CLICK Workspace Welcomes Sofia Nardi as Member Advocate

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — CLICK Workspace, a co-working space located in downtown Northampton, announced the hiring of Sofia Nardi as a new member advocate.

Nardi is a recent graduate of Bay Path University, where she double-majored in small business development and marketing, graduating summa cum laude. At CLICK, she manages all administrative functions, including financial accounting, office operations, purchasing, and troubleshooting routine problems with equipment and maintenance. Serving as the first point of contact for all inquiries and visitors, she aims to ensure a welcoming environment.

As the member advocate, Nardi facilitates the continued growth of CLICK’s membership by managing all communications within the organization and beyond. This includes maintaining website infrastructure, curating monthly e-mail newsletter content, managing the social-media presence of the organization, and actively marketing the firm in the immediate community and beyond. She is responsible for building and maintaining a strong relationship with CLICK members as well as assisting them in collaborating and expanding their personal networks. Through her work, she aids CLICK in its mission to foster co-working, culture, and community in the broader Northampton area.

MBK Announces Five Promotions

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. announced the promotions of Chelsea Cox, Lyudmila Renkas, Joseph LeMay, Dan Eger, and Francine Murphy.

Cox began as an intern at MBK in 2015 and became a full-time associate the following year. In her new position as senior associate in the Accounting and Audit Department, her primary focus is on nonprofit and commercial audits and employee-benefit plans. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Westfield State University and is currently pursuing her master of accountancy degree at Bay Path University. She is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Over the past two years at MBK, Renkas has served as an associate accountant in the Audit and Accounting department at MBK. Having recently completed her MSA, she will turn her attention to new responsibilities as a senior associate. In her new role, she will be responsible for planning and leading client audit engagements, internal control evaluations, and pension audits. In addition, she prepares individual, partnership, and corporate tax returns for clients in the real-estate, construction, healthcare, and nonprofit industries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Elms College and a master of acountancy degree from Westfield State University.

Lemay joined MBK in January of 2015 as an associate. In his new role as senior associate, his responsibilities consist of being the lead accountant on review and compilation-level engagements, staff training, and tax-planning strategy for clients in the manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, and distribution industries. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business, with a concentration in accounting, from Westfield State University, and received his master of accountancy degree there in 2015. He obtained his CPA license in 2017 and is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Eger, who has been with MBK since 2005, has been promoted to senior associate. He focuses on preparing federal and state income-tax forms for corporations, individuals, and nonprofits. He has more than 12 years of tax experience and brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. In addition to serving as a tax preparer, he has developed an expertise in the firm’s specialized tax software, servicing as a resource to the entire Tax Department. Eger holds a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from American International College, where he graduated as a member of the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society.

Murphy, who has served as a paraprofessional in MBK’s Accounting Department since 2013, has been promoted to tax associate. In that new role, her responsibilities include preparing federal and state income-tax forms for corporations, individuals, and nonprofits; preparing city and town tax filings; preparing annual reports; and responding to IRS notices. She holds an associate degree in accounting from Holyoke Community College.

“My partners and I are deeply proud of this group,” said MBK Managing Partner James Barrett. “We have a standing commitment to the next generation here at MBK, and to see such a talented and vital group of young accountants develop and thrive in our firm is not only encouraging, but a testament to the future. Chelsea, Mila, Joseph, Francine, and Dan each offer distinct qualities to warrant their individual promotions, but what they have in common as a group is a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, strong leadership qualities, and dedication to adding value to our clients and the firm as a whole.”

Continued Excellence Award Nominations Due May 14

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest is looking for nominees for its fourth Continued Excellence Award, and will accept nominations through Monday, May 14. The winner of the award will be unveiled at the magazine’s 40 Under Forty gala on Thursday, June 21.

Three years ago, BusinessWest inaugurated the award to recognize past 40 Under Forty honorees who had significantly built on their achievements since they were honored.

The first two winners were Delcie Bean, president of Paragus Strategic IT, and Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, president of Allergy and Immunology Associates of Western Mass. and chief of Allergy and Immunology at Baystate Medical Center. Both were originally named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2008. Last year, the judges chose two winners: Scott Foster, an attorney with Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas (40 Under Forty class of 2011); and Nicole Griffin, owner of Griffin Staffing Network (class of 2014).

“So many 40 Under Forty honorees have refused to rest on their laurels,” said Kate Campiti, associate publisher of BusinessWest. “Once again, we want to honor those who continue to build upon their strong records of service in business, within the community, and as regional leaders.”

Candidates must hail from 40 Under Forty classes prior to the year of the award — in this case, classes 2007-17 — and will be judged on qualities including outstanding leadership, dedicated community involvement, professional achievement, and ability to inspire. The award’s presenting sponsor is Northwestern Mutual.

The nomination form is available at businesswest.com/40-under-forty-continued-excellence-award. For your convenience, a list of the past 11 40 Under Forty classes may be found at businesswest.com/40-under-forty/40-under-forty-past-honorees.

PV Squared Joins 42 Solar Companies to Bring Power to Puerto Rico

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Daily News

GREENFIELD — On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, spreading devastation and ruin throughout the island. Thousands of Puerto Ricans were, and continue to be, without power or access to clean drinking water. Forced to drink water from contaminated rivers and streams, the island residents have been at risk of serious illnesses.

Additionally, the prolonged power outage has left people without a way to charge their phones and computers, resulting in disconnection and isolation from their families, work, and aid information. One way to solve these ongoing problems caused by Hurricane Maria is by bringing solar power to the island.

PV Squared, a Greenfield-based solar company, is a member of the Amicus Solar Cooperative, a member-owned cooperative comprised of 43 solar companies. Together, Amicus and Amurtel, a nonprofit providing disaster relief, have taken on the project of bringing solar power to Puerto Rico, dubbing the project Power On Puerto Rico.

PV Squared joined the volunteer effort of designing and constructing solar outreach systems (SOS) to be sent down to the island. As described by Amicus, “each portable SOS is comprised of an enclosed trailer which can be pulled by a pickup truck. [They are] outfitted with six exterior solar panels, eight gel-storage batteries, and 15 lockers each with two USB ports and an electrical power outlet, providing 300 to 400 continuous watts of power. This will enable 15 phones and five laptops to be powered at a time. The trailer has a fold-down bench with a water-purification system which can purify up to 600 gallons of clean, potable water a day.”

The first three solar outreach systems have been completed and are at the Jacksonville port, ready to ship to the island. A total of 100 units will be constructed and transported throughout this project with the help of donations and volunteer efforts.

American International College to Offer Graduate Open House Today

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) will host a graduate open house today, March 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Sprague Cultural Arts Center on the AIC campus located at 1000 State St. in Springfield.

The open house is for the working professional looking to attend graduate school and is designed to give prospective students access to all the information they need in one convenient location while providing an opportunity to meet faculty, staff, and other students in order to gain insight to AIC programs, admission processes, college financing, and housing.

According to Kerry Barnes, AIC’s dean of Graduate Admissions, “AIC offers an array of master and doctoral degree programs in business, psychology, education, and the health sciences, including nursing, occupational therapy, and physical therapy, with blended and online programs to help advance career opportunities. We know that time is extremely valuable between demanding work schedules and family life. Our goal is to offer an open house that welcomes working professionals and makes it easy for them to gather helpful information as they consider next steps in their career aspirations.”

Dress for Success to Host Annual Gala on April 12

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Thursday, April 12 will be an evening of inspiration and celebration when hundreds of people gather at CityStage to celebrate the work of Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts.

“This evening is about realizing what truly empowers women’s greatest,” said Dawn Creighton, board president of Dress for Success. “It’s so much more than suits and shoes. When young women dream about who they want to be, they see much more than clothes, and so do we. We see bright futures, fulfilling careers, and healthy families. We see leaders.”

This year’s event will feature an artistic visual representation of the Dress for Success mission and vision by Robert Charles Photography.

“We hope this image will inspire countless young girls to see themselves as the amazing women they will one day become,” said Edward Zemba, president of Robert Charles Photography.

With the support of its donors, volunteers and community partners, each year Dress for Success serves nearly 70,000 women worldwide.

The Common Threads event will share the success stories of several recent program participants who received support, tools, and professional attire necessary to pursue employment. The event will feature speeches by Pattie Hallberg, CEO of Girl Scouts Central and Western Massachusetts; Maura McCaffrey, president and CEO of Health New England; and Christina Royal, president of Holyoke Community College. Each speaker will share her personal journey to get to where she is today.

Tickets for the event, which runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., are on sale now for $50. To purchase tickets, click here or contact Margaret Tantillo at (413) 732-8179 or [email protected].

Elyssa Morgan Wins Florence Bank’s President’s Award

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Daily News

FLORENCE — Florence Bank announced that Elyssa Morgan was recently selected as a recipient of its President’s Award for 2018.

The President’s Award was established by the bank in 1995, affording employees the annual opportunity to nominate their peers for an honor that recognizes outstanding performance, customer service, and overall contribution to Florence Bank. Morgan was nominated by numerous colleagues.

Morgan is the deposit operations manager at the main headquarters in Florence and has worked at the bank for seven years. She holds an associate’s degree in business administration from Bay Path University.

“Elyssa is a perfect example of how hard work and determination truly pay off,” said John Heaps Jr., president and CEO of Florence Bank. “Her peers have praised her dedication, enthusiasm, and the impressive skill set that she brings to the job each day.”

Valley Community Development to Celebrate 30 Years on April 12

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — In honor of its 30-year anniversary, Valley Community Development will hold a celebration on April 12 at Hadley Farms Meeting House, and Executive Director Joanne Campbell announced that the organization’s $400,000 anniversary fundraising goal has been met.

“Many donors this anniversary year are institutions, small businesses, and individuals who have been long-time contributors to Valley Community Development,” Campbell said. “They stepped up to a higher level this year, and we are pleased and honored to have their support, which will strengthen the agency financially and programmatically.” She noted that $32,000 was also raised from first-time donors to the nonprofit.

Campbell said the celebration is one new way to educate community members about the nonprofit’s mission to empower people with low and moderate incomes to manage and improve the quality of their lives through the development of affordable housing, economic opportunity, and small-business development.

The event is open to the public and will kick off with a cocktail reception from 6 to 7 p.m. Dinner and the keynote speaker, Charles Blow, an op-ed columnist for the New York Times, will follow from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets cost $125 and are available online by visiting valleycdc.com.

Blow writes about politics, public opinion, and social justice. He is a CNN commentator and was a Presidential Visiting Professor at Yale University last year. He is also the author of the best-selling memoir Fire Shut Up in My Bones, which tells his story of growing up in the Deep South with a fiercely driven mother and four brothers, and his escape after a trauma. At the celebratory event, Blow will speak on the general theme of social justice.

“It will be very timely and appropriate for the work we’re doing right now,” said Campbell. “Valley Community Development is involved in navigating the crisis in housing and serving people with very low incomes. We collaborate with regional and local organizations to work on these local issues.”

She noted that financial giving this year is almost double that of a typical year, with many donors taking advantage of the Massachusetts Community Investment Tax Credit program, which allows state and federal tax incentives for giving. Increased support comes as the organization is expanding its reach.

“We are hopeful that we will be able to expand and sustain our small business program, which is now staffed by a part-time coordinator. The money we’re raising is also helping small businesses, and first-time and existing homeowners,” she added, noting that donations are still encouraged. “It’s a way to continue the programming we have and look for new ways to give to the population we serve as well as reach out to underserved populations, immigrant communities, and households of color. We’re always looking for new ways to reach these groups.”

Since 1988, Valley Community Development has created 224 units of affordable housing in Northampton, Easthampton, and Amherst. It has counseled more than 8,000 homebuyers and homeowners and educated more than 1,500 businesspeople.

Massachusetts Adds 13,700 Jobs in February

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Daily News

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate remained at 3.5% in February, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts added 13,700 jobs in February. Over the month, the private sector added 13,100 jobs as gains occurred in education and health services; construction; trade, transportation, and utilities; professional, scientific, and business services; other services; and financial activities. The jobs level remained unchanged in leisure and hospitality.

From February 2017 to February 2018, BLS estimates Massachusetts has added 39,100 jobs. The February unemployment rate was six-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 4.1% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta noted that “2017 was the first time since 2000 in which the monthly unemployment rate remained below 4% for the entire year in the Commonwealth. Our low unemployment rate, coupled with over-the-year job and labor-force gains, all point towards the continued strength of the Massachusetts economy.”

The labor force increased by 10,000 from 3,659,600 in January, as 9,500 more residents were employed and 500 more residents were unemployed over the month.

Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased four-tenths of a percentage point from 3.9% in February 2017.

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 one-tenth of a percentage point at 65.4%. The labor-force participation rate over the year has decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point compared to February 2017.

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

Author Esmeralda Santiago to Speak at HCC on March 29

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College will welcome author Esmeralda Santiago for a bilingual presentation and talk on Thursday, March 29 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Leslie Phillips Theater.

Santiago will discuss her seminal 1994 memoir, When I Was Puerto Rican, and give a presentation in English and Spanish titled “Writing a Life: a Transcultural Journey.” A bilingual question-and-answer session and book signing will follow her talk.

The event is sponsored by HCC Academic Affairs, a National Endowment for the Humanities Bridging Cultures Grant, HCC Learning Communities, the One Community Holyoke initiative, and the Community College Public Humanities Center at HCC.

HCBA Welcomes Ariel Rothstein Clemmer as Pro Bono Director

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Hampden County Bar Assoc. (HCBA) announced the hiring of attorney Ariel Rothstein Clemmer as pro bono director.

In this newly created role, funded by a grant from MassMutual, Clemmer will help elevate the HCBA Legal Clinic’s operations to better serve the increasing unrepresented population in Hampden County. Clemmer will manage existing pro bono programs, develop new pro bono opportunities, increase volunteer activity, partner with local businesses and organizations on new initiatives, and ensure that pro bono activity under the auspices of the Legal Clinic meets the highest standards of excellence and professionalism.

A 2010 graduate of Harvard Law School, Clemmer recently relocated from New York City to the Pioneer Valley. She started her career as a public defender at Bronx Defenders, where she represented indigent clients charged with misdemeanor and felony crimes. She then worked for the firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP, defending clients against security class actions and other complex financial matters, while continuing to develop her pro bono practice litigating matrimonial, civil, and criminal cases.

In 2014, Clemmer was selected by the partners at Weil to participate in a pro bono externship at Legal Services of New York City (LSNYC). She excelled there, which led to her being named one of the “Top 30 Pro Bono Attorneys of 2014” by LSNYC. Immediately prior to accepting her role as pro bono director at HCBA, she worked as a matrimonial and family-law associate with a boutique Manhattan firm, Donohoe Talbert, LLP. She also served as an active member of LSNYC’s Pro Bono Associate Advisory Board.

“Ariel had a distinguished career that demonstrates her commitment to public-interest initiatives,” said HCBA President Wm. Travaun Bailey. “In a nutshell, she is just the perfect person for the job, and we are excited to have her.”

AIC Welcomes John Auerbach to Public Health Lecture Series

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) established the Desmond Tutu Public Health Lecture Series in 2010 to bring awareness to the issue of public health. Archbishop Desmond Tutu served as the series’ inaugural speaker.

The annual lecture series continues on Monday, March 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with keynote speaker John Auerbach, president and CEO for Trust for America’s Health. Auerbach oversees the organization’s work to promote sound public health policy and make disease prevention a national priority.

Over the course of a 30-year career, he has held senior public-health positions at the federal, state, and local levels. He served as associate director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where he oversaw policy and the agency’s collaborative efforts with commercial payers and large health systems.

Auerbach additionally served for six years as the Commissioner of Public Health for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In that role, he developed innovative programs to promote health equity, combat chronic and infectious disease, and support successful implementation of the state’s healthcare-reform initiative.

As Boston’s health commissioner for nine years, Auerbach directed homeless, substance-abuse, and emergency medical services for the city as well as a wide range of public-health divisions. In addition, he was a professor of Practice in Health Sciences and director of the Institute on Urban Health Research and Practice at Northeastern University, program director of one of the country’s first community health centers, and director of a clinical training program at a tertiary-care safety-net hospital.

The lecture will be held in the Campus Center Auditorium on the campus of American International College, located at 1000 State St. The event is free and open to the public. To register or for more information, contact Kristi Gosselin at (413) 205-3565 or [email protected].

Berkshire Bank Hires Scott Pasquale as FVP Commercial Lending

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced that Scott Pasquale has returned to Berkshire Bank as first vice president, senior commercial relationship manager. In his new position, Pasquale will be responsible for originating and managing commercial and industrial loans and building client deposit relationships in the Pioneer Valley and Western Mass. region, continuing Berkshire’s momentum.

Pasquale brings more than 30 years of experience to his new role, including his previous work with Berkshire in 2013 as part of its commercial-lending team. Most recently, he held the role of first vice president, Commercial Loans at Country Bank, where he held a leadership role managing the Worcester commercial-lending team and portfolio totaling over $250 million, while creating and executing its small-business underwriting policy.

“We’re excited to have Scott rejoin the commercial team in the Pioneer Valley. He brings a wealth of lending experience to a very talented group as we continue our momentum and expand our business,” said Jim Hickson, senior vice president, commercial regional president. “Scott will draw upon his industry experience developing and servicing middle-market commercial-lending opportunities and expanding relationships with private banking, wealth management, and insurance products.”

Pasquale earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the College of Wooster. Active in the community, he serves as a board member of the Western Massachusetts Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Assoc., a board member of Springfield Technical Community College Foundation, and co-chair of the annual goods-and-services auction for the Western Massachusetts Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Consultant on Fraggle Rock’s Doozers to Speak at Bay Path March 27

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Daily News

LONGMEADOW — The Doozers are creatures from the Jim Henson TV show Fraggle Rock, which aired in the 1980s. In those days, the Doozers were builders. In 2014, four of the Doozer kids, known as the Pod Squad, debuted as inventors, engineers, designers, and problem solvers for the Doozer Creek app.

Doozer Creek is a self-sustainable community located just outside of human view. These adventurous, three-inch, green characters, utilizing their ingenuity, take their audience on a journey to solve a wide range of engineering, community, and business challenges. Along the way, they sometimes get assistance from a professor, adults around town, or the team at Doozer Depot.

Presenter Stephen Brand was the educational consultant on the production team that developed the characters, scripts, problems to be solved, techniques, tools, and more. At a talk on Tuesday, March 27 at Bay Path University, he will share the production process and talk about how educators, parents, and others who interact with children can help kids be Doozer problem-solvers now and in the future.

Participants will learn tips and strategies on how to teach children problem-solving skills. This event is free and open to the public, and begins at 7 p.m. in Breck Suite in Wright Hall on Bay Path’s Longmeadow campus.

Brand has a master’s degree in interactive technology in education from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University in multimedia design and production. Over the years, he has developed educational experiences around the theme of science and creativity for kids and adults at the Boston Museum of Science and Liberty Science Center in New Jersey, and was the opening president of the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio, where he nationally launched Camp Invention.

HUB International New England Welcomes Maria Teal, Tony Volpe

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Daily News

EAST LONGMEADOW — HUB International New England, LLC, a division of HUB International Limited, recently announced that Maria Teal has joined the agency as an account manager for Personal Lines in the South Hadley office, and Tony Volpe has also come on board as an account executive in the Commercial Lines department.

Teal holds her certified insurance service representatives (CISR) and vertified professional in personal lines (CPPL) designations and has been in the insurance industry for 18 years. She will specialize in personal coverages including home, auto, renters, and umbrella insurance.

