfield connects more than 700 people each day to good jobs throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut.

It’s been that way for 35 years, since Mary Ellen Scott and her late husband, Jay Canavan, started the company with the goal of providing employment opportunities to match the skills and aspirations of a range of Western Mass. residents. The company has thrived during the intervening decades by deftly weaving itself into the fabric of a regional economy that operates to a unique degree on personal contact and trust.

United Personnel recently created a scholarship fund in the company’s name that will help deserving students from the Gateway Cities of the Pioneer Valley continue their educations. The fund will be administered by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

Many manufacturing companies have adopted continuous-improvement initiatives, but few small employers have adopted them as comprehensively as Sanderson MacLeod. The company initiated a continuous-improvement effort while establishing a lean culture under which employee teams identified waste. Sanderson MacLeod says involving the work force in improving the company created a rewarding experience.

Sanderson MacLeod says the move to lean manufacturing has made the company measurably more efficient, producing more parts in a shorter amount of time. On-time shipping metrics improved, and lead times decreased. As a result, the company has brought in additional business based upon its ability to produce quality parts delivered on time. Employment has increased 23% since the process began.

EAST LONGMEADOW — Epstein Financial Services recently announced the hiring of Carla Maurer as chief financial officer. Maurer brings nearly a decade of financial experience to the role and will be responsible for all accounting activities, including cash flow, budgeting, and financial planning.

“We are thrilled to have Carla join our team,” said Charlie Epstein, founder and CEO of Epstein Financial Services. “She possesses a tremendous financial background across a variety of sectors, including healthcare and education, and we are excited to get her involved in our day-to-day operations.”

Previously, Maurer served as director of Administrative Services for Lincoln Tech, where she handled fiscal matters for the post-secondary vocational school. She helped facilitate the annual preparation of operating budgets, reviewed month-end profit and loss statements, and prepared monthly and quarterly forecasts for the corporate executive team.

For nearly four years, Maurer held the position of financial and administrative director for Pioneer Continuing Care Providers, where she oversaw payroll, human resources, and day-to-day business activities. Prior to that, she worked as an accounting manager for Hampden County Physicians, where she held managerial responsibility for a multi-specialty group practice with more than 70 providers and 14 locations.

Maurer has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in accounting and taxation from American International College.

SPRINGFIELD — Beginning Monday, Nov. 5, the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley will sponsor a 40-hour, 14-class sales licensing course to help individuals prepare for the Massachusetts real-estate salesperson license exam. The course will be completed on Dec. 12.

Tuition is $379 and includes the book and materials. For more information and an application, call the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley at (413) 785-1328.

CHICOPEE — Elms College announced that class of 2018 graduates from its School of Nursing achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses). This means every one of the college’s 2018 bachelor’s-degree graduates passed the licensure exam.

“We are very proud of the 100% pass rate of our 2018 graduates on the NCLEX-RN,” said Kathleen Scoble, dean of the School of Nursing. “A perfect NCLEX-RN pass rate is challenging to achieve and a distinguishing outcome for a nursing program. I believe this reflects the quality of our nursing program, the culture of excellence we have worked to create in the Elms School of Nursing, and the quality and commitment of our community of nurses, across the continuum of healthcare sites, who contribute every day to the education of our students in their clinical learning.”

In 2017, the Massachusetts pass rate for the NCLEX-RN was 86%, and the national rate was 87%; Elms College 2017 graduates achieved a pass rate of 96%. To date, the national 2018 NCLEX-RN pass rate for U.S. undergraduate nurses is 92%, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Inc.

SPRINGFIELD — The second annual class of Healthcare Heroes will be honored at the Starting Gate at GreatHorse in Hampden on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Healthcare Heroes, a recognition program involving the Western Mass. healthcare sector, was launched last spring by HCN and BusinessWest. The program was created to shed a bright light on the outstanding work being done across the broad spectrum of health and wellness services, and the institutions and people providing that care.

This year’s honorees include Mary Paquette, director of Health Services and nurse practitioner, American International College; Celeste Surreira, assistant director of Nursing, the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke; Peter DePergola II, director of Clinical Ethics, Baystate Health; Dr. Matthew Sadof, pediatrician, Baystate Children’s Hospital; TechSpring; the Consortium and the Opioid Task Force; and Robert Fazzi, founder, Fazzi Associates. The seven winners were profiled in the Sept. 4 issue of BusinessWest and the September issue of HCN, and will be feted at the Oct. 25 gala.

Tickets cost $90, and tables of 10 are available. To order tickets, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit www.businesswest.com. Healthcare Heroes sponsors include American International College (presenting sponsor), Baystate Health/Health New England (presenting sponsor), National Grid (partner), and supporting sponsors Renew.Calm, the Elms College MBA program, Bay Path University, and Mercy Medical Center/Trinity Health Of New England.

HOLYOKE — Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. recently welcomed Lisa White, CPA as its newest tax manager.

White comes to MBK with nearly 20 years of public accounting experience with a focus in taxation. She has worked for large and regional firms throughout the Eastern U.S. and carries significant technical knowledge and best practices from a variety of firms and industries. At MBK, she focuses primarily on federal and state income-tax compliance and planning within the construction and real-estate industries.

