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bankESB Makes $500,000 Challenge Grant to Cooley Dickinson

EASTHAMPTON — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced that the bank has made a $500,000 challenge grant to support the Emergency Department at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. The funds will be used to support Transforming Emergency Care: Campaign for the Cooley Dickinson Emergency Department, a $19.76 million expansion, reconfiguration, and renovation effort to allow Cooley Dickinson to meet the ever-evolving emergency medicine needs of all members of the community, from infants to older adults. “Access to quality medical care is something we all count on, and Cooley Dickinson continues to do an amazing job treating our friends, family, and neighbors who live and work in our communities,” said Sosik. “bankESB is pleased to do its part in supporting Cooley Dickinson and its efforts to transform its Emergency Department into one that’s as up-to-date as possible and can unlock its full potential. We hope others will do the same.” According to Cooley Dickinson Hospital, its Emergency Department is 40% undersized to meet the community’s needs and cares for many patients who require critical medical attention. The number of patients visiting the department has doubled — from 17,000 in the 1970s to nearly 34,000 in recent years. Renovations are expected to break ground next spring. Organizations contributing to the Campaign for the Cooley Dickinson Emergency Department can increase the impact of their donations through this matching grant. bankESB will give one dollar for every two dollars donated to the Emergency Department campaign through Dec. 31, up to $500,000.

 

AIC Partners with STCC with Signing of Articulation Agreement

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) has signed an articulation agreement with Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), formally establishing a close academic relationship between the two-year college and the four-year institution. This accord between American International College and Springfield Technical Community College aligns academic programs that enhance the seamless transition of STCC graduates and qualified candidates from STCC, and promote a smooth, successful transfer to AIC. This articulation agreement offers time and cost savings for students by recognizing the coursework pursued at the community college and demonstrates the ongoing commitment of both AIC and STCC to the community and its students, by ensuring that educational pathways are created for all those who wish to consider a degree in higher education. At AIC, the program is referred to as Direct Connect. Direct Connect transfer students automatically receive a $4,000 scholarship in addition to their earned merit scholarship, before any need-based aid is awarded. This means Direct Connect students can earn up to $18,000 in financial gift aid, not loans, before being evaluated for additional need-based aid. And, unlike some other transfer articulation agreements, the Direct Connect program at AIC allows students to study and major in their area of interest while attending their community college.

 

Easy Company Brewing Launches in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — Easy Company Brewing recently launched Springfield’s newest brewery Thursday at the Student Prince in downtown Springfield. Easy Company Brewing (ECB) is a veteran-owned business that is committed to donating 100% of its profits to veterans, first responders, and their families. The name and its mission are inspired by the men of Easy Company from WW II, made famous by the book and mini-series Band of Brothers. Following in the footsteps of the men of Easy, ECB is committed to brewing drinkable European style beers with “a little bit of American boldness and edge,” while honoring the men and women who serve or have served our country. All of ECB after-tax profits, will be donated through its companion foundation to a number of charities that do work on behalf our nation’s heroes. Founders Jeff St. Jean and John DeVoie served together in the Air National Guard, and have teamed up to create this new beer brand in the City of Homes. St. Jean is still serving, and DeVoie is one of the co-founders of Hot Table, a Springfield based fast casual restaurant company. ECB beers are currently contract brewed locally in Western Mass., but DeVeVoie and St. Jean hope to build a brewery and tap room in Springfield at some point. Their beers are currently available for sale at Table & Vine in West Springfield. Other retailers will follow this summer.

 

Two New Woman-owned Businesses Open in Thornes Marketplace

NORTHAMPTON — Two women entrepreneurs with a passion for artistry and design have opened shops in Thornes Marketplace, one offering Bohemian home décor and the other, women’s lingerie and loungewear. Cigdem “Chi” Turkomer, the owner of Le BonNton, originally located on Old South Street, moved into Thornes last June, relocating several times within the building over the past year and recently settling permanently on the second floor. In its fifth year, Le BonNton offers linens, furniture and other décor, which Turkomer also provides for a fee to couples through her wedding design service. On June 10 from 5-8 p.m., Thornes will host a fifth-anniversary celebration for Le BonNton in the shop, with music, local art displays and Turkish Delight sweets prepared by Turkomer.

Ali Ingellis, owner of Ooh La La, opened her boutique on the first floor of the historic shopping center in downtown Northampton in May. The lingerie and loungewear she designs and produces are inspired by history and nature, and she describes her shop as, “Beautiful, unapologetically feminine, intimate — like your best friend’s closet.”