Volpe has more than 17 years of experience and has been recognized as an award-winning account executive. He is an eight-time Presidential Club winner “for distinguished performance in achieving overall production and profitability goals.” He has succeeded in meeting and exceeding company goals and sales profitability, and previously worked at Zurich Insurance, Allstate Insurance, Connecticut Casualty Company, and Insure.net. Volpe holds his property, casualty, life, and accident/health licenses in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island.

At HUB, he will specialize in all types of auto-dealership and garage insurance liability products and more, and will focus in the Connecticut area.

Scenes from the 2018 Difference Makers Celebration

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Class of 2018 Difference Makers Event Galleries

A Look at the March 22 Event

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More than 375 people turned out at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House on March 22 to honor BusinessWest’s 2018 Difference Makers. Launched in 2009, the program recognizes groups and individuals across the region that are making a difference in their community. The honorees this year were: Bob Bolduc, CEO of Pride Stores; Bob ‘the Bike Man’ Charland, founder of Pedal Thru Youth; Girls Inc. of Holyoke; Evan Plotkin, president of NAI Plotkin; Crystal Senter-Brown, author and adjunct faculty member at Bay Path University; and the WillPower Foundation.

Our 2018 Difference Makers:
Bob Bolduc, CEO of Pride Stores
Bob “The Bike Man” Charland, Founder of Pedal Thru Youth
Girls Inc. of Holyoke
Evan Plotkin, President of NAI Plotkin
Crystal Senter-Brown, Author & Adjunct Faculty at Bay Path University
WillPower Foundation

     

Photography by Leah Martin Photography

From event sponsor Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C., from

From event sponsor Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C., from left: Adam Kuzdzal, Deborah Penzias, Josh Messer, Julie Quink, Tom Pratt, Carol LaCour, Rebecca Connolly, Stephanie Tobin, and Sarah Lapolice.

From event sponsor Health New England

From event sponsor Health New England, from left: Peggy Garand, Vivian Williams, Brendaliz Torres, Sandra Ruiz, Ashley Allen, Matt Sturgis (guest of HNE), and Jessica Dupont.

Gina Kos (left) and Michelle Depelteau from event sponsor Sunshine Village.

Gina Kos (left) and Michelle Depelteau from event sponsor Sunshine Village.

Sr. Kathleen Popko (left) and Sr. Mary Caritas from the Sisters of Providence, a 2013 Difference Maker.

Sr. Kathleen Popko (left) and Sr. Mary Caritas from the Sisters of Providence, a 2013 Difference Maker.

Bob Bolduc, founder of Pride Stores and a 2018 Difference Maker.

Bob Bolduc, founder of Pride Stores and a 2018 Difference Maker.

From 2018 Difference Maker the WillPower Foundation, from left: Sabrina Aasheim, Jeff Palm, and Maria Burke.

From 2018 Difference Maker the WillPower Foundation, from left: Sabrina Aasheim, Jeff Palm, and Maria Burke.

From left: Kate Kane of Northwestern Mutual, a 2009 Difference Maker, with Nick LaPier, CPA and BusinessWest Associate Publisher Kate Campiti.

From left: Kate Kane of Northwestern Mutual, a 2009 Difference Maker, with Nick LaPier, CPA and BusinessWest Associate Publisher Kate Campiti.

Bill Ward, a 2009 Difference Maker, with Joanne Lyons

Bill Ward, a 2009 Difference Maker, with Joanne Lyons of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County.

Carol Leary, a 2016 Difference Maker, with 2018 Difference Maker Evan Plotkin

Bay Path University President Carol Leary, a 2016 Difference Maker, with 2018 Difference Maker Evan Plotkin, president of NAI Plotkin.

Tricia Canavan of United Personnel with Scott Foster of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas and also Valley Venture Mentors, a 2016 Difference Maker.

Tricia Canavan of United Personnel with Scott Foster of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas and also Valley Venture Mentors, a 2016 Difference Maker.

Sandra Ruiz, left, and Brendaliz Torres, from event sponsor Health New England.

Sandra Ruiz, left, and Brendaliz Torres, from event sponsor Health New England.

Bob Bolduc, left, with Bob ‘the Bike Man’ Charland, two of 2018’s Difference Makers.

Bob Bolduc, left, with Bob ‘the Bike Man’ Charland, two of 2018’s Difference Makers.

Representing event sponsor Sunshine Village

Representing event sponsor Sunshine Village, front row: Gina Kos (left) and Michelle Depelteau; back row: Peter Benton, Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos, Kelly Chmura, Maria Laflamme, Amie Miarecki, Colleen Brosnan, and Michael Siddal.

Tanzania Cannon-Ecklerle from event sponsor Royal, P.C. with Joe Ecklerle of Pelican Products and Brew Practitioners.

Tanzania Cannon-Ecklerle from event sponsor Royal, P.C. with Joe Ecklerle of Pelican Products and Brew Practitioners.

From 2018 Difference Maker Girls Inc. of Holyoke

From 2018 Difference Maker Girls Inc. of Holyoke, from left: Johana (Stella’s mother), Stella, Haley, Kylie (Haley’s mother), Emhanie, Brandy Wilson, Becky Bouchard, and Suzanne Parker.

Staff from NAI Plotkin turn out to celebrate 2018 Difference Maker Evan Plotkin.

Staff from NAI Plotkin turn out to celebrate 2018 Difference Maker Evan Plotkin.

Patrick O’Neil and Katie O’Neil from 2018 Difference Maker the WillPower Foundation.

Patrick O’Neil and Katie O’Neil from 2018 Difference Maker the WillPower Foundation.

Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos.

Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos.

Crystal Senter-Brown, left, and Suzanne Parker

Crystal Senter-Brown, left, and Suzanne Parker of Girls Inc. in Holyoke, both 2018 Difference Makers.

Bob Perry, retired CPA, a 2011 Difference Maker.

Bob Perry, retired CPA, a 2011 Difference Maker.

Kim Lee of the Center for Human Development.

Kim Lee of the Center for Human Development.

Evan Plotkin, president of NAI Plotkin, accepts his award as a 2018 Difference Maker.

Evan Plotkin, president of NAI Plotkin, accepts his award as a 2018 Difference Maker.

Will Burke, the namesake and inspiration for the WillPower Foundation, a 2018 Difference Maker.

Will Burke, the namesake and inspiration for the WillPower Foundation, a 2018 Difference Maker.

Stella and Emhanie, two of the girls from Girls Inc. of Holyoke, a 2018 Difference Maker.

Stella and Emhanie, two of the girls from Girls Inc. of Holyoke, a 2018 Difference Maker.

Bob Charland celebrates his 2018 Difference Maker award with fiancée Joanne Hansmann.

Bob Charland celebrates his 2018 Difference Maker award with fiancée Joanne Hansmann.

George O’Brien hands the 2018 Difference Maker award to Crystal Senter-Brown

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien hands the 2018 Difference Maker award to Crystal Senter-Brown.

The WillPower Foundation

The WillPower Foundation’s Jeff Palm, Maria Burke, Sarah Aasheim, Will Burke, and Craig Burke accept their 2018 Difference Maker award from BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien (right).

 

United Bank Joins Connecticut Trolley Museum as Corporate Sponsor

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Daily News

EAST WINDSOR, Conn. — The Connecticut Trolley Museum announced that United Bank has joined the museum as a corporate sponsor.

The museum started its corporate sponsor program in 2016, and since then a number of area businesses have joined the museum to support its mission “to provide a historically accurate educational experience of the trolley era through the interpretation, preservation, restoration, and operation of an electric railway.”

As its newest corporate sponsor, United Bank joins Sophia’s Restaurant, USA Hauling, Windsor Federal Savings, Collins Pipe and Supply, Simsbury Bank, Connecticut Lighting Centers, Get Listed Realty, and Allstate in support of the museum.

“The Trolley Museum is one of our region’s leading tourist attractions, and the support of an ever-increasing number of businesses, individuals, and foundation supporters is helping us to be successful now and on into the future,” said Manager Gina Maria Alimberti.

The Connecticut Trolley Museum is located off of Route 140 in East Windsor, off exit 45 of Interstate 91. Businesses with an interest in becoming corporate sponsors may contact the museum at (860) 627-6540 or [email protected].

Attorney John Glenn, Partner at Skoler, Abbott & Presser, Retires

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. announced that attorney John Glenn, senior counsel, retired on March 1 after a long and industrious legal career.

“Over the years, John’s wisdom, dedication, and friendship have made a lasting impact on every one of us here at Skoler Abbott,” said attorney Timothy Murphy, a partner at the firm. “His work has been invaluable in labor relations with his common sense and problem-solving approach. I speak for our clients as well as our team when I say we deeply appreciate and will miss John and his contributions.”

Over a career that spanned nearly 40 years, Glenn specialized in representing management in labor-relations matters. His practice focused on assisting clients in developing positive relationships with their workforces to decrease the likelihood of unionization. He has extensive experience working with employers during union campaigns, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, and representing employers at arbitration hearings before the National Labor Relations Board and at state and federal agencies.

Prior to joining Skoler, Abbott & Presser, Glenn was employed by the National Labor Relations Board in Cincinnati. He has also served as an adjunct professor of Labor Law at Western New England College School of Law. For many years, he has been included in Best Lawyers in America and has been named a Super Lawyer by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, which recognizes the top 5% of the lawyers in specific practice areas in the Commonwealth.

Outside of his legal practice, Glenn often worked with young men recently released from prison to assist them with acquiring life and academic skills to enhance their employment opportunities. He now looks forward to spending more time playing tennis, watching college basketball, and continuing to take challenging biking and hiking trips throughout the country and around the world.

Bulkley Richardson Welcomes Jessica Wheeler to Litigation Group

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Jessica Wheeler recently joined Bulkley Richardson as a litigation associate.

Wheeler’s prior experience as a senior associate at a New York firm equipped her with hands-on experience, including assistance with oral arguments, motions to dismiss and for summary judgement, class actions, SEC investigations, testimony preparation, discovery, and trial preparation. She was also part of a team that successfully represented a wrongfully convicted former inmate, leading to a $7.5 million settlement.

Wheeler received a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Yale University in 2004 and a juris doctor from New York University School of Law in 2011, where she served as articles editor of the New York University Law Review. She was an Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Fellow and earned scholarships, including the Dean’s Scholarship, based on academic achievement.

While attending law school, Wheeler demonstrated her commitment to the legal community by taking on advocacy roles as an intern at several organizations, including the Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Practice, the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech Privacy and Technology Project, and the Urban Justice Center’s Peter Cicchino Youth Project. Prior to law school, she was a paralegal for child-advocacy organization Children’s Rights.

Tru by Hilton Chicopee Names Nicole Bambury General Manager

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Daily News

CHICOPEE — Tru by Hilton Chicopee Springfield named Nicole Bambury general manager. She will be in charge of directing all aspects of hotel operations, including guest services and satisfaction, hotel administration, and overseeing marketing efforts.

Bambury has 13 years of experience in the hospitality industry and was most recently general manager at Days Inn Chicopee, where she oversaw all responsibilities of a 100-room hotel and 30 employees. Her work experience also includes management positions at Hampton Inn by Hilton Chicopee as well as guest service at Hampton Inn by Hilton Bangor in Maine.

Tru by Hilton Chicopee Springfield is expected to open this spring. The hotel is owned by Chicopee Hospitality, LLC and managed by BK Investments.

Breakfast Program on April 11 to Feature Fund-raising Tips

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Daily News

GREENFIELD — On Wednesday, April 11, the Assoc. of Fundraising Professionals Western Mass. Chapter will offer a joint program with United Way of Franklin County titled “Raise More Money: Tips & Tricks to Ensure Your Value is Clear to Donors,” at Terrazza, 244 Country Club Road, Greenfield. The featured presenter is Maryann LaCroix Lindberg, president of Philanthropy Resource Group.

The program begins at 7:30 a.m. with registration, networking, and breakfast, followed by the program at 8 a.m. The cost to attend is $25 for members and $30 for non-members. This program is pending approval for 1.5 CFRE credits. Click here to register.

Tech Foundry Offers Excel Skill Training to Regional Workforce

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Tech Foundry will offer a four-day Excel skill training the week of May 14-18 (every day but May 16) from 9 a.m. to noon at 1391 Main St., ninth floor, Springfield.

Because its first Excel class offered to area companies and their employees was such a success, Tech Foundry is eager to meet the Excel needs of more area employers and their employees. Hundreds of workers in the Pioneer Valley alone use Excel on a daily basis, yet only a small fraction have the training and skill needed to maximize job success and productivity.

The class will cover advanced formulas; tables and formatting; conditional formatting; advanced charting; pivot tables and pivot reporting; VBA and macros; using Excel productively; data tables, simulations, and Solver; Excel integration; and optimizing Excel.

The cost per student is $750. To register, e-mail [email protected]. Employers with fewer than 100 employees are eligible for a 50% tuition reimbursement from Commonwealth Corp. Register through the workforce-training program at this link by Friday, March 30.

Headley Named Karpovich Chair for Wellness at Springfield College

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College has selected Professor Samuel Headley of the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation in the department of Exercise Science as its inaugural recipient of the Karpovich Chair for Wellness at Springfield College. This award honors and supports Headley’s record of scholarship and innovation in exercise science.

It is a competitive, three-year, honorary appointment that promotes interdisciplinary research across health-science fields through the testing of ideas and the creation of new initiatives and practices that have the potential to be brought to scale and lead to a sustainable avenue of scholarship that would be competitive for future external funding. The new chair will pursue collaborative and interdisciplinary scholarship in the area of wellness.

Graduates from the class of 1954 established an endowment in honor of their 50th reunion to recognize Peter Karpovich, a member of the Springfield College faculty from 1927 until 1969. He was a founder the American College of Sports Medicine and is widely considered the father of exercise physiology in the U.S., having published more than 130 journal articles in the field.

A professor of exercise physiology, Headley joined Springfield College in 1992 as an assistant professor, receiving promotion to associate professor in 1997 and to professor in 2003. He is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and a registered clinical exercise physiologist. He has served as a principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous grants and contracts, including a major award from the National Institutes of Health and, most recently, a contract with Relypsa Inc. to examine nutritional, behavioral, pharmaceutical, and counseling interventions with patients suffering from chronic kidney disease.

As the first Karpovich Chair awardee, Headley will lead a nationwide team of 12 scholars and researchers to delve into the potential interactions of prebiotic supplementation and moderate aerobic exercise training on critical health concerns of chronic kidney-disease patients, ranging from inflammatory responses that predispose kidney patients to premature death due to cardiovascular disease to psychological markers of health and well-being.

“Our group is excited for this opportunity to test our hypotheses because we believe our work has the potential to positively impact upon the lives of patients who have chronic kidney disease,” Headley explained. “The study that we have proposed is the result of the collaborative efforts of members of our research team.” The Karpovich chair comes with a commitment of $40,000 annually over three years to support the project.

Unify Against Bullying to Hold Launch Party for 2018 Fashion Show

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Unify Against Bullying and Robert Charles Photography will host a rally on Monday, March 26 at 6 p.m. in the third-floor community room located at One Financial Plaza, 1350 Main St., Springfield.

The event is the official kickoff for the annual Unify Fashion Show, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 15 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The tickets to the event go on sale that evening. The show has been sold out the last four years, taking just three weeks to sell out last year.

The all-inclusive fashion show will feature male and female teen models of all sizes, shapes, styles, ethnicities, sexual orientation, and physical abilities. The students also create and participate in an anti-bullying performance. Proceeds from the event will benefit the tax-exempt organization Unify Against Bullying.

“The organization is dedicated to helping children bring an end to bullying by giving them the tools and encouragement they need,” said Ed Zemba, president and chief idea officer at Robert Charles Photography in East Longmeadow.

The Unify Fashion Show, now in its fourth year, has involved input from a number of students from local high schools. The rally will bring together the Unify Against Bullying board of directors, the Unify student board, local students, their families, and sponsors of the Fashion Show.

Food Processing Center Gives Clients the Right Ingredients

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Cover0318bFeature
Cover Story

Recipe for Success

Caroline Pam and Tim Waite

Caroline Pam and Tim Waite with some of Kitchen Garden Farm’s products, now sold across the country.

Launched in 2001, the Western MA Food Processing Center in Greenfield has become a powerful engine when it comes to economic development in Franklin County and beyond. The WMFPC has been instrumental in helping farmers and other food and beverage entrepreneurs to grow organically — in every sense.

Caroline Pam gave the jar a half-turn.

That was how she started to answer a question, the one about what makes her company’s salsa and sriracha (hot sauce) stand out in a market crowded with competitors.

The answer, or at least a big part of it, was to be found on the back side of the jar in front of her, the one containing Kitchen Garden Farm’s ghost pepper sriracha, made from a blend of ghost peppers, red chilies, and habanero peppers — the one with the words ‘super hot’ and a small skull and crossbones on the front.

Those words on the back — “Our sauces are hand-crafted from organic peppers grown on our family farm” — resonate with many constituencies, said Pam, co-owner of Sunderland-based Kitchen Garden Farm along with her husband, Tim Wilcox. And that helps explain why the product is now sold across the country.

“Our products are truly unique — locally grown, farmer-made, certified organic, and preservative-free,” she noted. “What was once a very small pet project primarily for sale at our annual chili fest is now sold in California, in Minneapolis, on Nantucket … all over the country.”

What it doesn’t say on the label, although this is also an important part of the company’s progress to date, is that these salsas and srirachas are produced and packaged at the Western MA Food Processing Center (WMFPC) in Greenfield, a facility that has helped spawn a number of food labels — and business success stories.

Tucked away in an industrially zoned area about a mile from Greenfield’s Main Street, the food-processing center was launched in 2001. It was an ambitious undertaking and a response to a request from the state for a facility to help its agriculture industry and entrepreneurs within the very broad realm of food and beverage take concepts from their farms, family recipe books, and even the proverbial back of a napkin and turn them into business enterprises.

That response came from the Franklin County Community Development Corp., said its executive director, John Waite. He told BusinessWest the agency cobbled together more than $800,000 from various sources to create the commercial kitchen and adjoining warehouse and distribution facilities.

Over the years, more than 350 clients, by Waite’s count, have made their way down Wells Street to the center, and collectively they have registered varied amounts of success. Some didn’t find much of it for various reasons, he said, noting that there’s nothing easy about turning a food or beverage product into a business. But many have, and it has come in different ways.

Some have been using the facilities for years to bring a value-added product, or several, to the marketplace and scale up, sometimes in a big way. Kitchen Garden Farms falls in that category — Pam said the food processing center enabled the farm to go from making 400 bottles a year at a small commercial kitchen it was renting five years ago to 19,000 last year — as does Herrell’s Ice Cream in Northampton, which contracts with the center to produce its popular hot fudge sauce for retail sales.

And then, there are those who have done so well, they’ve ‘outgrown’ the center, if you will, and created their own production centers.

Topping that list would be Real Pickles, the venture launched by Dan Rosenberg, who started selling batches of organic dill pickles to a few dozen local stores in 2001. He came to the food processing center the following season and started producing value-added products such as organic sauerkraut and ginger carrots and expanding sales across the region. That venture did outgrow the WMFPC and moved into its own facility — right down the street, actually — in 2009.

There’s also Hillside Pizza, which also started in 2001, using the center to produce small pizzas used in various fund-raising initiatives. Today, it has three locations, in Bernardston, Hadley, and South Deerfield.

John Waite

John Waite says the WMFPC supplies pots, pans, and freezer space — but also the many kinds of technical support needed to help entrepreneurs convert food and beverage products into businesses.

Hillside now employs more than 40 people at those locations, said Waite, adding that this number contributes to a larger one — more than 100 by his count — when it comes to the number of jobs created directly or indirectly by the food-processing center, perhaps the best measure of its success, although there are many.

“We’ve made some twists and turns over the years, but the center has become what everyone envisioned back in 2001,” he explained. “That vision was that more local foods would be processed and there would be job creation. And we’re doing that.”