As a tax manager, White will have the opportunity to coach and mentor staff as well as manage the delivery of services directly to many clients. “I believe in developing partnerships with clients, ensuring they have access to the materials, information, and business acumen they need to make and implement the best financial decisions on a short- and long-term basis,” she noted.

White holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Middle Tennessee State University and is a member of the American Institute of Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of Public Accountants. She is a certified public accountant licensed to practice in both Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. In 2011, she was named among the 40 Under 40: Members to Watch by the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs.

“We’re very happy that talented individuals like Lisa are being drawn to our firm and to the quality of life and business culture in Western Massachusetts,” said MBK Partner James Barrett. “She brings a high level of expertise and a strong technical tax background while maintaining energy and passion for the profession. We’re very excited to welcome her here at MBK.”

HOLYOKE — The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) will host Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito at its fall Governmental Affairs Luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 18 at the Wherehouse?, located at 109 Lyman St. in Holyoke. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m.

Polito plans to speak to the Greater Holyoke business community on what the administration’s plans are to promote economic and commercial growth in this area. Additionally, she will touch on the topics of manufacturing and STEM education, both of which are relevant to Holyoke and Western Mass.

GHCC President Barry Feingold will welcome guests and then turn it over to Vice Chairman Michael Filomeno, general manager of Marcotte Ford, who will introduce Polito. The chamber will recognize the Dowd Agencies on 120 years of service to Greater Holyoke, and Polito will honor Dowd’s President and CEO John Dowd with a citation marking this milestone.

The luncheon is sponsored by Checkwriters Payroll, Marcotte Ford, Health New England, and Holyoke Community College. Admission is $40 for chamber members and Holyoke Taxpayers Assoc. members, and $55 for all other guests. Tables of eight cost $275 for members and $375 for non-members. Reservations can be made  at holyokechamer.com or by calling (413) 534-3376.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Johnson & Hill Staffing received the top honor in the 2018 American Staffing Assoc. (ASA) Genius Grand Award program, which recognizes the best and most innovative communications and marketing campaigns among ASA staffing agency members across the U.S.

Johnson & Hill Staffing was honored for its innovative new website, marketing video, and social-media endeavors.

“Johnson & Hill has always prided itself on staying ahead of the curve not only with recruitment methods but also with branding and marketing,” said Andrea Hill-Cataldo, president. “When it came to this project, we partnered with only the best to make sure the end result was what we needed. We’re excited and proud to be recognized for these wonderful outcomes.”

A panel of communications and marketing experts selected the honorees based on the overall quality of their campaigns’ messaging, design and visual appeal, originality of approach, and outcomes.

AMHERST — The College of Engineering at UMass Amherst has established a new department of Biomedical Engineering, which will offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. It is the fifth department within the college.

Biomedical engineering (BME) integrates engineering science, biology, and medicine into a cross-disciplinary field focused on improving human health and solving problems in the delivery of healthcare. Its key principle is that, by looking at the human body through the lens of engineering, one can apply the concepts of design, optimization, and programming to complex biological systems in order to detect, repair, and treat disease and to create diagnostic and therapeutic tools. 

The new program will be the core of biomedical-engineering research and teaching at UMass Amherst working within the College of Engineering and with the Institute of Applied Life Sciences. The institute was established in 2014 with $150 million from the Massachusetts Life Science Center and the university.

An example of current research in the new department has the potential to revolutionize new materials. The skulls and horns of male bighorn sheep undergo massive impact loads during ramming, suggesting their structure and material constituents have been evolutionarily adapted to sustain very large impact forces while preventing catastrophic failure and brain injury. In fact, it has been suggested that similar impacts in humans would be severely traumatic if not lethal.

The micro-architecture of the bighorn sheep skull and horns is being used to develop novel bio-inspired material designs for creating new lightweight, high-energy-absorbing materials. It is anticipated that the new materials could be used to fabricate a broad range of products, including athletic and military footwear, helmets and other protective gear, packaging and other protective devices such as cell-phone cases, and crashworthy military and civilian vehicle panels and components.

Timothy Anderson, dean of the College of Engineering, noted that adding the new department strengthens the college and promotes collaborative research and teaching across other disciplines on campus. “The close proximity to the biomedical and life-sciences industry in Boston makes the UMass Amherst BME program attractive to students across the nation. Additionally, the BME program is expected to draw a large number of female students into the College of Engineering. Close connections with the UMass Medical School in Worcester will provide excellent translational activities for both graduate and undergraduate students in the program.”

Professor Tammy Haut Donahue, the founding department head, will lead the emerging program. Her research work is in the area of analytical and experimental biomechanics with a focus on the musculoskeletal system. She comes to UMass Amherst from Colorado State University (CSU), where she was a professor and associate department head for undergraduate studies in the department of Mechanical Engineering. Haut Donahue was also a core faculty member in CSU’s School of Biomedical Engineering.

Also joining the department is professor Seth Donahue, whose research focuses on evolutionary biomechanics, tissue regeneration, and physiology. He taught previously at Colorado State University and Michigan Technological University. In 2007-08, he was an honorary research fellow at the Royal College of Surgeons and a visiting academic at Trinity College, both in Dublin, Ireland.

The college will eventually hire 12 full-time, tenure-track faculty members for the department by fall 2022.

Graduates of the Biomedical Engineering undergraduate-degree program will be prepared for a broad range of careers, including medical equipment design and manufacturing, scientific research and development services, pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, and work with medical professionals.