 

MassMutual Center Sees Positive Economic Impact in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — The MassMutual Center recently collaborated with Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company that measures local economic impact in local markets, to research the economic impact the venue had in Springfield and surrounding markets from July 2018 through June 2019 (FY19). Findings show that the MassMutual Center’s gross economic impact as well as Incremental Impact were significant. Tourism Economics found that in FY19, the MassMutual Center had more than 300,000 total attendees in the arena and convention center events, resulting in a total gross economic impact of $47.1 million, which generated 555 total jobs in the market and contributed $4.4 million in total state and local tax revenues. Of the total event attendees, 147,000 were out-of-town attendees, resulting in a total incremental impact of $34.9 million, which generated 443 total jobs in the market and contributed $3.2 million in total state and local tax revenues. Gross economic and incremental impacts were measured by money spent by the venue in the local economy to sustain operations, including spending on payroll, marketing costs, legal services, and professional services, as well as money spent by event attendees while attending events at the MassMutual Center and at off-site establishments, including local restaurants, hotels, retailers, and recreation/entertainment venues. Gross economic impact shows impact made by all event attendees, while incremental impacts focuses on the out-of-town event attendees.

 

Florence Bank Celebrates 20th Annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program

FLORENCE — Florence Bank celebrated its 20th annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program gala last month, awarding $100,000 to 45 nonprofits across the valley. And at the close of the event, President and CEO Kevin Day drew cheers from the audience of nonprofit leaders, announcing that giving will increase to $125,000. Day’s announcement was the second commemoration of the evening, the first coming as he called for bank and nonprofit staff and leaders to raise a glass to toast the event’s 20th year. “We can’t let that go without celebration,” he said. Florence Bank’s community grants program is an annual offering founded in 2002, and, through it, Florence Bank customers are invited to vote for their favorite local nonprofit in hopes it will receive a share of grant funding. Voting takes place all year long, online at www.florencebank.com/vote and in bank branches, and each customer has only one vote. To qualify for a community grant, organizations must receive at least 50 votes. In 2021, roughly 7,000 votes were cast, making 45 nonprofits eligible for a grant. Over the past 20 years, Florence Bank has tallied more than 141,000 customer votes and given grants to roughly 164 different organizations. At its 20th annual event, held May 19 at Frank Newhall Look Memorial Park, the bank offered awards to 45 nonprofits and celebrated a total of $1.4 million in community giving through this one channel. Six nonprofits received funding for the first time — some in Hampden County, where Florence Bank now has three branches and has established a presence as a good neighbor. Three recipients have accepted an award every year since the program launched. Four organizations received the maximum amount of $5,000 this year: Cancer Connection Inc., Dakin Humane Society, Food Bank of Western Mass., and Friends of Williamsburg Libraries.In addition to the four top vote-getters, these other organizations received an award: Friends of Lilly Library, $4,097; Northampton Survival Center, $3,782; Amherst Survival Center, $3,588; Our Lady of the Hills Parish, $3,564; Friends of Forbes Library, $3,539; Goshen Firefighters Association, $3,370; Friends of Northampton Legion Baseball, $3,224; Easthampton Community Center, $2,909; It Takes a Village, $2,909; Williamsburg Firefighters Association, $2,642; Northampton Neighbors, $2,400; Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, $2,303; Belchertown Animal Relief Committee, Inc. (BARC), $2,230; Manna Community Kitchen, $2,109; Shriners Hospitals for Children, $1,988; and J.F.K. Middle School PTO. Also, $1,867; Kestrel Land Trust, $1,867; Northampton High School PTO, $1,794; Riverside Industries, Inc., $1,770; R.K. Finn Ryan Road School PTO, $1,648; Cooley Dickinson Hospital, $1,624; Safe Passage, $1,624; Northampton Community Music Center, $1,527; Therapeutic Equestrian Center, $1,527; Amherst Neighbors, $1,503; Friends of M.N. Spear Memorial Library, $1,455; Edward Hopkins Educational Foundation, $1,430; Grow Food Northampton, $1,430; Smith Vocational High School PTO, $1,333; Whole Children, $1,309; Easthampton Elementary Schools PTO, $1,164; Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, $1,139; Hitchcock Center for the Environment, $1,115; Revitalize CDC, $1,091; The Parish Cupboard, $1,067; Belchertown Police K-9 Unit, $1,042; Cooley Dickinson Hospital VNA & Hospice, $1,042; Historic Northampton, $1,018; Granby Senior Center, $994; Leeds Elementary School PTO, $994; and Ludlow Boys & Girls Club, $970.

 

Monson Savings Bank Donates Bikes to YWCA of Western Mass.