For this issue and its focus on entrepreneurship, BusinessWest paid an extended visit to the food processing center to get, well, a taste of how this unique facility has become a force in efforts to foster entrepreneurship, create jobs, sustain local agriculture, and, yes, put some intriguing products on the dinner table.

Not Lost in the Sauce

When Liz Buxton tells someone she’s chief cook and bottle washer, she’s not just summoning that battle-worn phrase to describe someone who wears a lot of hats.

She is the chief cook — at least for much of the work that is contracted out to the food processing center — and she also washes bottles on occasion. She also drives the fork truck regularly. And she monitors and repairs equipment. And … well, you get the idea.

As director of operations, she really does wear a lot of hats — although mostly she’s in a hairnet, an important part of the dress code at the facility.

And her presence at the center — as well as all those hats she wears — drives home the point that this facility is much, much more than a large, well-appointed kitchen. Indeed, the center is a resource; it exists not to help clients create a large batch of barbecue sauce, jam, salsa or cider, or just to do that. No, it exists to help those clients succeed in business.

“It certainly isn’t easy to scale up a small, family-kitchen operation into a commercial venture; our clients need many forms of guidance — on labeling, on meeting FDA regulations, on production, and more,” she explained. “And we provide all that.”

This is pretty much what the Mass. Department of Agriculture had in mind when it issued a request for proposals for what it called a ‘commercial kitchen’ at the start of this century, said Waite, adding that the Franklin Country CDC, in submitting its bid, thought such a facility would be a natural extension of what it was already doing, as well as a means to directly support what was, and still is, a big part of the Franklin County economy — agriculture.

Joanna Benoit says scaling up — taking a family recipe, for example, and turning it into a product and a business — is an involved process for which entrepreneurs need many forms of support.

Joanna Benoit says scaling up — taking a family recipe, for example, and turning it into a product and a business — is an involved process for which entrepreneurs need many forms of support.

But the name Western MA Food Processing Center was chosen to reinforce the fact this is, indeed, a regional facility, he went on, adding that there have been several clients from Berkshire and Hampshire counties as well, and even a few from more-urban Hampden County, although not as many as he would like. Meanwhile, some clients drive across the state to reach Greenfield, and still others arrive sporting license plates from Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire.

The facility meets federal, state, and local standards, and is well stocked with modern equipment, including two 100-gallon and three 40-gallon steam kettles; automated hot-bottling and filling; large-capacity mixers, choppers, and shredders; dry, cold, and frozen storage; a vegetable wash, prep, and blanching area; a quick-freeze production line; vacuum sealers; shared office space and equipment; 24-hour secure access; and more.

But these are only the tools of the trade, said Waite, adding that the center also provides other forms of support, especially all-important help with scaling up and taking a product across the region or even across the country.

“In the beginning, we were going to teach people how to use the equipment and have an FDA-certified kitchen,” he explained. “They would come in with their own recipe — they knew what they were doing, we assumed — and we would teach them. And we still have some people doing that.

“But then it became apparent that people needed more than the kettles and the stoves; they needed more help,” he went on. “So we helped them with labeling and FDA health and safety regulations, and other things.”

Still, despite these adjustments the center made, it wasn’t seeing many of the region’s farmers it hoped would use the facility to make products like tomato sauce, for example, from their tomato crops.

And there was a reason for this.

“They said, basically, ‘we’re not cooks, we’re farmers; we don’t want to be in the kitchen,’” said Waite, adding that these sentiments inspired those at the WMFPC to add co-packing solutions to its portfolio of services and have hired staff make those products for the farmers who want to devote their time to the fields.

And many businesses, such as the aforementioned Herrell’s, have taken advantage of those services, he went on, adding that, through this work, the center became quite adept at all aspects of food production.

This know-how is then passed on to the many clients, like Kitchen Garden Farm and countless others, who travel to the center, rent its facilities for $45 per hour, and handle their own production, said Waite, adding that, as a business venture itself, the WMFPC continues to grow and evolve.

And, thanks to the addition of an $800,000, 2,800-square-foot cold-storage facility last December, the center should succeed with something it has struggled to do — break even on the bottom line, said Waite.

“We now have about 5,000 square feet of storage, dry and cold, and that’s really going to help us moving forward,” he told BusinessWest. “The kitchen is large enough, but people need to bring in their ingredients, and they need space for their finished product, and for a while, that was limiting some our clients when it came to growth — they didn’t have space to store stuff. Now they do.”

The new storage space will eventually become a solid revenue stream, he went on, adding, for example, that area farmers can now use it as a meat warehouse, rather than traveling to facilities in Westfield, Chicopee, and New York.

Stirring Things Up

As he talked with BusinessWest about the center, Waite, over the course of a nearly two-hour visit, would regularly retrieve another jar, bottle, or package from an elaborate display case of products created at the center over the years and say ‘here’s another good success story’ — or words to that effect.’

When Liz Buxton says she’s chief cook and bottle washer at the WMFPC, she means it. Yes, she also drives the fork truck on occasion.

When Liz Buxton says she’s chief cook and bottle washer at the WMFPC, she means it. Yes, she also drives the fork truck on occasion.

Indeed, he probably did that at least a half dozen times, partially in an effort not to overlook anyone, but also because there are so many of these stories it’s easy to lose track — until you see that bottle on the shelf.

Among those he referenced were:

• Old Friends Farm in Amherst, which grows ginger, turmeric, and other crops, and makes syrups, honeys, and teas;

• Shire City Herbals in Pittsfield, makers of fire cider, an apple-cider vinegar;

• Zoni Foods — the creation of a Yale graduate still doing business in Connecticut — maker of plant-based gourmet frozen dinners like coconut curry noodles and zesty peanut noodles;

• The Artisan Beverage Cooperative, which produces a wide variety of fermented teas and other products and actually occupies its own space within the WMFPC complex;

• Appalachian Naturals, a producer of salad dressings and marinades that started at the WMFPC, outgrew it, and moved into its own facility in Goshen;

• Akara, a producer of African beancake, a close cousin to the veggie burger, that is still coming to the food-processing center; and

• Saw Mill Site Farm, makers of horseradish products, which is still using the WMFPC a dozen years after starting there.

These ventures, which offer some good insight into the very wide variety of products processed at the center, are at various stages in their development, said Waite, but the common thread is that the WMFPC has been an important partner in whatever success they’ve enjoyed and will enjoy down the road.

And as a partner, again, it provides more than those 100-gallon steam kettles.

“This place allows entrepreneurs to try things at a low cost,” Waite explained. “People rent by the hour — $45 an hour — so for $300, they can try a bunch of things instead of building their own place or buying their own equipment, which would cost tens of thousands of dollars. They just bring the ingredients.”

And some entrepreneurial spirit, said Joanna Benoit, Food Business Development specialist for the WMFPC, who also wears a number of hats.

Indeed, much if her time is spent managing the ambitious Pioneer Valley Vegetables program, whereby the center processes fruits and vegetables from a number of local farms for sale to a number of clients, including area schools.

But she also helps onboard new clients to the center, assisting them with everything from business-plan creation to marketing to scaling up a product from what is often family-kitchen scope to commercial scale.

And there is a lot that goes into this process.

“For many, it’s transitioning from a culinary process to streamlined production — it’s almost like a science experiment,” she explained. “You want to start thinking about developing a streamlined, consistent process, streamlining your ingredient sourcing, thinking about your packaging, your marketing, your branding … things you’re not always thinking about when you’re making a product that’s delicious and you’re proud of and you want to share with people.”

Elaborating, she said there is much more that goes into it than taking the ingredients from a family and multiplying the amounts for each by 10, 100, or 1,000. It’s not that simple.

There are all those other considerations, such as labeling, marketing, branding, and distribution, but there are also the many factors in scaling up that recipe.

And that’s where Buxton, chief cook and bottle washer, comes in.

She had spent more than 30 years in the food-service business before coming to the WMFPC, and took an intriguing path to employment there. Indeed, she was working as food and nutrition director for a local school district, and became introduced to the WMFPC when that district started buying produce from it through Pioneer Valley Vegetables.

“When this job came open, I was very interested in it,” she recalled, adding that there was a lot to like, especially the opportunity to use her vast experience to help clients reach whatever goals they have set for themselves — and support local agriculture at the same time.

No two days are alike, she told BusnessWest, adding that she works with clients to help them meet FDA and labeling regulations, find the right pH level to maintain proper shelf life without the use of preservatives, and more.

“Many of these things are very hard to do without guidance,” she said, adding that the ongoing work of helping clients navigate what can sometimes feel like whitewater is rewarding on a number of levels.

Food for Thought

Pam told BusinessWest that Kitchen Garden Farm has a number of ambitious goals for the future. And one of them is to join that list of distinguished clients who have actually outgrown the WMFPV and created their own commercial processing center.

She doesn’t know exactly when that will happen — 2019 is the goal — but she’s confident that it will.

Meanwhile, one thing she does know is that the food-processing center has played a pivotal role in the farm’s profound growth, brand building, and ability to sell its products on both coasts and countless places in between.

As noted many times earlier, and in many ways, there have been a number of success stories like this written over the past 18 years, and the best news is that there still many more waiting to be penned.

That’s because the WMFPV provides its clients with all the other ingredients they need to thrive.

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

Helping to Build Small Businesses

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Opinion

Editorial

Over the years, we’ve written many times about how, when people hear the term ‘economic development,’ thoughts turn to building large industrial parks and luring major corporations from other states or other countries.

And that’s certainly a big part of the equation — everywhere and right here in Western Mass., where we’ve seen several industrial parks take shape and many large businesses recruited into the 413.

But there are many other, dare we say less glamorous sides to economic development, from workforce-development initiatives to marketing, to creating support systems for startups and next-stage companies. And in this issue, we see two excellent examples of that last dynamic at work — an important, but also often overlooked component of economic development.

Indeed, the Western MA Food Processing Center (WMFPC) in Greenfield and the Greentown Labs Manufacturing Initiative are excellent examples of economic development in the form of needed assistance to entrepreneurs looking to take an idea or a family recipe, as might be the case with the WMFPC, and turning it into a successful business enterprise.

Let’s start in Greenfield. The WMFPC, launched in 2001, in a large commercial kitchen created to help farmers and other entrepreneurs launch new, value-added products. The center provides the pots, pans, and freezer space, but it also offers technical support with labeling; meeting local, state, and federal guidelines; marketing; and many other aspects involved with taking a salsa recipe and moving from making a few dozen gallons to several thousand.

The center, managed by the Franklin County Community Development Corp., has helped farmers put crops to work in new, often profitable ways, but it is also helping to create jobs — more than 100 of them to date — and some very successful companies.

Meawhile, the Greentown Labs Manufacturing Initiative was launched just over a year ago with the goal of matching hardware startups with manufacturers doing business in Western Mass.

Such matches are critical for several reasons. First, these startups are often unaware of the capabilities and specialties of area manufacturers, and often believe they have to look elsewhere — to China or somewhere else offshore — to bring a product to market.

But with 7,000 manufacturers in this area making everything from plastic packaging to parts for the aerospace industry, there is a very good chance they can find someone 20 or 30 miles away instead of 12,000 miles away.

But there is another reason why these matches are so important: often, they can accelerate the process of taking a product off the drawing board and bringing it to reality, as we see with the company called Quikcord. “Springboarding effect” was the phrase used to describe the impact, and it gets the point across.

This initiative has many obvious benefits — from bringing work to area manufacturers that are doing very well in most cases but always need more work, to giving hardware startups a needed boost that get them going or to the next stage. And the biggest prize could be more jobs.

All this equates to economic development — though maybe not the kind that many people think of when they say or hear that phrase — and progress for the region.

A Strategy for 21st-century Growth

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Opinion

Opinion

By Sen. Eric Lesser

How should we — here in Massachusetts, and across the U.S. — prepare for autonomous vehicles taking over our roads or for artificial intelligence replacing manufacturing jobs on a massive scale? We may want to look across the pond for some answers.

Last fall, the British government published an ‘industrial strategy’ to address these two major challenges and two others: advancing economic growth while curbing pollution, and meeting the needs of an aging population.

The strategy is more a call for proposals than a top-down list of recommendations for cities, towns, and businesses to follow. In a nationwide public-private partnership, Britain is inviting organizations and companies to submit designs for the streets of the future that would pave the way, so to speak, for autonomous vehicles to join its roads. The winner will see their blueprints built, serving as prototypes for the rest of the country.

Instead of fearing tectonic shifts in technology, the U.K. is embracing them as opportunities to position their workers and industries at the forefront of the future economy. Here in America, and specifically in Massachusetts, we could take a page out of Britain’s book.

Training workers for the jobs of the 21st century often makes a good sound bite, but there are already thousands of unfilled high-tech manufacturing jobs in Western Mass. alone.

That is why I have made high-tech job-training a focus of my work at the State House, including a bill to study vocational education across the Commonwealth and establish programs where access to that education is inadequate.

Fortunately, some local companies and schools have stepped in to fill the gap. Tech Foundry trains young people and adults in computer science, and Springfield Technical Community College has formed a partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to host one of the premier laser manufacturing programs in the country.

Not only is Britain embracing high-tech development; it is localizing that development in places that have fallen behind. Investing in regional cities is one of the five foundations of the industrial strategy.

Through its Transforming Cities Fund, Britain is funding infrastructure projects — such as high-speed rail — that improve connectivity between cities for the express purpose of driving growth across the country. The construction of HS2, a major high-speed rail project, is expected to support 25,000 jobs.

Here in America, President Trump unveiled his long-promised infrastructure plan in February. But it was essentially a mirage. It claimed to create $1.5 trillion in repairs and upgrades, but actually invests only $200 billion — expecting the states to pick up the rest of the tab. States and major cities have been waiting for injections of federal funds that will help them push their shovel-ready projects across the finish line — projects like railroad upgrades, bridge and school repairs, and other improvements that put people to work and rebuild our forgotten cities and towns.

Meanwhile, places that have fallen behind are, in many ways, the core of Britain’s strategy itself. That strategy has served to focus attention on the challenges the world’s changing economy poses to cities and regions. We need a similar focus here.

In America, former manufacturing towns should be the focus of our redevelopment as well. One solution is giving incentives to those who choose to live there — and the companies that choose to employ them. In the state Senate, we introduced bills offering student-loan-repayment plans to young people who move to former industrial cities after college and to those who invest in high-tech businesses based in those cities.

We can — and should — look to other countries’ efforts at rebuilding industrial areas and maintaining a skilled and educated workforce. Britain is not alone in offering lessons. Germany has long had a vocational education and training system that turns high-school-aged students into apprentices ready to take manufacturing jobs right after graduation. This is one reason why Germany is able to maintain trade surpluses while other western economies have faltered: Each year, workers trained in the latest manufacturing techniques step in to fill the open jobs.

The U.K.’s industrial strategy offers a template for how to spur economic growth and prepare our workforce for the future. It also offers a warning: if we fail to develop our own strategy, we will all be left behind.

State Sen. Eric Lesser is co-chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development. He represents the First Hampden & Hampshire District in Western Mass.

There’s Certainly Growing Interest in Holyoke

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Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Green Thumb Industries will soon begin operating a marijuana-cultivation operation in this mill building at 28 Appleton St. And it will likely be the first of several such operations in Holyoke.

Green Thumb Industries will soon begin operating a marijuana-cultivation operation in this mill building at 28 Appleton St. And it will likely be the first of several such operations in Holyoke.

Marcos Marrero says that if one were to have a machine running an optimization algorithm that would weigh a host of quantitative and qualitative factors to ultimately determine the very best spot in the region — and maybe the country — to locate a marijuana cultivation and distribution facility, it would, when done with its analysis, likely spit out two words: Holyoke and Massachusetts.

And that second word is necessary, he went on, because there is, in fact, a Holyoke in Colorado, the first state to legalize recreational marijuana, and he’s already been asked more than a few times if he works for that small town of 5,000 people near the center of the Centennial State.

He doesn’t. He’s director of Planning and Economic Development for the other Holyoke, the one on the Connecticut River. The one heralded as one of the first planned industrial cities in the country. The one where Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries (TGI) is set to open an estimated $10 million marijuana-cultivation facility in former mill space on Appleton Street this spring.

And Marrero is fielding a lot of phone calls and e-mails these days from other people wanting to know more about that Holyoke, and marijuana cultivation is usually the reason (more on those inquiries later).

First, back to that algorithm. As noted, it would weigh a host of quantitative factors, said Marrero, and they all project strongly in Holyoke’s favor. These range from the roughly 1.5 million square feet of available, attractively priced mill space within the city, much of it ideal for marijuana cultivation because of the mills’ open spaces and high ceilings, to the lowest electricity rates in the state (this is a power-intensive business), to Holyoke’s location along I-91 and just off the Turnpike.

“You can ship it east, and you can ship it north,” said Marrero, adding quickly that there also qualitative factors to consider.

Or at least one big one, anyway. That would be the city’s welcoming attitude toward an industry that most communities in the Bay State are throwing stop signs and speed bumps in front of.

“Many cities and towns are taking out the pitchforks to prevent the cannabis industry from coming in,” said Holyoke’s mayor, Alex Morse. “Given my outspoken support for the industry, we’re seeing companies from across the country come into Holyoke to meet with us and my team about locations and learn more about our special-permit process. It’s been company after company that’s been looking to invest.”

But this cannabis phenomenon, if you will, is just part of the story. And it’s only one of the ways in which the city is succeeding with filling some its legendary and mostly idle or underused mills.

There are many others, starting with the Holyoke Community College MGM Culinary Arts Institute, which opened in the Cubit building (anther of those old mills) in January. There are also the market-rate apartments in the floors above that facility, and a host of other housing initiatives as well.

There are also arts-related facilities, such as Gateway City Arts on Race Street. And then, there are a growing number of startups, mentored by groups like SPARK, that are also moving into those mills.

All this, or most all of it (the marijuana law was passed in 2016), was part of Morse’s vision when he became mayor in 2012, and also why he’s still mayor today, having been re-elected to a four-year term (the city’s first) last fall. Back when he first ran for office, he explained, he saw enormous potential for the city to become home to a wide array of businesses and to become an attractive residential address as well after decades when it clearly wasn’t.

The formula called for a host of public investments — they’ve come in many forms, from a new canal walk to a new train depot to a slew of road projects — that would in turn encourage private investments (such as the Cubit building and GTI, for example). There would also be a focus on building the cultural economy, encouraging entrepreneurship, and maximizing Holyoke’s many geographic and historical assets.

In short, it’s all coming together nicely, as we’ll see in this, the latest installment of BusinessWest’s Community Spotlight series.

Joint Ventures

When asked to put all that aforementioned interest in Holyoke on the part of cannabis enterprises, or would-be cannabis enterprises, into perspective, Marrero let out a deep breath.

“The last couple of weeks have been … crazy,” he told BusinessWest. “There’s been lots of meetings and phone calls. Some of them are companies that are just shopping around and don’t necessarily know everything about Holyoke, but they may be looking in the Western Mass. corridor. But they’ve heard about us and want to know more.”

And it’s been crazy for a reason, actually several of them, as noted at the top.

“We believe we have the best competitive advantages for the industry at this time,” Marrero explained, “from the real estate to the low-cost electricity — those lights are on a lot — to the water. Holyoke has a lot of offer these businesses.

“And in Mayor Morse, you have the first mayor to come out and quite vocally support legalizing marijuana, recreationally and medically, and that certainly makes a difference,” he went on, adding that the city had one of the first ordinances in the state regulating, but also, and in many ways, welcoming the industry.

“So there’s some political stability — there’s a willingness and a desire to have this industry here,” Marrero continued, adding that all this caught the attention of GTI, which is now permitted to operate a facility on 42,000 square feet of former mill space at 28 Appleton St.

The company plans to hire about 100 people within the next year, said Morse, adding that, while not all of these are skilled positions, per se, these will be attractive positions with wages averaging $15 or more.

“When GTI held its first job fair last fall, there were more than 700 people in the room,” he recalled. “And that sends a strong message to other elected leaders in this city and also the community that people are looking for jobs, they’re willing to get trained, and they want to work.”

The Cubit building, home to apartments and the Holyoke Community College MGM Culinary Arts Institute, is just one example of how Holyoke’s historic mills are being put to new and productive uses.

The Cubit building, home to apartments and the Holyoke Community College MGM Culinary Arts Institute, is just one example of how Holyoke’s historic mills are being put to new and productive uses.

Meanwhile, there are many other entities looking to join GTI, said Marrero, adding that there are at least six businesses expressing what he called “serious” interest and moving toward the permitting stage, and perhaps a dozen more that are kicking the tires and filling Marrero’s voice mailbox.

How many will eventually land in Holyoke obviously remains to be seen, but Marrero and Morse both believe the cannabis sector could soon employ hundreds in the Paper City and bring additional benefits as well in the form of supporting businesses that will also pay taxes and employ area residents.

“Once you have a clustering effect of any industry, you have a subsequent clustering effect of any industry that supports that sector, and that could benefit not only Holyoke but surrounding communities,” Marrero explained. “If we had 10 cannabis-growing companies, not only would that translate into a large amount of jobs, tax revenue, and more, but then those 10 companies are going to be demanding services from pipe fitters, electricians, those who maintain HVAC systems, transportation and logistics companies, security companies, etc.; you have a second tier of expertise that is developed in the economy to support them.”

This is what has happened in Colorado (he’s not sure about the community of Holyoke) and other states where marijuana has been legalized, he went on, adding that the Holyoke in Massachusetts has the opportunity to learn from the mistakes made by others before it, and there have been some.

Run of the Mills

While the cannabis industry starts to fill in that section of the canvas that is a changing Holyoke, other businesses are finding the city as well, and the vision that Morse put in place at the start of this decade is coming into focus.

That vision involved embracing the city’s industrial past as a paper and textile hub, but also recognizing that this was in the past and that the community had to develop new sources of jobs and tax revenue while also revitalizing a downtown that had seen much better days.

The strategy for doing all that, as noted earlier, is multi-faceted.

“We’ve been pursuing an innovation-based economic-development strategy and coupling that with a public-investment strategy,” the mayor explained. “We’ve made a number of investments that have made the city a more attractive place for private investment and incentivising developers to come in; they’ve recognized that the city is making investments in itself to make it a more liveable, walkable community, especially in the downtown, and they’re responded to that.”

There’s been a housing strategy as part of that broader plan, he went on, adding that housing is obviously key to attracting businesses and the people who would work for them.

The goal is to create a dense, diverse inventory of housing, Morse went on, adding that the city is making strides in this regard with market-rate projects such as the Cubit building, mixed-use projects such such as a Wynn Development initiative at the former Farr Alpaca Mills on Appleton Street, and public housing efforts such as the ongoing, 167-unit Lyman Terrace project.

As for those public investments, they have come in many forms, including the canal walk and train station, but also a number of parks and neighborhoods. The effect has been to make the city a more attractive option for businesses, but also families, said the mayor.

“We’re not of the philosophy that one big corporate giant is going to arrive in Holyoke and solve all our problems — we have a much more long-term view of sustainable economic development,” he explained. “We’re focused on the innovation economy, but also entrepreneurship and small-business development, through initiatives such as SPARK.”

There have been more than 80 ‘graduates’ of that program of mentoring and education, run by the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, he went on, adding that some of them are either incubating in Holyoke or have already moved into their own space within the city.

Holyoke at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1786
Population: 40.280
Area: 22.8 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $19.17
Commercial Tax Rate: $39.72
Median Household Income: $36,608
Median Family Income: $41,194
Type of Government: Mayor, City Council
Largest Employers: Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke Community College, ISO New England Inc., PeoplesBank, Universal Plastics, Marox Corp.
* Latest information available

Meanwhile, there are other forms of progress to note across the city, said Morse, listing everything from a rising high-school graduation rate — it was under 50% when he took office, and now it’s closer to 70% — to falling unemployment; from planned revitalization of the former Lynch School just off I-91 (an RFP was recently issued) to needed evolution at the Holyoke Mall.

The mall is one of the city’s important assets, he noted, adding that it brings thousands of people into the city every day. With the retail sector struggling in the wake of emerging forces like Amazon, and malls fighting to keep their spaces filled, the facility in Holyoke is responding with family-oriented tenants that are keeping the parking lots crowded, said the mayor.

“We’ve seen the mall make a number of investments in recent years and add more entertainment options,” he explained. “These include new restaurants, an escape-room place, and a new Cinemark theater that will be coming in.”

As for the graduation rate and improvement at the public schools overall, this is an important ingredient in the overall strategy for Holyoke’s revitalization, said the mayor.

And with continued progress in mind, the city will launch a new high-school model this fall, one based on four different academies focused on career readiness to create more pathways for students.

Planting Seeds

As he talked about cannabis — and everything else going on in Holyoke — Morse joked that Holyoke might soon run out of mill space to offer developers.

When told about that line, Marrero laughed, paused for a second, and said simply, “I hope so — that would be great.”

That’s not likely to happen any time soon, if ever. But that number of available square feet in the mills that gave Holyoke its nickname and its heritage keeps going down.

And cannabis is just one of the reasons. Many of the same character traits that are attracting marijuana growers — from the mills to the highways to a business-friendly City Hall — are attracting other types of businesses as well.

As noted, Morse couldn’t exactly have foreseen the cannabis industry being one of his city’s leading employers when he took office. But he could foresee a time when his staff and the office of Planning and Economic Development would be flooded with calls from people interested in maybe setting up shop in Holyoke.

And not the one in Colorado.

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

Greentown Initiative Links Startups with Manufacturers

By
Entrepreneurship0318b
Entrepreneurship Sections

The ‘Connections’ Business

Adam Rodrigues

Adam Rodrigues

Adam Rodrigues, manufacturing fellow with Greentown labs, says his job description can be smashed down to two words: Making matches. That would be matches between startups across the state, and especially those within the 413, and manufacturers in Western Mass. that can help bring a concept to the marketplace. He’s already made several of these matches and plans to make many more, connections that have a number of benefits — for the startups, the manufacturers, the region, and the state.

Adam Rodrigues has a nice, large office in Building 101 at the Technology Park at Springfield Technical Community College.

But it’s sparse, and, therefore, a little awkward.

“I’ve got about half a basketball court and just this little desk in the back right corner,” he said with an obvious nod to the office’s well-polished hardwood floors, a holdover from the days when this building was part of the Springfield Armory complex. “It’s a little weird.”

But it’s all good, because Rodrigues isn’t in his office or at that desk very much. No, he’s paid to be on the road, actually, and that’s where he spends almost all his time.

As a manufacturing fellow with Greentown Labs — or, to be more specific, Greentown Learning, a spinoff off the Somerville, Mass.-based clean-technology incubator — his job is to make meaningful connections between as many startups and Bay State-based manufacturers, and preferably Western Mass. manufacturers, as possible.

“I’m a matchmaker,” he said, adding that this role cannot be carried out effectively from Suite 32 in Building 101 — although he can do some paperwork there. The real work is carried on in a host of other settings. They range from area manufacturing facilities — he’s visited several dozen by his count — to various programs put on Valley Venture Mentors (VVM), SPARK, and other groups focused on encouraging and mentoring entrepreneurs; from structured meet-and-greet sessions between startups and manufacturers to what amount to organized road trips during which those incubating at Greentown get introduced to manufacturers who might make their concept a reality.

And there is much that goes into that last equation, he said, adding that a manufacturer can help an entrepreneur take an idea, maneuver it through the prototyping stage, make tweaks and improvements, and finally move it to the production phase.

And that’s exactly what’s happening — note the present tense — with a company called Quikcord, its principals, Matt Fioretti and Matt Adams, and East Longmeadow-based Toner Plastics.

Fioretti didn’t want to say much at all about his concept, intended for the military, until it reaches the market — “let’s just say it’s a product designed by a Marine for Marines” — but talked enthusiastically, and at length, about how Greentown’s efforts to match the company with Toner Plastics are helping to propel this venture forward.

“It’s had an unbelievable springboarding effect,” he explained. “Greentown was able to put us in front of the right people, and it just skyrocketed us to the point we’re at.

“And the best part about is that the amount of money we spent is next to nothing when you think of what we’ve accomplished,” he went on. “We’re two guys with an idea and no money, and we’re almost ready to do a short production run.”

Such a scenario, and such commentary, is exactly what several partners had in mind roughly 15 months ago when Greentown’s Western Mass. facility was created, with Rodrigues, a veteran of the industry having worked for several years at Lenox, at the helm.

When the initiative was launched, there were goals and benchmarks set, he said, adding that most all of them have been exceeded. Here are some of the numbers to date:

• More than 50 manufacturers have been identified as interested in working with hardware startups;

• More than 45 startups have received assistance from the initiative;

• More than 80 connections have been made between hardware startups and Western Mass. manufacturers;

• More than 30 east-west connections have been made between Boston-area startups and Western Mass. manufacturers; and

• Perhaps most importantly, five contracts have been signed between startups and Western Mass. manufacturers.

All of this translates into thousands of miles on Rodrigues’ odometer and comparatively few hours sitting behind that small desk. But, as noted, this is how those behind Greentown’s Springfield facility drew up this play, and thus far, it is netting real results for the region.

For this issue and its focus on entrepreneurship, BusinessWest looks at Rodrigues’ matchmaking work to date and how it has become another key ingredient in the region’s broad economic-development strategy.

Making Introductions

As he flashed back several months and retold the story of how the company that would become Quikcord became matched with Toner Plastics, Fioretti provided a textbook example of how Greentown Learning works and why it was created.

Matt Fioretti, left, and Matt Adams, cofounders of Quikcord, were successfully matched with Toner Plastics, enabling their concept to take big steps forward.

Matt Fioretti, left, and Matt Adams, cofounders of Quikcord, were successfully matched with Toner Plastics, enabling their concept to take big steps forward.

“We were at a VVM event, and we were making a pitch on our basic concept,” he recalled. “We had nothing; we just had a concept. Well, after we made the pitch, there were some breakout sessions where people come and talk with you about what they just heard. And Adam [Rodrigues] came up to us and said, ‘I’m just getting started, I don’t even have business cards, but let me get your names and e-mail addresses, and I’ll get back to you.’

“He then said, ‘this is going to be worth it for you,’” Fioretti went on, remembering that commentary because of its poignancy. “And at that stage, we were ready to try just about anything. So we said, ‘sure.’”

Fast-forwarding a little, he said Rodrigues did, indeed, follow up a few weeks later. They met and talked about their concept and also about Greentown. Later, Rodrigues arranged for the partners to pitch at a manufacturing seminar staged by Greentown and the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

One of the panelists they pitched to was Steve Graham, owner of Toner Plastics. Fast-forwarding some more, he said Graham and the team at Toner took an interest in the product and provided several different kinds of support to move the concept forward.

“They recognized that we were a small business without much capital, but they loved the idea,” said Fioretti. “And they did a lot of work for us pro bono; and they got us from to the point where we could take our concept to CAD [computer-aided design].”

Again, this is exactly the script those behind Greentown Learning had in mind, said Rodrigues, adding that the need for such a matchmaking outfit, if you will, had become increasingly apparent in recent years.

Especially at Greentown Labs, the largest clean-technology incubator in the country, with more than 60 hardware startups under that one large roof.

“As they started to incubate these startups, they realized that, while they had all these awesome ideas coming out of the state, they did not have a good link to manufacturers in the Commonwealth,” he explained, adding that, to address this, a manufacturing initiative was launched to help connect the startups with Bay State manufacturers.

Progress was made, he went on, and it quickly became apparent that attention needed to be focused on the western part of the state, not only the manufacturers that give the region much of its economic heritage, but the ever-increasing number of startups being spawned there as well.

So a position, funded by the Davis Foundation, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and MassDevelopment, was created, and Rodrigues started filling the drawers in that desk in January 2017.

He said he hit the ground running, and hasn’t stopped running. He had a good foundation on which to build, having been part of VVM’s manufacturing accelerator in 2016, serving as a mentor to the participants, passing on knowledge gained while working at Lenox in the supply-chain realm.

“Being a buyer, I was able to tell the manufacturers that were in the accelerator what a buyer is looking for when they’re working for new contracts,” he explained, adding that he had also taken part in several of VVM’s monthly gatherings at which entrepreneurs make pitches, make connections, and hopefully take steps forward.

So he knew both of the constituencies he would be working with in his capacity with Greentown. Sort of, but not as much as he would like. So he sent about making connections of his own.

“My goal was to meet as many manufacturers as I could in this area, and meet as many startups as I could in this area that were developing actual hardware, and try to connect them,” he told BusinessWest.

These connections usually come about, as noted earlier, through organized events, such as a Shark Tank-like gathering involving entrepreneurs pitching to manufacturing experts.

“Each startup would get on stage and say, ‘this is what I’m making, here’s where we’re hung up, here’s where we don’t know how to scale,’” he noted. “And then we’d have the manufacturers from this area there to say, ‘I’ve seen this before; here’s what I think you should do,’ and someone else would chime in with ‘have you considered doing this?’ And the startups walk away with a connection to manufactuters.”

Creating Progress

And the importance of these connections — to the startups, the manufacturers, the region, and the state itself — cannot be overstated, he went on, adding that they add up to potential opportunities that might be otherwise be missed.

Elaborating, he said part of this equation is a simple matter of awareness, or a lack thereof, as the case may be. Indeed, some entrepreneurs simply don’t know what the region’s manufacturers possess when it comes to capabilities and specialties, and often look overseas for someone to make their product.

“We want to raise a flag,” noted Rodrigues, “and say, ‘before you decide to manufacture somewhere else in this country, before you go China to have that prototype made, let me introduce you to a few people here who can help you out.”

But there is another element to these matchmaking efforts, perhaps one that’s even more important, he went on.

“Sometimes, in addition to making a connection, the entrepreneur will walk away with a completely new direction for the company and the design process,” said Rodrigues, adding that this is exactly what has happened with some of the connections he’s helped orchestrate.

Mike Reed, seen here in the Toner Plastics lobby

Mike Reed, seen here in the Toner Plastics lobby with some of the products produced there, including the hula hoop, says the company was able to help Quikcord reach the prototype stage.

Such as the one involving Quik-cord and Toner Plastics. Summing up how that worked out succinctly, and colorfully, Rodrigues noted that, “at the initial event, their prototype was a toilet-paper roll with duct tape on it; a few months later, they had a an actual, fully formed prototype with the logo on it, and they were ready for manufacturing.”

Spearheading that transformation was the team at Toner Plastics, a 25-year-old manufacturer of extruded products and a leader in 3D printer filament products and makers of, among other things, hula hoops. Among its many other specialties is manufacturing filler for wire and cable products.

Mike Reed, the company’s engineering manager, said Steve Graham saw potential in the Quikcord concept and its principals and agreed to work with the entrepreneurs to help move their idea off the proverbial drawing board.

“At that point, they had a good concept, but they really needed some help finalizing the design and getting to manufacturing,” Reed explained, adding that Toner Plastics worked on the project in conjunction with its sister company, Modern Mold and Tool, and especially design engineer Stefan Ogle. “We worked with them for several months on the design; we went back and forth, made several revisions, and did some prototype work as well. And then we optimized that design for manufacturing.”

These were critical steps forward, ones that prompted Fioretti to use that phrase ‘springboarding effect’ to capture how this connection gave the venture some needed lift.

“We should have the final product in hand soon,” he went on, adding that the company is close to moving on to the manufacturing stage, and he expects Toner Plastics to play a big role in that work. “We love what Greentown is doing because we’ve seen first-hand how it works.”

There are other startups that can make that same claim, said Rodrigues, including Kwema, a Cincinnati-based wearable-technology startup that had participated in the VVM accelerator and also in the same ‘rocket pitch’ where Quikcord met Toner Plastics.

“When they got exposed to what’s out here for manufacturing and they started working with Worthington Assembly, they now have plans to relocate their headquarters from Cincinnati to Springfield,” said Rodrigues.

Peerless Precision in Westfield

As part of his matchmaking efforts, Adam Rodrigues has been introducing startups to area manufacturers at tours, such as this one at Peerless Precision in Westfield, led by company president Kristin Carlson.

Still another success story is RiseRobotics, a company incubating at Greentown in Somerville, that has made not one but a few of the east-west connections Rodrigues said he loves to facilitate. Indeed, the company is now working with two Westfield-based manufacturers, Peerless Precision and Manufacturing Technology Group.

The goal moving forward, obviously, is to make more of these connections, said Rodrigues, adding that he’s only 15 months into a three-year contract and is already exploring funding options to extend the life of this important initiative.

“There’s some nice momentum going — the numbers are well beyond anything we could have projected,” he said of the initiative’s track record to date. “What that means to me is that people are excited about this; they’re excited about the whole innovation movement that’s going on in this area.

“The numbers show there’s a lot of potential here,” he went on. “Manufacturers are thinking about the future, and they’re thinking about innovation, and the exposure to what Massachusetts has to offer to innovators is changing the perception that they have to go to China first.”

Prototype for Success

As he talked with BusinessWest in Building 101 and posed for a few photos, Rodrigues admitted he didn’t know too much about what was going on within the facility still known as the Scibelli Enterprise Center, named for the former STCC president who created it.

He did know there are few businesses incubating there, and that there are some economic-development-related agencies leasing space, such as Leadership Pioneer Valley and the Western Mass. Small Business Development Center.

He knows those two because he’s worked directly with the latter as part of his connection-making efforts, and the former occupies the suite next door.

Other than that … he doesn’t know very much, because he’s not there, in his half-basketball court, very much at all.

His job is to be on the road, making connections, building bridges, whatever phrase you want to use. And there is still considerable work to do in that regard.

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

Open Space, Sustainability Among the Top Trends in House Design

By
Architecture Sections

Home Makers

KithcenInteriorThe ideas home buyers — and those looking to renovate — bring to the table can morph over time, and a few trends, including an emphasis on open floor plans and sustainable living, not to mention natural surfaces and unobtrusive, smart technology, have come to dominate today’s residential-design world. And when the end result matches the initial vision, well, that’s when a house truly becomes a home.

Something old, something new.

That’s not just the first four words of the ritual brides seek to incorporate on their wedding day — it’s at the heart of another long-time commitment people make: Building a home.

“People in this area are definitely more focused on recognizable regional architecture that draws on arts-and-crafts tradition, farmhouse tradition, or Victorian tradition; they like forms that are familiar to them,” said Charles Roberts, a principal with Kuhn Riddle Architects in Amherst.

“People bring to the process their preconceived notions about architecture, from their research and what they’re comfortable with,” he added. “Most people are drawn to a house that’s recognizable in terms of form, something they can relate to.”

The homes on these pages, designed by Kuhn Riddle Architects, are examples of how today’s houses blend traditional ideas with modern space plans.

The homes on these pages, designed by Kuhn Riddle Architects, are examples of how today’s houses blend traditional ideas with modern space plans.

However, he said, when they step inside, they’re definitely not looking for a traditional Victorian layout with many small rooms. “They want more modern, open plans — more light, open space, an integrated way of living with their house. A compartmentalized dining room is one of those components that’s falling more out of favor. They want a kitchen space that opens to living area and the dining area.”