MONSON — In the spirit of its 150th Anniversary, Monson Savings Bank announced earlier this year that it will be launching its 150 Build-a-Bike campaign. The community bank has purchased more than $20,000 worth of bikes to donate to local children and they have partnered with various non-profits in the area to host Build-a-Bike events throughout the year. Most recently, Monson Savings delivered 10 bikes and 10 helmets to YWCA of Western Mass. Members of the Monson Savings team delivered the bikes that they helped to assemble with Ray Plouffe, owner of Family Bike Shop in East Longmeadow. Many members of the team expressed feelings of gratitude and a sense of fulfillment after building and delivering the bikes. “All of us were very excited to come together for the YWCA Build-a-Bike event. Our team had a great time getting to know the YWCA team and confirming our knowledge about all of the incredible ways they help those in need,” said Dan Moriarty, President and CEO of Monson Savings Bank. “Plus, it was wonderful to deliver the bikes and hear how the YWCA plans to make a safe, designated area for children to enjoy the bikes as they receive support from the organization.” Throughout the summer, Monson Savings Bank will also partner with I Found Light Against All Odds and the Springfield Housing Authority, South End Community Center, and Educare Springfield to host more 150 Build-a-Bike events, continuing to spread happiness to children and families throughout the area. To learn more about Monson Savings Bank’s 150th anniversary, the bank’s historical timeline, and to view a full schedule of events visit www.monsonsavings.bank/anniversary.

 

Caolo & Bieniek Architects Selected to Design Northfield Emergency Services Facility

CHICOPEE — Caolo & Bieniek Architects (CBA) has been selected, and has begun work, on designing options for a public safety complex to serve the town of Northfield. The CBA design team boasts 60 years of experience working in Western Mass., with extensive knowledge in the construction of public safety complexes, police stations, fire stations, and emergency service facilities. The team will compose a feasibility study assessing program needs and developing Phase 1 – programing and conceptual design. The focus of the study is to explore design options that accommodate the town’s Fire Department, Police Department, and Emergency Medical Services Department. Each department’s current condition is in need of attention and redesign to better enable department members to effectively serve their community.

 

Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley Provides Financial Gift to Community Legal Aid

SPRINGFIELD — The law firm of Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley recently made a $3,500 donation to support Community Legal Aid of Central and Western Massachusetts.Community Legal Aid Executive Director Jonathan Mannina Esq., in accepting the donation said, “with the firm’s gift, PSRB is helping to pass on the American promise of equal Justice under the law. With Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley’s support, Community Legal Aid will be able to continue to serve some of the most vulnerable members of our community.” “It is critical to us as a firm, that the work of the Community Legal Aid continue,” said Charlie Casartello Jr., Managing Partner at Pellegrini, Seeley Ryan & Blakesley. “For 70 years, they have provided invaluable advocacy for and support to people who otherwise would not be able to afford legal representation in central and western Massachusetts. The impact they make is tremendous and we are proud that we can make a difference in their mission.”

Daily News

Bacon Wilson Announces Additions to Firm 

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SPRINGFIELD — Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that Attorney Timothy M. Netkovick and Attorney Jennifer R. Sharrow have joined the firm. 

Netkovick is a member of Bacon Wilson’s Employment Law Practice Group. He is licensed to practice in both Massachusetts and Connecticut and has significant experience in matters including employment and commercial litigation. He has been practicing law for 20 years, having earned his J.D. from Western New England College School of Law in 2002, and a B.S. magna cum laude from American International College in 1999. He was recognized as the School of Law Academic Scholarship Recipient during his time at Western New England, and an All-American Scholar in 1998 at American International. He will be working from Bacon Wilson’s Springfield location. 

Sharrow is a member of Bacon Wilson’s Commercial Law Practice Group. She is licensed to practice in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She has more than a decade of experience working in public service, with experience in federal programs where she focused on municipal, non-profit, and business development. She earned her J.D. in 2010 from the University of Connecticut School of Law and earned a B.A. summa cum laude from the University of New Hampshire in 2007. 

She has volunteered her time by serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Habitat for Humanity from 2010 to 2011 and participated in multiple pro bono programs including the Women’s Bar Foundation Family Law Project and the Hampden County Bar Association Lawyer for the Day Program. Currently, she serves as the Legal Chair for the Shoshin Ryu Martial Arts Association and is a member of the Belchertown Zoning Board of Appeals. She will work from Bacon Wilson’s Springfield location.  

Bacon Wilson’s Managing Shareholder, Kenneth J. Albano, welcomed the new attorneys to the legal family, “Tim and Jennifer provide significant depth and experience to their respective practice groups.” 

The firm also welcomed Alayna Anderson, as the marketing coordinator, who recently joined the firm at the Springfield location. She is a Cape Cod Native who since relocated to Springfield after earning her bachelor of Science degree in marketing as well as her master’s of Business Administration, both from Springfield College. She will work directly with Bacon Wilson’s Executive Director, Lisa Carpenter, on all aspects of managing the firm’s marketing and public relations for all five locations.  