Chris Jacobs, president of Barron & Jacobs Associates in Northampton, a design-build firm with a large residential-renovation portfolio, has witnessed the same trend over the past decade, with many projects focused on creating a more open feel.

“In most of our jobs, we’re opening up living space,” he said. “The traditional dining room is going away; we’re always knocking down walls to open up space.”

It’s a trend the national home-design media has pegged as well; flexible living space ranks among Architect magazine’s top three trends for 2018, driven in part by changing lifestyles and the way families want to interact today. In short, it’s all about flow and compatibility between spaces.

“Dedicated kitchen, living, and dining rooms have largely been replaced by large multi-purpose spaces that can be customized to meet families’ needs,” the magazine noted. “Architects can work with builders to ensure designs offer flexibility in living arrangements by including sliding doors, pocket doors, and other movable dividers in homes to ensure a seamless transition between rooms in the home, as well as between indoor and outdoor living spaces.”

That’s just one way modern home design has shifted in recent years. For this issue’s focus on architecture, BusinessWest takes a look at a few other ways architects and builders are creating spaces that reflect 21st-century tastes.

Lean and Green

Architect’s second big trend in home design is sustainability, and that’s no surprise; ‘green’ building, once a costly outlier in home design, still often comes with a steep cost, but is no longer uncommon.

“Consumers know the importance of reducing their carbon footprints, and want to make sustainable choices that fit with their lifestyles,” the publication noted. “Architects can meet these needs by ensuring the building envelope is well-sealed and insulated and by including sustainable options such as solar panels or energy-efficient appliances.”

That may be even more true in Western Mass., with its reputation as an environmentally-conscious region.

“People are definitely interested in the energy efficiency of building and design right now, moreso than they were as recently as 10 years ago,” Roberts said. “A number of projects I’ve been working on for builders include zero design, really paying attention to the envelope of the building, heat recovery, and ventilation. All the renewable-energy components are in demand.”

Jacobs pointed out that communities in Massachusetts, with its stricter-than-average stretch codes mandating sustainable building elements, already require certain elements, and beyond that, each option comes with a budget hit. “You can definitely surpass [the codes], but most people, when they see the price difference, don’t, for example, use spray-foam insulation through their whole house.”

Beyond energy efficiency, Roberts said, homeowners are trending toward natural materials in the home, like wood floors and stone countertops, and away from plastics and formica. Meanwhile, wall-to-wall carpeting is becoming much less popular as people want to showcase their natural flooring.

They’re also more focused on the kitchen than other areas of the home, he said, not just with natural surfaces, but with high-end appliances. “Kitchen is a place people still focus on, and they want nice refrigerators and ranges and cabinets. The kitchen is still the heart and core of almost every house. Every conversation seems to end up in the kitchen.”

Jacobs said kitchens are probably the number-one target of home renovation projects he’s involved with.

“Everyone wants to go to stone countertops, good appliances, quality cabinets,” he noted, adding that there’s wide range of outcomes depending on the budget. “You can build a kitchen that can last 100 years, or build one that lasts 10.”

Bathrooms are another area where higher-end options like custom shower tile, frameless glass, and heated floors are extremely popular — when the budget allows. Of course, there’s a good reason kitchens and bathrooms get so much attention: they’re important for quality of life.

“The majority of people in Massachusetts live in an older home, so we renovate a lot of bathrooms and kitchens,” he told BusinessWest. “Everyone would love a screen porch, but they don’t necessarily need it. But if your bathroom is leaking, it can’t wait.”

Chris Jacobs

Chris Jacobs says today’s building codes mandate plenty of sustainable and energy-efficient aspects, but some home buyers and remodelers choose to go beyond them.

As for exterior trends, Roberts said, many builders are moving toward fiber cement, a durable, paintable product that replicates many traditional sidings. “It’s nice, because it holds paint forever, and it’s a little less expensive than natural wood, so a lot of housing we’re seeing going up now has that material in the exterior.”

The final top trend on Architect’s list for 2018 is hidden technology, which is becoming more integrated and extensive than ever before. Homeowners enjoy being able to adjust heat and lights, preheat the oven, and perform other tasks from a mobile device.

“Architects,” it noted, “should work with builders to ensure customization is part of the plan from the beginning, and also that new homes are optimized for wi-fi connectivity based on the size and layout of the home.”

Arch2O, an organization that promotes innovative ideas in architecture, also foresees this technology becoming more prevalent. “Smart houses which are entirely automated by an Internet application will prevail,” it notes. “You will be able to heat up the food you left in the oven on your way home and even turn on your coffee machine. This will also apply to lighting, air conditioning, heating, fridges, dishwashers, and windows.”

Home for Life

Bells and whistles are fun, and definitely something 21st-century homeowners crave, but Roberts said the most resonant ideas still revolve around the way people connect. A home can facilitate that in different ways, from an open living plan complemented by a ‘get-away’ room — an office, TV, or game room — in another area of the house, to a move toward moving master suites downstairs.

“As people get up there in life, they’re saying, ‘I want to be here for the rest of my life; I want to age in place.’ With primary suites downstairs, they can live on first floor, with second-floor bedrooms for kids and grandkids, expanded family, and visitors,” he explained. “People are looking for houses that are flexible, that have the ability to absorb extended family.”

In downtown areas, where there aren’t as many buildable lots for single-family homes, other people prefer the community aspects and neighborhood walkability of condominiums and even co-housing projects, he added. “That’s about a lifestyle as much as a style of architecture.”

For those who aren’t in the market for a new home, the past few years, with the recession well in the distance, have proven a fertile time for renovations, Jacobs said.

“People had put a hold on home improvements, and now that the recession is over, we’re seeing more of them scheduling projects. We do a lot of kitchens, and some are adding a level and doubling the size of the house. It’s still cheaper to buy a house and fix it than build it from scratch.”

In all, architects and builders see a positive landscape for turning trendy ideas into something new — often working from something old.

“In this area,” Roberts said, “I’ve have the experience of working with all the various subcontractors putting these elements together, and I really enjoy working with all the great builders on these projects” — in other words, bringing ever-changing visions to life.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Salamon Flooring Celebrates 75 Years as a Family Business

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HomeImprovementFeature0318b
Architecture Home Builders Sections

Surface Appeal

President Mitch Salomon (center) and some of his team at Salomon Flooring.

President Mitch Salomon (center) and some of his team at Salomon Flooring.

The flooring business has changed in many ways since Mitch Salamon Sr. opened his shop 75 years ago, with an array of products he couldn’t have envisioned. But other elements haven’t changed at all, say today’s second- and third-generation leaders of the company, from the importance of punctuality to helping customers work within their budget, all of which has helped Salamon build a roster of repeat customers in some of the area’s most important industries.

Visit Sarat Ford Lincoln in Agawam, Ford of Greenfield, or Balise Hyundai of Springfield, and chances are you’re walking on a surface installed by Salamon Flooring.

Since 2014, in fact, the West Springfield-based company has completed six-figure jobs at those dealerships, plus Curry Honda in Chicopee, Balise Ford in Wilbraham, Prime Hyundai in Rockland … the list goes on.

“Car dealerships are building now; there’s a lot of growth and consolidation,” said Mark Salamon, a third-generation vice president at the family-owned flooring business, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. “We have a lot of projects going on with car dealerships; the opportunities are enormous.”

Assisted-living centers — which are also seeing a building and renovating boom, thanks to the largest population over age 65 in the nation’s history — are another strong niche for Salamon, with recent flooring jobs including Linda Manor in Leeds and Stonebrook Village in South Windsor, Conn., and several others now underway.

“We’re local contractors from Western Mass., but we do work all the way into Boston and New York and Connecticut,” Salamon said. “We do a lot of school work, assisted-living centers, car dealerships, government work, VAs, Navy work — small to large — as well as residential projects.”

Company President Mitch Salamon told BusinessWest that his father, also named Mitch, launched the company in 1943 in Holyoke, later moving it to West Springfield, where it has been based for more than a half-century. “It just evolved through the years, and when I was old enough to assist, we eventually broadened our scope of work and expanded our operations.”

Today, with 36 installers in the field and an office staff of nine, Salamon Flooring continues to build on its name, and its key niches. Major school projects in the past five years include a half-million dollars worth of work at UMass Amherst, plus jobs at Pioneer Valley Christian School, Baystate Academy, Bay Path College, Chapin School, West Springfield public schools, Wilbraham & Monson Academy, and Springfield Technical Community College.

Then there are the medical facilities — including Riverbend Medical Group, Baystate Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center, MedExpress, AFC Urgent Care, and other large practices. Meanwhile, recent government projects have included four naval bases around New England and Veterans Administration facilities in Northampton and Bedford.

A Vietnam veteran decorated with the Bronze Star, Mitch Salomon says being a vet qualifies his company for a competitive edge in the bidding process for government work, but added quickly that its track record provides a greater edge. “Our credibility and reputation are so strong that, once we affiliate ourselves with a contractor, we’re invited over and over for anything else they bid.”

Laying It Down

Mark Salamon noted that the company cut its teeth on residential projects, and started to shift more toward commercial work when his father took over. “As the third generation goes on, we do mostly commercial work, with some light residential.”

Popular products these days include broadloom carpet, carpet tile, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), vinyl composite tile (VCT), hardwood flooring, granite, ceramic tile, and sheet vinyls. Products like LVT, VCT, and sheet vinyls, he explained, offer more durability than traditional vinyl products while providing a realistic wood or tile appearance.

The majority of customers today are looking for long-term durability, he added, whether to protect a floor from dog claws and heavy use by kids, or due to a high-traffic location in, say, a retail store or car showroom.

From left, Carol Salomon, Mitch Salomon, Mark Salomon, and Karen Salomon Shouse

From left, Carol Salomon, Mitch Salomon, Mark Salomon, and Karen Salomon Shouse represent the second and third generations of company leadership.

“LVT is becoming very popular and replacing hardwood in a lot of homes,” Salamon went on. “The way they’re constructed these days is a very realistic look that mimics wood, with beveled edges, graining on the surface, and it’s about half the cost of hardwood. Some have lifetime warranties, and some are waterproof.”

Commercial clients are increasingly choosing LVT as well, Mitch said, particularly high-traffic facilities like hospitals, healthcare practices, and assisted-living centers, for its blend of durability and a more pleasing appearance than traditional vinyl tile.

Part of a product’s durability stems from the surface preparation and moisture mitigation Salamon offers. Mark added that ever-expanding options in materials makes it easy to “value engineer” a job that meets the client’s needs within his or her budget.

“A lot of products start with the architect specifying something,” he noted, “but once budgets are set, sometimes value engineering comes into play, and we can make the projects fit their budget. We certainly have some clients with tight budgets, but we can find products that fit their needs and still give them quality and durability.”

Repeat business has been an important element of Salamon’s success, he went on. “Once we jump into a market and complete successful projects, we’re asked to bid a lot of similar projects again. We pride ourselves on giving 100%, doing the project on time, on schedule, and handling whatever obstacles are in the way, which creates repeat business. General contractors like us and trust us on projects.”

That’s partly because of the legwork Salamon completes well before it shows up on a job site, from the products to be used to a list of workers preapproved to work in certain settings — including background checks for military bases and CORI checks for school settings.

“We make sure the paperwork needed is done, so when the project starts, there are no delays,” he said. “General contractors like to see that set up in the system; it makes it very easy for them, which makes the process of completing the job that much quicker.”

Another important element of working with general contractors is making sure punchlist items are resolved immediately, thus preventing delays in the schedule. And he appreciates contractors with a similar emphasis on punctuality.

“We enjoy working with good general contractors that have their jobs well-organized, well-financed, and on schedule,” he said. “It makes our job easier, makes the projects come out nicer, and increases the chance for additional work with them.”

Carol Salamon, Mitch’s wife and the company treasurer, agreed. “The general contractors we work with have pride in their work; they’re not sloppy.”

Stepping Forward

Mark Salamon noted that the company has grown substantially over the past six years, emerging from the post-recession years with a substantial surge in business. “Every year has had strong, positive growth.”

The company has been a community fixture in more ways than installing floors throughout the region. Among its charitable efforts, Salamon Flooring and Salamon Realty, another family business, donated funds last year to the West Springfield Fire Department to purchase a utility task vehicle from Springfield Auto and Truck.

The emergency vehicle was put into use at the Big E in September and made 63 runs there. With its smaller size, it’s able to navigate through large crowds and access areas of the fair that would be challenging to reach with an ambulance. It is also used to reach emergency situations in Mittineague Park, the Bear Hole Watershed, and other places.

As for its flooring business, the Salamon family plans to be a local fixture for the foreseeable future. While Mark and his sister, Vice President Karen Salamon Shouse, represent the third generation of company leadership, they won’t be the last; Mark’s son, Beau Salomon, is a student at UMass Business School, but comes to work during summer vacations and other breaks, and sometimes on the weekend when needed, with every intention of coming on board full-time after graduation.

“He has the leadership ability that my father and grandfather had, that a lot of the guys here look for, Mark said, “and he’s a hard worker — something you don’t see in a lot of kids nowadays.”

He’ll be coming on board at a time when those niches that have driven so many sales, from auto dealerships to schools to assisted living, continue to experience a wave of construction. “The market is strong. We have some quality competition, but we strive every day to be better.”

“We’re not going anywhere,” Salamon Shouse added. “With the competition in the area, we have to bring our best to every job.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Home & Garden Show Will Feature More Than 350 Vendors

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Home Builders Landscape Design Sections

Something to Build On

Gisele Gilpatrick says her family’s business, Pro-Tech Waterproofing in Chicopee, typically garners about six months’ worth of business from the Western Mass. Home & Garden show — just not all at once.

“They’ll take our information, but they won’t always call next week,” said Gilpatrick, Pro-Tech’s office manager and the chair of the 64th annual Home & Garden show, slated for March 22-25. “They’ll say, ‘we saw you six months ago, or a year ago, or two years ago. I pulled out your card, because I have a problem now.’”

That’s the value for many of the 350-plus vendors who will set up shop at the Eastern States Exposition on March 22-25. Among those showcasing their products and services will be builders, remodelers, kitchen and bath specialists, landscapers, painters, roofers, financial institutions, pool companies, and more.

“It’s a good chance for people to talk to us one on one about their situation,” Gilpatrick said. “Sometimes it’s easier to visualize things when you talk with someone in person, and people are more comfortable explaining what they need. Sometimes, people think it’s a major project and it’s not, while other times we have to tell them it is major.”

Either way, it’s easy to find answers — and second, third, and fourth opinions — with so many businesses on hand. For that reason and others, the annual event has become the signature showcase for the Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc. of Western Massachusetts, which produces it.

The home show started as a way to generate revenue to support the association, but it also provides member companies with a chance to market to an audience — and a big one, with around 20,000 visitors over the four days in a typical year — that might not otherwise see their name. Conversely, it gives attendees, many of whom simply come to the show for fun, a host of concrete (sometimes literally) ideas for home improvement.

The exhibitors — in more than 90 different categories — run the gamut from inspection services to security and alarm systems; Internet and communications to moving and storage; duct cleaning to pianos and organs.

Show attendees fall into one of several categories, the association notes:

• People planning to buy or build a new home, who may visit with builders, real-estate agents, financial institutions, and sellers of component products, such as hardwood flooring, tile, and appliances;

• People planning to remodel or renovate, who may want to check in with all of the above, plus vendors of replacement components such as windows and doors, as well as appliances, wall treatments, and home furnishings;

• Yard and garden enthusiasts, who tend to be interested in lawn and landscaping services; wall, walk, and edging components and materials; and trees, shrubs, flowers, and seeds;

• Lifestyle-conscious individuals, who like to check out trendy, high-tech, or time-saving products; home furnishings; and products focused on self-improvement, fitness, and health;

• Committed renters, who have no plans to own a house, but may be interested in space-conservation and space-utilization products, as well as home furnishings;

• Impulse buyers, who flock to vendors of home décor, arts and crafts, cooking and baking products, jewelry, and personal goods; and

• Those who attend the show purely for fun, who may arrive without an agenda but often develop ideas for future purchases and home products. “More than any other group,” according to the association, “these people are the ones who have come to rely upon our show on an annual basis and who perhaps have the greatest impact upon our vendors.”

Advice — on the House

In addition to the exhibitors, the four-day event will also include cooking shows, hosted by WMAS radio personalities, in the Home Show Kitchen in the Young Building. Various chefs from restaurants throughout the Pioneer Valley will be on hand to prepare some of their specialties, and audience members can ask them questions, try samples, and have a chance to win gift certificates from some of the establishments.

A children’s area in the Young Building will feature an art exhibit created by students from Thousand Cranes Studio and a chance to participate in creative activities, as well as Melha Shriners clowns and a live butterfly display from Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens. The Koi Society will have a pond built by C J Grounds Maintenance filled with koi fish, kids can get their pictures taken on a go-cart provided by Pioneer Valley Indoor Karting, Looney Tunes characters from Six Flags New England will be on hand, and Rolling Acres Outdoor and Science Summer Camp will help kids conduct science experiments.

Meanwhile, promotions and giveaways include the WMAS Kitchen Giveaway Contest, the Rock 102/Lazer 99.3 Ultimate New England Sports Fan Giveaway, and iHeartRadio’s $25,000 Home Makeover Contest.

In a dedicated outdoor area, several vendors will assemble outdoor structures such as sheds, gazebos, sunrooms, and furniture to spruce up the deck or poolside. Also on display in that area will be the large Beauty in Motion showroom of American Standard products.

Gilpatrick emphasized that the impact of the Home & Garden Show is year-round. “Some people may have a problem that costs $15,000 to fix, and they don’t have $15,000. But come next year, they’ve planned and budgeted, maybe secured financing, basically done what it will take, and that’s when we hear from them again. There’s a lot of that.”

This year’s show hours are Thursday and Friday, March 22-23, 1-9 p.m.; Saturday, March 24, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, March 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 for adults, and children under 12 are admitted free. Discount coupons, available at www.westernmasshomeshow.com, knock $6 off the regular ticket price on Thursday, $4 off the regular price on Friday, and $2 off the regular price on Saturday and Sunday. Veterans and active military with ID receive free admission on Thursday only.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

The Benefits and Pitfalls of the Employee Handbook

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Modern Office Sections

Playing by the Rules

John Gannon

John Gannon says putting a policy in writing isn’t enough — an employer then needs to follow it — but it’s a first step in showing a company takes workplace law and ethics seriously.

Most companies, especially larger ones, have employee handbooks that detail everything from vacation time to reasons for termination. Yet, too many are content to draft a handbook and shelve it for years, never reviewing it for changes in the regulatory landscape or confusing or contradictory language. In the ever-changing world of employment law, those are mistakes that can prove costly in more ways than one.

An employee handbook isn’t a contract, nor is it a legally binding document. But in a legal proceeding, it helps to have one.

Take, for instance, the case of an employee suing a company for allowing a culture of sexual harassment — a particularly timely example.

“In court, the first thing the judge will ask is to see the company’s policy,” said John Gannon, partner with Skoler, Abbott & Presser. “If your response is ‘we don’t have one,’ that suggests the employer doesn’t care about harassment and discrimination in the workplace. And that’s really getting off on the wrong foot in the event you’re sued for harassment or discrimination.”

The #MeToo revolution has certainly sent HR departments scrambling to make sure their policies on that issue are up-to-date, clear, and enforced. But if they’re smart, said the attorneys BusinessWest spoke with, they’re also regularly reviewing all sorts of policies that govern workplace rules and expectations — from disciplinary procedures to time off — and, hopefully, including them in an employee handbook.

“Every company that has employees should have a handbook,” said Daniel Carr, an associate with Royal, P.C. in Northampton. “But we use the term ‘handbook’ loosely; there’s no requirement that they have to be bound in a single document. It could mean whatever collection of policies you have, as long as it’s applied to all employees.”

Even if the employee signs a statement that he has read and understands the handbook, that doesn’t create contractual rights, Carr explained, noting that Massachusetts is, after all, an at-will state when it comes to hiring and firing, and an employee can be terminated for any reason that is not explicitly illegal, such as discrimination.

“I can’t tell you how many cases we’ve seen where the employee claims his termination was a violation of his contract. When asked, ‘what contract?’ they argue the employee handbook is a contract. It’s not.”

Gannon agreed. “One of the nice thigns about a handbook is that you can reaffirm the principle that everyone is an at-will employee,” he explained. “That’s why it’s really important, if you’re going to have a handbook, it should make it clear this is not a binding contract, your employment is at-will, and we can change the terms of the handbook and your employment relationship at any time with or without notice.”

So, if it’s not a contract, what is a handbook, and why should employers have one — and take it seriously?

“A handbook is a collection of policies, an ever-living document that can be changed at any time by an employer with or without notice,” said Mary Kennedy, partner with Bulkley Richardson in Springfield. “The purpose of a handbook is to give information to employees about expectations at work.”

Employers use the policies in an employee handbook as a sort of roadmap to both the treatment of employees and, conversely, expectations for their behavior. They protect themselves from lawsuits, such as harassment claims, wrongful termination claims, and discrimination claims. Employee handbooks generally contain a code of conduct for employees that sets guidelines around appropriate behavior for the individual workplace.

Mary Kennedy says the first goal of a handbook is to lay out clear expectations for workplace behavior.

Mary Kennedy says the first goal of a handbook is to lay out clear expectations for workplace behavior.

Under Massachusetts law, for companies with at least six employees, part of that collection of expectations must be policies reflecting the state’s own guidelines governing sexual harassment, accommodations for pregnant workers, sick leave, and other issues — many of which have changed recently.

Other contents should typically include policies governing discipline, rules of behavior, when and how to take time off, sick-time guidelines, how much vacation and personal time employees get, when they are paid, and what health benefits are available and how to access them.

The contents of any handbook vary from industry to industry, Gannon noted. For instance, the time an employee clocks in may be more important on the manufacturing floor than in an office setting, while safety guidelines for construction workers will be different than those for accountants.

“It’s an inexact science, and obviously no handbook is foolproof, and you can’t account for every possible contingency,” Carr said. “There may be at times you have to deviate from it. Certainly, you don’t want to be hemming yourself in to something you can live up to. As an employer in an at-will state, you have the right to set the policies. The handbook is more about setting expectations than setting hard and fast rules.”

Law and Order

The benefits of having a handbook fall into two buckets, Gannon said: The legal obligations governed by state and federal employment law, and basic HR practices that aren’t necessarily required by the law.

For the latter, written policies must make it clear to the employee what the employer’s expectations are.

“If you do need to discipline an employee, if you need to write them up or suspend them, you never want an employee to turn around and say, ‘wait a minute, I didn’t know I was going to get written up if I was absent more than three times in a month.’ Or, ‘I didn’t know it was a violation of your company policy to raise my voice at a meeting’ — whatever the case may be. A handbook sets expectations.”

It also provides guidelines to managers so they can treat employees fairly and consistently, he added. If the policy is clear, it can be applied to everyone across the board. If not, one supervisor may write someone up for a violation, while another supervisor doesn’t. That leads to inconsistency and, sometimes, hot water in court.

“Inconsistent application of your rules can lead to a lot of legal problems if the employee challenges the reason for his or her reason for separation from employment,” Gannon said, adding that the actual enforcement of the rules is more important than what a handbook says, “but if you don’t have, at minimum, a written policy, you have a big risk of inconsistent enforcement of your work rules.”

Kennedy said having clear policies in the handbook is the first step when defending a claim of wrongful termination in court.

“If you have a no-show policy where, after three violations, the employee is terminated, and it’s in writing and the employee was told it applies to all employees, and the employer can show it was uniformly applied to all employees, then the employer has a better shot at defending itself.

“For example, if a bank teller continually makes mistakes on the line and keeps coming up short, that’s certainly not beneficial for the employer,” she explained, so a written policy outlining the consequences of coming up short multiple times would be reasonable. “Whereas, if the bank said, ‘we don’t like people with red hair,’ well, that’s different.”

Supervisors and managers, Gannon said, typically appreciate a hard-and-fast policy because it’s something they can fall back on. He recalls one client whose employee showed up to work intoxicated, and at first, his supervisor didn’t know what to do. “Fortunately, they had a policy that made it clear, if you detect someone is under the influence, this is what you should do. It helped the supervisor navigate what his options were. Without that, they’re left wondering what to do.”

Communicating the policy to employees is just as important, Kennedy said, whether it’s a physical document passed out, with the employee signing an acknowledgement of receipt, or an electronic document distributed through the company intranet, or, for a larger business, explaining new policies in a meeting and making a list of who attended. “You certainly want to give it out when onboarding people, and then when there are any changes in policy.”

Even progressive discipline can be altered if the employer can prove the action is reasonable, Carr said — again, going back to the at-will concept. “If the handbook says a first violation is a verbal warning, the second is a written warning, third is probation, and fourth is termination, you have the right to revise that if someone commits a terminable offense the first time out.”

Trouble Spots

With all the protections a handbook may provide, Gannon said, some pitfalls do exist. One is trying to put everything in a handbook.

“The more words you have in the handbook, the less likely an employee is going to read it all,” he noted. “Sometimes I’ll see one that’s 120 pages long. I’m not sure any handbook needs to be that long.”

A smarter option, he said, is to include a short, two-paragraph summary of each policy, directing the employers to ask a particular person, maybe someone in human resources, if they need a more detailed explanation.

“Another mistake is not getting it reviewed enough,” he added. “It’s great to have a handbook — most employers do — but sometimes they get stale. You don’t want to have a policy that’s outdated, or you don’t want a handbook that misstates the law, because there are often changes in the law.”

For example, on April 1, Massachusetts employers will be required to have a policy that adheres to the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. “You need to review your handbook — it doesn’t necessarily have to be annually, but I would say every two or three years — just to make sure you’re not missing anything and there haven’t been changes in the law that would require rewording a policy.”

In a union shop, Kennedy said, employers want to make sure the handbook gels with the collective bargaining agreement, but even in a non-union shop, certain written policies may run into conflict with rulings from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). A few years ago, several companies made news by terminating workers for complaining about their job on social media — and took their cases to court, where they won.

“Social media has become the equivalent of the so-called water cooler,” Carr said, noting that the NLRB has long protected the rights of employees to discuss the terms and conditions of their employment, even in a public forum. However, the composition of the board has changed under President Trump and may be less willing to side with employees in all such matters.

“A few years ago, handbook provisions that restricted employees’ right to discuss terms and conditions of employment were considered overbroad — that was all the rage for awhile,” Gannon said. “New administration has scaled some of that back. With all the ebbs and flows in the world of employment law, you need to make sure the handbook stays up to date with those changes.”

Kennedy agreed. “Employment law changes on a regular basis, so handbook policies should be reviewed on a regular basis, to make sure they contain up-to-date language.”

Still, amid all the talk of violations and firings, Gannon said, the greatest value of a handbook is in its power to prevent some of those incidents in the first place.

“If an employee knows what can potentially lead to discipline, I think the employee is less likely to engage in that behavior,” he told BusinessWest. “That’s one of the really nice things about a handbook — it sets out what your expectations are. The goal of discipline is not to create a path that justifies termination. The goal of discipline is to correct behavior so that somebody can stay with the company for a long time and be a valued contributor to the group.”

To that end, he continued, “if you do need to discipline, it’s easier to explain why when you can point to handbook and say, ‘look, this is company policy, and you violated it. Sorry, but I have to write you up.’”

Turn the Page

That said, a handbook also helps with a company’s defense is they are sued, Gannon noted.

“If an employee claims they were fired because of a protected characteristic, it’s the employer’s burden to demonstrate to a judge or jury that, no, this is the real reason this person was fired. It’s nice to be able to point to a policy in a handbook that makes it clear this is why the employer took a particular action, that it wasn’t an arbitrary decision one supervisor just came up with. The company considered this particular issue, went to the extent of drafting a handbook putting this policy in place and having the employee sign off on it, and there’s an expectation the policy is going to be followed.”

Carr, who told BusinessWest he has drafted or reviewed “many, many handbooks,” emphasized, however, that a good policy holds up in court only if the employer actually enforces that policy uniformly and consistently.

“Otherwise, it’s just empty rhetoric. Sexual harassment is a perfect example, and a timely one,” he said.

Elaborating, he said virtually every company has an anti-sexual-harassment policy, and one of the tenets of sexual-harassment law is the question of whether an employer knew about, or should have known about, the alleged violations. “If the employee can show the employer was not diligent about enforcing their own policies, it creates the impression they dropped the ball and should have known.”

It’s a lesson many companies continue to learn the hard way.

Simply put, Kennedy said, “what’s bad about having a handbook is if you don’t follow it.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Some Do’s and Don’ts to Help Turn the Situation Around

By
Modern Office Sections

Getting Ahead at Work

By Susan Bellows

You went to college and did well. You got an entry-level job and moved up in the company. Yet, for some reason, your advancement has plateaued.
You’re not getting the respect, recognition, and rewards your hard work deserves. What are you doing wrong, and what can you do to turn the situation around?

Let’s Start with the Don’ts

• Don’t complain, gossip, or blame others. All of these behaviors devalue you.

• Don’t make up an answer if you don’t know it. Instead, say something like, “let me get back to you with the most accurate information.” This will avoid jeopardizing your long-term credibility.

• Don’t bring your personal problems to the office.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for more details on a project you’ve been assigned. The president of a bank once said to me, “I worry if they don’t come back and ask questions.”

• Don’t try to hide mistakes. Own up to them and learn from them. You’ll earn more respect from others when you take ownership.

• Don’t be a know-it-all. A little humility goes a long way in building rapport with your colleagues.

Now for the Do’s:

• Behave positively and professionally both inside and outside the company. This includes the Christmas party, networking events, and posting on social media. You’re always being evaluated. Inappropriate pictures or statements made on social media can and will be used against you.

• Have a can-do attitude. Be proactive about saying ‘yes’ to new opportunities and challenges. Your willingness to step up will make you more valuable to the company and enhance your reputation as a team player.

• Build mutually beneficial relationships with vendors, colleagues, department heads, and your boss. Some of the best job referrals come from vendors. An adversarial relationship with a department head could easily sabotage your ability to get your job done.

• Be proactive about your career development. Invest in things like additional training and technology. These actions will increase your value as an employee. They will also make you a more marketable candidate for jobs inside and outside your company.

• Continue learning once you get a job. Go to other departments that involve the work you do, such as marketing if you’re in sales, and ask questions that’ll help you understand their challenges. Read about your industry. Join outside professional groups to learn more about your field and to build a network of peers.

• Learn communication skills to build rapport with others. Dale Carnegie’s classic book How to Win Friends & Influence People is a good place to start. Anything you can do to understand yourself and others will be valuable at work and in your personal life.

• Listen attentively and take notes, if appropriate, when gathering information. Ask for clarification if needed. Nobody wants to spend time explaining something and then realize the listener was just nodding, but not retaining the details.

• Offer fact-based solutions, not just your opinion, when making suggestions for improvements in a process.

• Contribute constructively at meetings and listen to what others have to say. It’s important to understand the perspective of others. The only way this is possible is to be receptive and listen.

• Avoid challenging, questioning, and criticizing how things are done when you’re new. Later, learn to say these things in a way that doesn’t alienate others. Try using softening statements, such as “could I ask you something that might be sensitive?” or “you probably already know this, but…”

• Volunteer for high-visibility projects when you believe you’ll be able to contribute. Doing this exposes you to the attention of upper management, who may later offer you a position that leverages the talents they observe you demonstrate.

• Be aware of what you say and how you say it. Your tone of voice can enhance or destroy the message you want to deliver. Avoid asking a question starting with “why.” Folks get defensive when they hear this word. It’s preferable to say something like, “Tell me more about…” in a soft, non-confrontational tone of voice.

• Be prepared for inevitable change. This includes changes in ownership of the company, the economy, business competitors, co-workers, and your boss. Plan for change and be ready for it.

This is lot to think about. But being strategic about getting ahead is a little like starting a new job. It’s hard at the beginning, and then it becomes second nature. In the long run, it’s well worth the effort.

Susan Bellows is a business consultant specializing in empowering middle-management women to attain the recognition, respect, and rewards they deserve; (413) 566-3934; [email protected]

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the months of February and March 2018.

AGAWAM

Bragara US, LLC
60 North Westfield St.
$51,096 — Install sprinkler system in restaurant and banquet hall

McLean Realty Co.
197 Main St.
$48,000 — Demolition of showroom and offices

Trata Inc.
396 Main St.
$1,200 — Ground sign

Trata Inc.
396 Main St.
$10,000 — Tenant fit-out for Agawam Axe House

AMHERST

Granodonico Properties, LLC
23 North Pleasant St.
$10,000 — Kitchen exhaust hood

Jones Properties, LP
25B Pray St.
$101,841 — Interior renovation of office space, millwork, drywall, flooring, paint, plumbing, HVAC, and electric

Stavros Center for Independent Living
210 Old Farm Road
$2,500 — Replace two doors and two windows

CHICOPEE

Brixmore GA Chicopee Marketplace, LLC
591 Memorial Dr.
$150,000 — Electric car-charging station

Church of God
193 St. James Ave.
$10,000 — Build handicap-accessible bathroom, build platform for altar, build wall partition

E and R Realty, LLC
705 Meadow St.
$8,000 — Remove wall, install drywall over existing walls, install drop ceiling

Jacob Hannoush
32 Pearl St.
$10,000 — Roofing

DEERFIELD

Eaglebrook
271 Pine Nook Road
$325,000 — Replace water storage tank

Laura Newton
470 Greenfield Road
$61,000 — Renovation to Savages’ Market

EASTHAMPTON

7-Eleven Inc.
97 Union St.
Reface existing sign faces

Keystone Enterprises
122 Pleasant St.
$37,376 — Add demizing wall

Tubed Products
44 O’Neill St.
Install wall sign

GREENFIELD

Clayton Herbert, Katherine Herbert
22 Mohawk Trail
$3,280 — Replace four windows, new trim, patch drywall

FBBT/US Properties, LLC
137 Federal St.
Change out five signs

Greenfield Corporate Center, LLC
101 Munson St.
$125,000 — Remodel existing office space for new tenant, Allergy and Immunology Associates

Greenfield Corporate Center, LLC
101 Munson St.
$8,600 — Rework existing sprinklers to new tenant space

R + D Vic Corp. Inc.
204 Main St.
$2,120 — Cut down half wall for a countertop

SMR Greenfield Trust
324 Main St.
$30,000 — Repair drywall, flooring, and ceiling tiles

Edward Snow Jr., Kerrilynn Snow
223-225 Leyden Road
$6,000 — Install spiral staircase

LONGMEADOW

GPT Longmeadow, LLC
666 Bliss Road
$350,000 — Alteration to existing space for Baystate Urgent Care Clinic

LUDLOW

Dowd Insurance Agency
563 Center St.
$15,000 — Commercial alterations

NORTHAMPTON

The College Church Inc.
58 Pomerpy Terrace
$66,394 — Install solar panels on roof

Smith College
28 Lyman Road
$21,000 — Roofing

Split Excavating
228 King St.
$3,971 — Replace broken glass front and new brick facia

Thornes Marketplace, LLC
150 Main St.
$110,000 — Renovate main entry vestibule, including new doors, new flooring, and new ceiling assembly

Wayfinders
155 Pleasant St.
$5,000 — Illuminated wall sign

Wayfinders
155 Pleasant St.
$1,725 — Illuminated wall sign

Wayfinders
155 Pleasant St.
$5,520 — Illuminated wall sign

PALMER

Camp Ramah in New England
39 Bennett St.
$3,500 — Repairs to summer-camp staff bunkhouse

SOUTHWICK

Southwick Package
466 College Highway
Replace rooftop unit

SPRINGFIELD

Aziz Ahmed
345 Main St.
$11,000 — Minor work to open convenience store, including platform at checkout counter, new sink and toilet, exhaust fan, and three doors

CMC Development
222 Carew St.
$2,300 — Install fire and burglar alarm in first-floor office space

Diocese of Springfield
99 Wendover Road
$250,000 — Construct roof-mounted solar system on Pope Francis High School

Five Town Station, LLC
296 Cooley St.
$8,000 — Add door and window to existing wall

Helen Dorian Trust
266 Bridge St.
$1,600 — Repair glass pane and reglaze eight window frames at Mansfield Beauty School

Brian Henry
1464 State St.
$5,000 — Interior demolition to repair water damage in office space

Liberty Medical Building Associates
125 Liberty St.
$14,820 — Construct wall to enclose future break room, remove sink, and add door in Suite 408; construct closet and add door in Suite 402

Meg Realty, LLC
24 Mattoon St.
$12,500 — Reframe burnt lumber rafters and make weathertight work area

Hung Nguyen
461 Belmont Ave.
$24,000 — Alter first floor for take-out restaurant, including handicap ramp and new kitchen

WARE

Baystate Mary Lane Hospital
85 South St.
$169,048 — Renovate existing space to make exam rooms

Baystate Mary Lane Hospital
85 South St.
$303,729 — Renovate vacant patient for new outpatient wound-care program

Cold Spring Medical, LLC
182 West St.
$249,000 — Gut and renovate old Cumberland Farms to create medical office

Norcor Auto Wash Inc.
134 West St.
Install roof-mounted solar panels

Town of Ware
22 North St.
$4,000 — Construct interior separation wall, shelving at Police Department

WESTFIELD

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
137 Franklin St.
Install grid-tied solar photovoltaic system

Gregg’s Mobile Auto Repair, LLC
16 George St.
$90,000 — Interior space fit-out

L & R Market Inc.
35 North Elm St.
Interior renovations and repairs

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Leonard Bruso
20-26 Roanoke Ave.
$78,732.86 — Install rooftop solar array

DDR Realty
935 Riverdale St.
$242,000 — Interior alteration of existing space

Brendan Greely
85 Elm St.
Roofing

Real Estate Transactions

By
Departments Real Estate

he following real estate transactions (latest available) were compiled by Banker & Tradesman and are published as they were received. Only transactions exceeding $115,000 are listed. Buyer and seller fields contain only the first name listed on the deed.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

764 Brattleboro Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $264,000
Buyer: Jake O. Macleay
Seller: Angela R. Marguet
Date: 02/23/18

CONWAY

603 Hoosac Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Jon E. Storm
Seller: Scott A. Decker
Date: 02/12/18

DEERFIELD

37 South Main St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: B. Gorey Fabrication LLC
Seller: Lawrence A. Wrisley
Date: 02/16/18

GREENFIELD

10 Garfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Judith Tierney
Seller: Michael L. Madden
Date: 02/16/18

83 Newton St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $147,850
Buyer: Burgundy A. Cournoyer
Seller: Blake A. Grinnell
Date: 02/23/18

22 Sauter Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Petru Cojocaru
Seller: Citizens Bank
Date: 02/16/18

233 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $167,500
Buyer: Robert J. Conlin
Seller: 233 Silver St. RT
Date: 02/16/18

7-9 Spring Terrace
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Andrey N. Agapov
Seller: Timofey P. Banar
Date: 02/23/18

43 Walnut St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Jessica Begans
Seller: Richard H. Blais
Date: 02/16/18

NORTHFIELD

20 Main St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Joshua B. Poole
Date: 02/21/18

73 Main St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Abby L. Brockelbank
Seller: William A. Durbin
Date: 02/16/18

ORANGE

123 Sandrah Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Michael Koucoules
Date: 02/20/18

17 Shumway St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $154,900
Buyer: Tara Fregeau
Seller: Dirth, Malcom A., (Estate)
Date: 02/16/18

SHELBURNE

124 Bridge St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Marguerite M. Sheehan INT
Seller: Roxanne B. Hamilton
Date: 02/22/18

200 Skinner Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $376,000
Buyer: Erik Praetz
Seller: Joseph A. Poirier
Date: 02/21/18

SUNDERLAND

266 Hadley Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $298,500
Buyer: Lawrence A. Weaver
Seller: Yinfeng Wang
Date: 02/20/18

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

67 Burlington Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Thomas P. Murphy
Seller: Jason J. Larochelle
Date: 02/14/18

75 Butternut Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Michael S. Rooney
Seller: Katherine M. Garfield
Date: 02/12/18

37 Church St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Valley Building Co. Inc.
Seller: Raymond J. Barbieri
Date: 02/16/18

71 Columbia Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Joseph F. Schebel
Date: 02/12/18

42 Hastings St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Tiffany M. Redmond
Seller: Clifton H. Redmond
Date: 02/21/18

14 Liberty Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Janosik Realty LLC
Seller: HSBC Bank
Date: 02/23/18

1514 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: 1514 Main Street LLC
Seller: Karen L. Connor
Date: 02/13/18

183 Parkedge Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Seneca Leborgne
Seller: Deana M. Casamento
Date: 02/16/18

BRIMFIELD

7 Knollwood Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Jason Almy
Seller: Jan-Michael Demaio
Date: 02/16/18

CHICOPEE

561 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Niedzielski
Seller: Stacey Alvaro
Date: 02/14/18

65 Cabot St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Todd J. Rogosin
Seller: Audrey G. Mascaro
Date: 02/16/18

7 Charbonneau Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $1,115,000
Buyer: Gladysh Capital LLC
Seller: CDM Properties LLC
Date: 02/15/18

501 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Brendan J. Sayers
Seller: Lywyn Armistead-Shapiro
Date: 02/21/18

924 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $1,115,000
Buyer: Gladysh Capital LLC
Seller: CDM Properties LLC
Date: 02/15/18

89 Clark St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Cameron J. Wilson
Seller: Joyce C. Castonguay
Date: 02/23/18

322 Dale St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: MA Home Buyers LLC
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 02/22/18

86 Garland St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Jose G. Santos
Seller: Wentworth, Anne M., (Estate)
Date: 02/16/18

474 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: DAC Acquisitions LLC
Seller: James D. Calheno
Date: 02/13/18

60 Hillcrest St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Anna B. Drost
Seller: Swiatek, Helen S., (Estate)
Date: 02/14/18

23 Laclede Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Stanley E. Kuchyt
Seller: Mildred A. Laporte
Date: 02/12/18

251 Meadow St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $2,100,523
Buyer: Harold E. Newton TR
Seller: HRES Meadow LLC
Date: 02/13/18

365 New Ludlow Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Dianne M. Young
Seller: John J. Murawski
Date: 02/21/18

115 Old Farm Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Jonathan D. Shay
Seller: Kenneth Hughes
Date: 02/15/18

57 Shaw Park Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Brandon J. Malave
Seller: Heidi J. Gosselin
Date: 02/14/18

75 Sheridan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Ashley Figueroa
Seller: Stephanie Shaw
Date: 02/22/18

1045 Sheridan St.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Amount: $3,150,000
Buyer: E&R Realty LLC
Seller: WE 1045 Sheridan LLC
Date: 02/22/18

141 Skeele St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Abrheem Mustafa
Seller: Ruben W. Nunez
Date: 02/22/18

156 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Gods Way Ministries
Seller: Episcopal Missions
Date: 02/23/18

EAST LONGMEADOW

128 Chestnut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Nathan D. Lynch
Seller: Larry C. Humason
Date: 02/21/18

50 Dawes St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $344,000
Buyer: Cynthia A. Connors
Seller: Donna M. Cabot
Date: 02/21/18

70 Hanward Hill
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Susan Whirty
Seller: Patrick E. Hawley
Date: 02/21/18

79 Hillside Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $279,200
Buyer: Tammy Getchell
Seller: Joseph Rizzari
Date: 02/22/18

461 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Gennaro Ferrentino
Seller: Michael J. Parisi
Date: 02/21/18

94 Ridge Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: William E. Preye
Seller: Alessandra A. Graziani
Date: 02/16/18

11 Sturbridge Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Hayes G. Murray
Seller: Gina E. Flanagan
Date: 02/13/18

23 Thompkins Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Daniel P. Boyle
Seller: Christina L. Milanczuk
Date: 02/15/18

GRANVILLE

734 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Melissa J. Dubois
Seller: Joshua L. Rutola
Date: 02/16/18

HOLLAND

10 Hamilton Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Jordan D. Bird
Seller: Strums Construction Services
Date: 02/16/18

11 Lakeridge Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Scott M. Berg
Seller: Matthew L. Gentile
Date: 02/23/18

HOLYOKE

70 Bemis Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: EDC Real Estate LLC
Seller: Mildred L. Hiersche
Date: 02/20/18

71 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Christina M. King
Seller: Aida L. Villegas
Date: 02/16/18

105-115 Chapin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $120,030
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Gilbert Dejesus
Date: 02/22/18

866 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $261,068
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Patrick M. Reilly
Date: 02/12/18

16 Evergreen Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: AEM Property Investment
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 02/16/18

564 Hampden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Christian A. Rivera
Seller: S&C Homebuyers LLC
Date: 02/20/18

184 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Holyoke Management LLC
Seller: Ignacio Rivera
Date: 02/23/18

LONGMEADOW

78 Farmington Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Joshua Y. Levine
Seller: Neil S. McGrath
Date: 02/22/18

99 Farmington Circle
Longmeadow, MA 01030
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Justin M. Lynch
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 02/16/18

91 Hazelwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Kristan Xanders
Seller: Nancy C. Polak
Date: 02/16/18

26 Homestead Blvd.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Cristina Huebner-Torres
Seller: Patriot Living LLC
Date: 02/20/18

22 Longview Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: VJM 22 LLC
Seller: William H. Lee
Date: 02/22/18

98 Longview Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Matthew R. Gaffney
Seller: Jeffrey M. Belkin
Date: 02/12/18

21 Roseland Terrace
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Douglas N. Lamont
Seller: Christopher H. Purinton
Date: 02/15/18

86 White Oaks Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $500,500
Buyer: CIL Realty Of Mass. Inc.
Seller: L. Aaron Mendelson
Date: 02/15/18

LUDLOW

26 Belmont St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Isidoro Fernandes
Seller: Marilyn E. Meleleu
Date: 02/16/18

42 Berkshire St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $140,400
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Kelly Rua
Date: 02/12/18

1352 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $343,000
Buyer: Ashley Rourke
Seller: Heather A. Smart
Date: 02/22/18

137 Kendall St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Antunes
Seller: Donald R. Napolitan
Date: 02/23/18

48 Nash Hill Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $324,900
Buyer: Carole C. Dighello
Seller: Daniel A. Chrzan
Date: 02/14/18

55 Stevens St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: Charlene Cavanaugh
Seller: Felipe Nunes-Helder
Date: 02/16/18

MONSON

246 Main St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: James S. Harvey
Seller: Allan M. Coolong
Date: 02/23/18

99 Maxwell Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Thomas B. Gregoire
Seller: Gail M. Nivers
Date: 02/21/18

118 Moulton Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Mark Clink
Seller: Robert E. Ledoux
Date: 02/16/18

MONTGOMERY

Pitcher St.
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $116,000
Buyer: Zachary Kandelaki
Seller: David G. Beswick
Date: 02/13/18

PALMER

3182-3184 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $149,350
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: James E. Holbrook
Date: 02/20/18

115 Laurel Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Brandon E. Haberern
Seller: Joseph F. Maiolo
Date: 02/16/18

20 Off Bourne St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $127,920
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Bethany L. Giordano
Date: 02/12/18

SOUTHWICK

739 College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $1,900,000
Buyer: Fiore Realty Holdings LLC
Seller: Southwick Golf Course Inc.
Date: 02/22/18

226 Klaus Anderson Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $333,000
Buyer: Nicholas A. Saltmarsh
Seller: Peter P. Starses
Date: 02/23/18

82 North Lake Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $219,900
Buyer: Jennifer A. Ritter
Seller: Kelley O. Cruickshanks
Date: 02/16/18

282 South Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Gary A. Prentice
Date: 02/12/18

5 Stagecoach Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Brian M. Leduc
Seller: Olde Farm Golf Club LLC
Date: 02/16/18

SPRINGFIELD

174-176 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Christopher A. Serra
Seller: Elijah Naylor
Date: 02/16/18

41 Capitol Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Blanca I. Colon
Seller: Todd J. Alden
Date: 02/13/18

369-R Central St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Fronti Nulla Fides RT
Seller: Santaniello Oil LLC
Date: 02/20/18

92-94 Cherrelyn St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Leonard Delarosa-Sanchez
Seller: Leslie E. Torres
Date: 02/15/18

75-77 Chester St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Rifle Street Partners TR
Seller: Alliance Associates LLC
Date: 02/12/18

15 Colfax St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Noelia Laguerre
Seller: Bally David LLC
Date: 02/23/18

74-76 Duryea St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Marcus A. Wilson
Seller: Luis A. Morales
Date: 02/16/18

226 Dutchess St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Cooper Properties LLC
Seller: Graves, Shirley A., (Estate)
Date: 02/12/18

366 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Beverly A. Burns
Seller: Brian R. Hajdamowicz
Date: 02/15/18

367-369 East Columbus Ave.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $156,500
Buyer: Idelmy J. Vasquez
Seller: Scott A. Fearn
Date: 02/23/18

99 East St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Otoniel Ortega
Seller: Morris, Claire A., (Estate)
Date: 02/21/18

80 Florida St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $135,500
Buyer: David Harris
Seller: Soraya Tejada
Date: 02/21/18

31 Emily St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Ana M. Rodriguez-Santiago
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 02/12/18

264 Fountain St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Floyd S. Wedderburn
Date: 02/15/18

72 Garland St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Michelle L. Peloquin
Seller: Mae P. Goldstein
Date: 02/21/18

17 Garfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Joel T. Senez
Seller: Ronald G. Senez
Date: 02/12/18

204 Garvey Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $164,650
Buyer: Western Mass Prop. Developers
Seller: AJN Rentals LLC
Date: 02/16/18

445 Gifford St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Julio E. Gonzalez-Urena
Seller: Dennis Winot
Date: 02/16/18

Greene St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $2,270,000
Buyer: Greenberg Blatt Children
Seller: HRES Hancock LLC
Date: 02/12/18

247 Hancock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $2,270,000
Buyer: Greenberg Blatt Children
Seller: HRES Hancock LLC
Date: 02/12/18

253 Hancock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $2,270,000
Buyer: Greenberg Blatt Children
Seller: HRES Hancock LLC
Date: 02/12/18

259 Hancock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $2,270,000
Buyer: Greenberg Blatt Children
Seller: HRES Hancock LLC
Date: 02/12/18

19 Humbert St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: Keenan Comer
Seller: Rolando Santos
Date: 02/13/18

24 Jasper St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Alicia V. Salmon-Plummer
Seller: David Moore
Date: 02/23/18

114 Kimberly Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Francisco Pichardo
Seller: Patricia A. Staples
Date: 02/16/18

80 Lancashire Road
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Jason Caldwell
Seller: Gabriel Ocampo
Date: 02/23/18

27 Lancaster St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $166,500
Buyer: Kevin McCormick
Seller: Jean Doyle
Date: 02/21/18

40 Lawndale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Sir Parrish
Seller: Luz E. Rivera
Date: 02/20/18

1163-1165 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Ilia I. Torres
Seller: HSB Investments LLC
Date: 02/23/18

64 Littleton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $116,000
Buyer: Candice M. Garner-Higgins
Seller: Maria Aquino
Date: 02/23/18

25-27 Lyndale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $137,550
Buyer: Aguasvivas Realty LLC
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 02/12/18

14 Mansfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Jermaine Rodriguez-Smith
Seller: Global Homes Properties
Date: 02/16/18

57 Middlebrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $133,354
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Marialyse L. Rivers
Date: 02/23/18

86 Milford St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Omar A. Elkadri
Seller: Marshal A. Walden
Date: 02/16/18

15 Naismith St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Leslie E. Torres
Seller: Ana I. Rivera
Date: 02/15/18

204 Naismith St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Jose R. Abreu
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 02/23/18

100-102 Odion St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $172,565
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Leon G. Szafran
Date: 02/12/18

416 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Rosa L. Rivera
Seller: Trinh Pham
Date: 02/22/18

271 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: 271 Page Blvd. LLC
Seller: Hendee LLC
Date: 02/22/18

38-40 Rifle St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Rifle Street Partners TR
Seller: Alliance Associates LLC
Date: 02/12/18

70 Ruthven St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Winsted REO 2 LLC
Seller: James Butler
Date: 02/20/18

227 Saint James Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Jahana T. Duke
Seller: Patrick R. Guay
Date: 02/23/18

26 Sargon St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $142,900
Buyer: Amber L. Terrasi
Seller: Adam G. Orszak
Date: 02/23/18

145 Springfield St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Thornton
Seller: Sondra L. Roy
Date: 02/23/18

369 Stapleton Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Victor Velez
Seller: James Niedbala
Date: 02/14/18

15 Strong St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: Lynn Gokey
Seller: Jessica McDonald-Rivera
Date: 02/16/18

947 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $124,120
Buyer: James Rocha
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 02/21/18

26 Talbot Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $155,128
Buyer: Mary Ethier
Seller: Christopher M. Eldridge
Date: 02/14/18

93 Thompson St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Alexander Rivera
Seller: Grace Mejia
Date: 02/20/18

85 Thornfell St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Candace L. Beauregard
Seller: Mary B. Wroblewski
Date: 02/21/18

48 Thorndyke St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Marcus N. Pitts
Seller: Home Equity Assets Realty
Date: 02/14/18

100 Thornfell St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Lisa L. Rizzo
Seller: Vanessa Cestero
Date: 02/14/18

45 Trinity Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: George G. Negron
Seller: Matthew E. Peck
Date: 02/16/18

735 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: River Rock Realty LLC
Seller: London Realty LLC
Date: 02/15/18

183 Westbrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Lynann M. Roswess
Seller: Melinda J. Grono
Date: 02/23/18

256 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $227,870
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Tri Tran
Date: 02/12/18

119-121 Woodmont St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: E. A. Pichardo-Ramirez
Seller: Mary T. Tzambazakis
Date: 02/14/18

WEST SPRINGFIELD

1210 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Vanderbilt Mtg. & Finance
Seller: Serena M. Mariani
Date: 02/16/18

49 Appaloosa Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Sofia Ahsan
Seller: Syed S. Ahsan
Date: 02/21/18

93 Forest Glen
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Timothy E. Elliott
Seller: Adam Drollett
Date: 02/16/18

111 Janet St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $167,500
Buyer: Lisa S. Bagian
Seller: Patricia E. Bigelow
Date: 02/23/18

66 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Ccbhkk LLC
Seller: 66 Morgan Road Realty LLC
Date: 02/16/18

45 Rochelle St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $204,240
Buyer: Joel C. Olko
Seller: Regina R. Ranstrom
Date: 02/23/18

2476 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Daniel E. Rosso
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 02/23/18

WESTFIELD

109 Apremont Way
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $1,750,000
Buyer: DMA Associates LLC
Seller: Berkshire Industries Inc.
Date: 02/16/18

47 Bailey Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Ruvim A. Mosijchuk
Seller: John White
Date: 02/23/18

14 Cherry St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: John West
Seller: William Watras
Date: 02/22/18

98 Dartmouth St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Krystal S. Guilmette
Seller: Anthony Gamelli
Date: 02/14/18

Day Lily Lane #6F
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Julia Minchuk
Seller: Bent Tree Development LLC
Date: 02/22/18

41 Franklin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: MXY Corp.
Seller: Franklin Syed Sons Inc.
Date: 02/13/18

9 Hunters Slope
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Lynnette L. Tabin
Seller: Edwin Sustache
Date: 02/15/18

10 Maria Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Shawn Baker
Seller: Frank A. McCartney
Date: 02/22/18

30 Noble St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $205,900
Buyer: Eliezer Garcia
Seller: James S. Hockenberry
Date: 02/16/18

19 Rider Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Jose A. Figueroa
Seller: Jordan T. Figueroa
Date: 02/23/18

253 Russell Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Nancy P. Maxim
Seller: Feustel, Jessie T., (Estate)
Date: 02/16/18

361 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Ginger L. Kairys
Seller: Arthur W. Madrid
Date: 02/13/18

627 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Westfield DG LLC
Seller: Margaret A. Kurtz
Date: 02/21/18

22 Woodland Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Lisa Hockenberry
Seller: Earl W. Lafreniere
Date: 02/16/18

WILBRAHAM

238 3 Rivers Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Joanne Merriam
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 02/23/18

8 Broadview Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Robert W. Mantler
Seller: Walter H. Damon
Date: 02/20/18

10 Highmoor Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Matthew Bahosh
Seller: Zachary I. Goodman
Date: 02/16/18

309 Monson Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Jessica McDonald-Rivera
Seller: Paula C. Squires
Date: 02/16/18

24 Sunnyside Terrace
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Brandon M. Quiterio
Seller: Antonio M. Palermo
Date: 02/23/18

997 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Michelle J. Lucas
Seller: Mark Graziano
Date: 02/12/18

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

660 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Michael Ferraro
Seller: FHLM
Date: 02/16/18

Concord Way #11
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Bercume Construction LLC
Seller: Tofino Associates LLC
Date: 02/21/18

Lindenridge Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Bercume Construction LLC
Seller: Tofino Associates LLC
Date: 02/21/18

217 Shutesbury Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Paul T. Robinson
Seller: Debra Edelman
Date: 02/20/18

61 Tanglewood Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $648,525
Buyer: Yecheng Yang
Seller: James W. Sheppard
Date: 02/16/18

BELCHERTOWN

25 Brandywine Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $233,000
Buyer: Sharon L. Mendyk
Seller: Larry R. Severance
Date: 02/16/18

33 Depot St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $164,500
Buyer: Michael W. Berg
Seller: Plumtree Real Estate LLC
Date: 02/16/18

220 Old Enfield Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $382,000
Buyer: Jill N. Houle-Adamczyk
Seller: Laliberte Home Builders
Date: 02/12/18

27 Old Pelham Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $449,500
Buyer: Matthew J. Rivest
Seller: Jeffrey Gnatek
Date: 02/23/18

26 Sarah Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: David M. Placzek
Seller: Brian M. Adamczyk
Date: 02/12/18

700 South Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $407,000
Buyer: James Pirog
Seller: Whisperwood LLC
Date: 02/21/18

17 Trillium Way
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Mark J. Stavropulos
Seller: Mark G. Jackson
Date: 02/16/18

CHESTERFIELD

63 North Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Anika N. Gaskins
Seller: Alyson Rhoades-Fortier
Date: 02/22/18

EASTHAMPTON

12 Button Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Ross J. Krause
Seller: Kelly M. Machado
Date: 02/16/18

78 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $237,500
Buyer: Thomas J. Benson
Seller: Peter Karparis
Date: 02/16/18

6 Prospect St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: David Arbeitman
Seller: Lachenauer LLC
Date: 02/22/18

13 Ranch Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Roger W. Salloom
Seller: Shawna M. Biscone
Date: 02/20/18

GRANBY

7 Ferry Hill Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Alexander F. Ross
Seller: Margaret A. Nugent
Date: 02/14/18

114 North St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Brian R. Hajdamowicz
Seller: Eagle Home Buyers LLC
Date: 02/15/18

HATFIELD

54 West St.
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Frederick A. Bushey
Seller: Sandra M. Weinberg
Date: 02/20/18

NORTHAMPTON

31 Higgins Way
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $580,241
Buyer: Stuart R. Chipkin
Seller: Stubridge Development LLC
Date: 02/23/18

88 High St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $455,720
Buyer: Dina R. Levi
Seller: Sarah B. Halper
Date: 02/21/18

81 Maple St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Om Shiv Gauri Inc.
Seller: Longmeadow Medical Arts
Date: 02/21/18

31 Ridgewood Terrace
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $419,000
Buyer: Adam Duso
Seller: Sheila M. Coy RET
Date: 02/20/18

41 Warner St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Debra T. Bercuvitz
Seller: William J. Evans
Date: 02/21/18

SOUTH HADLEY

22 Bunker Hill
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $214,300
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Roberto Mancini
Date: 02/13/18

3 Burnett Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Paul Cooney
Seller: Jenny Scobel
Date: 02/12/18

10 Haig Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Michael E. Aiken
Seller: Laurels RT
Date: 02/20/18

52 Lyman St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $122,057
Buyer: Lindsey M. Crotty
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 02/20/18

7 Misty Court
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $352,500
Buyer: Anthony R. Witman
Seller: Manufacturers & Traders Trust Co.
Date: 02/14/18

7 Norwottuck Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Gregory M. Simmons
Seller: Jaime A. Lavallee
Date: 02/22/18

4 Riverlodge Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $432,000
Buyer: William L. Phillips TR
Seller: Patrick J. Spring
Date: 02/15/18

52 Summit St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $168,900
Buyer: Daniel J. Chagnon
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 02/16/18

SOUTHAMPTON

10 Eastwood Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $396,000
Buyer: Yinfeng Wang
Seller: Jeffrey M. Paradis
Date: 02/20/18

1 Halons Way
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $122,800
Buyer: Bellinger Construction
Seller: RGB Industries Inc.
Date: 02/16/18

75 Pequot Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $428,000
Buyer: Mario A. Grosso
Seller: Petra A. Lackner
Date: 02/20/18

Woodmar Lane
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: David Garstka Builders
Seller: Chester J. Kellogg
Date: 02/16/18

WARE

355 Monson Turnpike Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Thomas Giguere
Seller: Gregory A. Metcalf
Date: 02/23/18

WESTHAMPTON

29 Loudville Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Revampit LLC
Seller: Todd L. Fondakowski
Date: 02/12/18

WORTHINGTON

241 West St.
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Tracy S. McManmon
Seller: Claydon RT
Date: 02/16/18

Company Notebook

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Company Notebook Departments

Baystate Academy Charter Public School Wins Grant

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Academy Charter Public School received a grant to offer high-quality science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs from Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a nonprofit organization that provides a transformative learning experience for K-12 students and teachers through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. More than 10,500 schools across the country offer PLTW programs to millions of students. According to Tim Sneed, executive director of Baystate Academy, “these funds will allow us to expand our biomedical sciences programs as we prepare students to enter the field of healthcare.” Baystate Academy is just one of 73 schools across the Commonwealth to receive the grant, which is supported by the Baker-Polito administration, the One8 Foundation, and Mass STEM Hub. “It is essential that we engage our students throughout their K-12 school years with hands-on lessons in science, engineering, computer science, technology, and math,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. Baystate Academy will use grant funds to strengthen its PLTW program with biomedical science. Funds from the grant will also support teacher professional development and the purchase of materials and equipment that will be used in the hands-on, activity-, project-, and problem-based courses. “We are proud to partner with Baystate Academy to empower students to develop the in-demand knowledge and transportable skills to thrive in our evolving world,” said Vince Bertram, PLTW president and CEO.

Molding Business Services Announces Acquisition of Gros Executive Recruiters

FLORENCE — Molding Business Services of Florence has acquired Gros Executive Recruiters of Franklin, Tenn. Both firms provide recruiting and executive search services to the plastics industry. Molding Business Services (MBS) was founded in 1998, and during those 20 years, its recruiting division has focused almost exclusively on the injection-molding segment of the plastics industry. Gros Executive Recruiters was founded in 1989 and serves the packaging, plastics-processing, and plastics-machinery markets. MBS brings a deeper injection-molding network to Gros, while Gros provides MBS with penetration into the packaging and plastics machinery markets. Additionally, merging the two already-extensive industry databases produces a network of talent that will benefit the combined firms’ clients. Together, MBS and Gros have recruiting staff located across the U.S., in Massachusetts, Illinois, Tennessee, Vermont, and California. “The synergies between the two firms are numerous, and our visions and goals couldn’t be better aligned,” said MBS President Jonathan Soucy. “We are excited about enhancing our reach and capabilities for our clients, especially at a time when the demand for talented individuals in our industry has reached critical levels.” Former Gros Executive Recruiters owner and industry veteran Dennis Gros has been appointed president of the combined recruiting business. “The combination of MBS’s recruiting division and Gros Executive Recruiters is great news for hiring managers and for professionals who seek a career change,” he said. “In combining our resources, we will offer new programs designed to energize hiring in the plastics industry.” Gros Executive Recruiters will become the sole recruiting brand of the combined entity and will operate as a molding business services company.

Radiothon Raises $245,367 for Children’s Hospital

SPRINGFIELD — Generous donors pledging their support of Baystate Children’s Hospital resulted in a grand total of $245,367 raised during this year’s 17th annual 94.7 WMAS Radiothon, which ran March 6-7. “The tremendous response from listeners to the 94.7 WMAS Radiothon is a testimonial to our talented staff of caregivers who are dedicated to improving the lives of children throughout the region,” said Dr. Charlotte Boney, chair, Pediatrics, Baystate Children’s Hospital. “It takes a team effort to hold a successful Radiothon even before the first telephone rings. We couldn’t do it without the many listeners who called in to pledge their support to our Children’s Hospital, or without the assistance of the volunteers, corporate sponsors, Baystate staff, and the Kellog Krew at 94.7 WMAS who all gave so generously of their time.” There is still time to make a donation to Baystate Children’s Hospital by visiting the Radiothon webpage at www.helpmakemiracles.org/event/wmas or texting WMASkids to 51555.

AIC Named to Military Friendly Schools List

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) has been named to the list of “Better for Veterans” organizations across the country, earning the 2018 Military Friendly School designation by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs. Now in its 16th year, the Military Friendly Schools list provides a comprehensive guide for veterans and their families using data sources from federal agencies, veteran students, and proprietary survey information from participating organizations in order to help them select the best college, university, or trade school to receive the education and training needed to pursue a civilian career. Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey completed by the school. For the first time, student survey data was taken into consideration for the designation. More than 1,300 schools participated in the 2017-18 survey, with 849 earning the designation. “American International College is proud to assist those men and women who serve our country,” said AIC President Vince Maniaci. “The college recognizes the value of the many educational and leadership experiences that occur in the Armed Forces, and the excellent foundation that military experience provides. In turn, we give veteran students transfer credits for service in the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard, helping service members and veterans get a head start on earning their degrees.”

New Prosthetic Center Serves Amputees with Innovative Technology

SPRINGFIELD — O & P Labs recently opened the doors to the Prosthetic Center at 3500 Main St. in Springfield. The local prosthetic company has been serving Western and Central Mass., Northern Conn., and Southern Vermont for more than 30 years. Co-owners Jim Haas and Blaine Drysdale hosted Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and state Rep. Carlos González, along with team members, patients, medical care providers, friends, and family for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 15. González presented a citation to recognize O & P Labs’ “30 years of healthcare service to the people of Springfield, Mass. and your innovative assistance for patients to enjoy productive lives.” The grand-opening event honored the 700 patients with limb loss who have been served over the last ten years since Haas and Drysdale have owned the company. The decision to create this full-service practice space was in direct response to the needs of these patients. “I used to ride a bike [before my amputation], and I still do,” said Drysdale, a certified prosthetist. “We are dedicated to helping every patient through their individual process. That includes before, during, and after an amputation.” The state-of-the-art Prosthetic Center features real-life experiences including a bike trainer, ramp, solo step track system, parallel bars, private rooms, and more. “Our facility does not feel like a white-coat clinic,” Haas added. “We’re here to help people get on with their lives. We strive to empower our patients to reach their similar activity level as prior to limb loss and feel part of a community while doing it.”

Report: HCC Benefits Economy Significantly

HOLYOKE — Students who graduate from Holyoke Community College (HCC) with an associate degree will see an average increase in annual earnings of about $10,000 a year compared to those with only a high-school diploma, according to a new report that calculates the total economic impact of HCC on the Pioneer Valley at nearly $215 million annually. “By comparison,” the report says, “this contribution that the college provides on its own is almost as large as the entire arts, entertainment, and recreation industry in this area.” The analysis of HCC’s economic value was conducted by Emsi, an economic modeling firm whose clients include colleges and universities as well as some of the largest for-profit corporations in the U.S., such as Amazon and Coca-Cola. For this, Emsi based its conclusions on academic and financial reports from HCC, industry and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau, and other surveys related to education and social behavior. The study, commissioned by the college, looked at data from 2015-16. For fiscal year 2016, which ended June 30, 2016, the study found that the total economic impact of the college on the economy in the three counties of the Pioneer Valley (Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin) was $214.6 million, or about 0.7% of the region’s gross regional product. That number includes direct spending by the college’s 991 full-time and part-time employees as well as operational spending by the college itself, and accounts for a multiplier effect, which measures how that money works its way through the regional economy. The total also includes short-term construction projects and spending by students who relocate to the Pioneer Valley as well as spending by students who choose to remain in the area for college rather than go elsewhere. In FY 2015-16, HCC served 8,243 credit students and 3,024 non-credit students. The largest impact, though, comes from alumni — former students who continue to live and work in the region: $155.1 million, or enough to support 2,642 jobs, the report notes. The study also examined the economic benefits of HCC from a student’s perspective, noting that those who complete their associate degree could expect to earn an average of $9,600 more per year than those with only a high-school diploma. Put another way, for every $1 students invest in their education (out-of-pocket expenses, interest on loans, foregone income while in school), they will earn $3.2, an average return of 12.7%. The study also concludes that HCC represents a “a solid investment” for taxpayers, generating more in tax revenue than it takes in through state and local funding — $54.6 million compared to $31.6 million, or a benefit-cost ratio of 1.8, an average rate of return of 4.5%. Massachusetts also benefits as a whole from the presence of HCC in two major ways: increased prosperity from an expanding economic base and savings generated by the improved lifestyles of students, most notably in a reduction in medical costs through improved health, reduced crime, and lower employer contributions toward unemployment.

Country Bank Donates $656,000 to Area Organizations in 2017

WARE — Country Bank reported that it donated $656,000 to more than 400 organizations in 2017 through its Charitable Giving Program. Some of the recipients include the Ronald McDonald House, which received $30,000 to support its ‘home away from home’ for children and their families being treated at the Springfield area medical facilities, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, which received $10,000 to help continue its mission of providing food to those in need. “Our mission is to grow mutually beneficial relationships with our customers, community, and staff. This is evidenced not only by our commitment to support these organizations with charitable contributions, but also with staff volunteer hours,” said Paul Scully, president and CEO. “In 2017, nearly 800 hours of personal time was given back by members of the Country Bank staff to their local communities. In addition to their volunteer hours, employees also raised more than $33,000 through their own charitable-giving events such as jean days, bake sales, and raffles.

The United Arc Hosts Annual Coffee & Conversation Event

TURNERS FALLS — On Feb. 23, the United Arc held its annual Coffee & Conversation event, an opportunity for legislators in Western Mass. to hear the stories of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. This year, the Coffee & Conversation event brought together experiences in seeking full community inclusion, from the joys of work to struggles against bullying and for full access to education, to the process of gaining acceptance at school and extracurricular activities. One of the speakers was Tonya Lanpher, parent of a child with autism and a family support specialist at the United Arc. “I think the hardest thing is that people just don’t understand,” she said. “If we can help people understand, then we can create full community inclusion. People don’t understand each other if they don’t spend time together. That’s why full community inclusion is so important.” Event attendees included U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern; state Sen. Stan Rosenberg; state Reps. Steve Kulik and Solomon Goldstein-Rose; Jon Gould, aide to state Sen. Adam Hinds, and Chris Cappucci, research director for state Rep. Paul Mark. They shared their thoughts on full community inclusion and the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The event was co-sponsored by the Greater Athol Area Advocates for Families with Special Needs, and First Light Power Resources was a supporting sponsor. Other sponsors included 2nd Street Baking Co., Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters, and Greenfield Savings Bank. John Howland, CEO of Greenfield Savings Bank, and Linda Ackerman, assistant vice president and branch manager of the Greenfield Savings Bank Turners Falls branch, were also in attendance. Founded in 1951, the United Arc provides services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, helping them achieve the universal goals of inclusion, choice, and independence.

Finck & Perras Reports Community Investments

EASTHAMPTON — Genevieve Brough, president of Finck & Perras Insurance Agency Inc., recently announced that the firm invested roughly $40,000 in the wider community through sponsorships and donations to nonprofits in 2017. Organizations the company supported range from youth sports and recreation programs in Hampshire County to Riverside Industries in Easthampton, Link to Libraries, and the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hampshire County. Brough passes on her philanthropic values to employees, encouraging them to take part in community activism and fund-raising. Finck & Perras has supported the United Way of Hampshire County for 19 years, for instance, encouraging employees take part in making regular donations by offering various incentive programs. Other organizations Finck & Perras supported in 2017 include the Academy of Music Theatre, Northampton; the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Springfield; Pathlight, Springfield; TedXEasthamptonWomen; Safe Passage, Northampton; the Northampton Family Fourth Celebration; Nonotuck Community School Inc., Northampton; Cooley Dickinson Health Care, Northampton; and Look Memorial Park, Florence.

Berkshire Bank Foundation Grants Nearly $2M in 2017

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced that its foundation awarded a total of $1,995,462 in grants to nonprofit organizations operating in the bank’s footprint in 2017. The grants supported a variety of education and community-development initiatives as well as health, human-service, and cultural programs. In all, 556 organizations benefited from the funding. “Our grants impacted more than 5.8 million individuals in 2017 helping to enhance economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for members of our community,” said Lori Gazzillo, senior vice president and foundation director. The foundation offers multiple grant programs, each with their own guidelines, programmatic criteria, and desired outcomes. In 2018, the foundation will again accept proposals for education programs that help individuals become college-, career-, and job-ready. They also plan to accept proposals for economic-development programs that create thriving places to live, work, and raise a family. Applications for these grant programs are due by April 1, July 1, and Oct. 1. In addition to these two programs, the foundation will offer two requests for proposals focusing on nonprofit capacity and basic needs. Additional details about the foundation’s guidelines and application process can be found online at www.berkshirebank.com/giving.

Phillips Insurance Funds Scholarships to American Legion Boys State

CHICOPEE — Phillips Insurance Agency Inc. announced it is funding three scholarships to the 2018 American Legion Boys State at Stonehill College in June. The one-week, overnight program focuses on understanding one’s responsibilities and rights in the democratic process. Participants establish a mock government, complete courses in economics, and participate in elections. Founded in 1935, past participants include some of the most prominent names in the country, including former President Bill Clinton, movie critic Roger Ebert, and basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. Joseph Phillips, president of Phillips Insurance, noted that “my son Connor attended Boys State in 2016 and had a positive experience, so we decided to reach out … and provide the same opportunity to other students so they could benefit from this unique program and help prepare them for college and beyond.”

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies Departments

The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court.

Baez, Santia C.
42 Tavistock St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/09/18

Bell, Mae O.
86 Gresham St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/18

Bernal, Paula A.
94 Academy Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/18

Bulldog Enterprises
Bullock, William F.
57 Amherst St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/18

Dennis, Oral W.
1406 Berkshire Ave.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/18

Diaz, Celestino
Diaz, Evelyn
122 Drexel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/18

Duggan, Carolyn Mary Elizabeth
97 Winsor St., #9
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/15/18

Erwin, Maurice S.
59 Danek Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/12/18

Fountain, Chris B.
9 Lee Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/08/18

Goodwin & Goodwin, Inc.
The Humble Baker
New Salem Tea Bread
Sugar Jones Cookies
Goodwin, Brieta Mae
175 Wendell Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/15/18

Greenberg, Leanna J.
30 Elm St., Apt 1W
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/18

Hottin, Arthur J.
28 Barrington Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/06/18

J. Moccio Construction
Moccio, John P.
P.O. Box 381
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/14/18

Kennedy, Brian
Kennedy, Catherine L.
PO Box 404
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/12/18

Lamagdeleine, Darryl Jason
91 Orange St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/09/18

Latourelle, Barbara A.
107 Pine Acre Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/02/18

Maimes, Natan Bahir
167 Park St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/02/18

Malinowski, Ann Marie
7 Lussier Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/18

Meandro, Timothy M.
325 Summer St.
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/12/18

O’Rourke, William Francis
15 Alice St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/13/18

Phelan, Laura A.
5 Fair Oak Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/09/18

Positronic Design
Caputo, David Anthony
903 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/15/18

Ramirez, Felix S.
McCarthy, Ashley D.
a/k/a Mahoney, Ashley
335 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/05/18

Ruge, Vadim
145 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/12/18

Santana, Amanda Y.
20 Duryea St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/12/18

Sears, Jennifer L.
Chaloux, Jennifer L.
33 Falvey St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/18

Shippee, William
184 Taylor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/14/18

St. Martin, Margaret Mary
31 Searle Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/15/18

Tiberii, Todd R.
Tiberii, Heather E.
1017 Southbridge Road
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/12/18

Tryon, Jay N.
11 Delmor Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/08/18

Vatter, Angela M.
303 Fairview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/18

Vieu, Sara Jean
71 Oak Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/02/18

Vinelli, John Edward
20 Easthampton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/02/18

Wasuk, Courtney J.
112 Brookside Dr.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/18

Wilson, Evangelyn V.
a/k/a McMakin, Lyn V.
PO Box 411
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/12/18

Incorporations

By
Departments Incorporations

The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties and are the latest available. They are listed by community.

East Longmeadow

Western Mass Real Estate Investors Inc., 119 Industrial Dr., Unit 773, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Justin Simmons, 19 Sandford St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Provides networking and industry sharing, updating and educating members on issues pertinent to buying, selling, exchanging, investing, and managing properties.

Indian Orchard

Taino & Taina Warriors Motorcycle Club Ltd., 165 Goodwin St., Indian Orchard, MA 01151. Molses Ruiz, same. Non-profit organized exclusively for support and charitable purposes, in conjunction with supporting our local community in participating in events and contributing and supporting local school, homeless shelters and other charitable organizations.

Ludlow

The Yogurt Mill Inc., 120 East St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Nick Linna, 25 Bristol St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Frozen yogurt shop.

Pittsfield

Synagex Inc., 75 South Church St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. John R. Sinopoli, same. Information technology services.

The Boston Enterprise Management Consulting Company Ltd., 82 Wendell Avenue, Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Weihong Cai, same. Trading.

Southwick

Weathersmart Exteriors Inc., 7 Rising Corner Road, Southwick, MA 01077. Demyan Volkov, same. Construction.

Springfield

Springfield Trampoline Sports Inc., 1250 St. James Ave., Springfield, MA 01104. Robert E. Doty, 42 Willow Road, Queensbury, N.Y. 12804. An indoor trampoline sports entertainment company.

The Beautiful Struggle Inc., 393 Wilbraham Road, Level 2, Springfield, MA 01109. Martin Davis, same. Restaurant.

Warren

Shivraj Corp., 958 Main St., Warren, MA 01083. Jiten Patel, same. Retail package store.

Wilbraham

Stony Hill Real Estate Inc., 1225 Stony Hill Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. John Ferrera, Jr., same. Real estate services.