Daily News

Florence Bank Celebrates 20th Annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program 

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FLORENCE — Florence Bank celebrated its 20th annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program gala last month, awarding $100,000 to 45 nonprofits across the valley. And at the close of the event, President and CEO Kevin Day drew cheers from the audience of nonprofit leaders, announcing that giving will increase to $125,000. 

“Some of you longtime recipients may recall when we began this great program back in 2002, we started by giving away $50,000,” Day said. “Years later we increased to $75,000 and then to $100,000. We’ve decided to increase the total grant amount again — to $125,000 — immediately, for grants to be awarded at next year’s gala. 

“My hope is that our customers continue to use this program to provide you with a vote of confidence, as well as some much-needed funding to help you continue your mission to serve the community,” he added. “All of us at Florence Bank truly appreciate everything you do to make our communities better places to live and work.” 

Day’s announcement was the second commemoration of the evening, the first coming as he called for bank and nonprofit staff and leaders to raise a glass to toast the event’s 20th year. “We can’t let that go without celebration,” he said.  

Florence Bank’s community grants program is an annual offering founded in 2002, and, through it, Florence Bank customers are invited to vote for their favorite local nonprofit in hopes it will receive a share of grant funding. 

Voting takes place all year long, online at www.florencebank.com/vote and in bank branches, and each customer has only one vote. To qualify for a community grant, organizations must receive at least 50 votes. In 2021, roughly 7,000 votes were cast, making 45 nonprofits eligible for a grant. 

Over the past 20 years, Florence Bank has tallied more than 141,000 customer votes and given grants to roughly 164 different organizations. 

  

At its 20th annual event, held May 19 at Frank Newhall Look Memorial Park, the bank offered awards to 45 nonprofits and celebrated a total of $1.4 million in community giving through this one channel. 

Six nonprofits received funding for the first time — some in Hampden County, where Florence Bank now has three branches and has established a presence as a good neighbor. Three recipients have accepted an award every year since the program launched.  

Four organizations received the maximum amount of $5,000 this year: Cancer Connection Inc., Dakin Humane Society, Food Bank of Western Mass., and Friends of Williamsburg Libraries. 

“The commitment of Florence Bank customers to all of you serving the needs within our community is awesome, and we couldn’t be prouder to be able to support the programs our customers believe in,” Day said.  

Organizations receiving awards range from police, fire, library, and school groups to nonprofits that provide food, shelter or support to people living with a serious illness or disability. 

In addition to the four top vote-getters, these other organizations received an award:  

Friends of Lilly Library, $4,097; Northampton Survival Center, $3,782; Amherst Survival Center, $3,588; Our Lady of the Hills Parish, $3,564; Friends of Forbes Library, $3,539; Goshen Firefighters Association, $3,370; Friends of Northampton Legion Baseball, $3,224; Easthampton Community Center, $2,909; It Takes a Village, $2,909; Williamsburg Firefighters Association, $2,642; Northampton Neighbors, $2,400; Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, $2,303; Belchertown Animal Relief Committee, Inc. (BARC), $2,230; Manna Community Kitchen, $2,109; Shriners Hospitals for Children, $1,988; and J.F.K. Middle School PTO. 

Also, $1,867; Kestrel Land Trust, $1,867; Northampton High School PTO, $1,794; Riverside Industries, Inc., $1,770; R.K. Finn Ryan Road School PTO, $1,648; Cooley Dickinson Hospital, $1,624; Safe Passage, $1,624; Northampton Community Music Center, $1,527; Therapeutic Equestrian Center, $1,527; Amherst Neighbors, $1,503; Friends of M.N. Spear Memorial Library, $1,455; Edward Hopkins Educational Foundation, $1,430; Grow Food Northampton, $1,430; Smith Vocational High School PTO, $1,333; Whole Children, $1,309; Easthampton Elementary Schools PTO, $1,164; Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, $1,139; Hitchcock Center for the Environment, $1,115; Revitalize CDC, $1,091; The Parish Cupboard, $1,067; Belchertown Police K-9 Unit, $1,042; Cooley Dickinson Hospital VNA & Hospice, $1,042; Historic Northampton, $1,018; Granby Senior Center, $994; Leeds Elementary School PTO, $994; and Ludlow Boys & Girls Club, $970. 

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Monson Savings Bank Elects New Corporators

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank announced the election of five new corporators. At the bank’s recent annual meeting, it was announced that Nikki Burnett, Cesar Ruiz, John Zienowicz, Ciara Speller, and Christian D’Amour had been elected by existing corporators. Burnett is the executive director of Educare Springfield. She also sits on national committees for the Educare Learning Network, such as the Educare Policy Work Group, the Collaborative Fundraising Advisory Board, and the Red Nose Day Advisory Board. Additionally, she is a trustee for the Community Foundation of Western Mass., and serves on the Distribution Committee as co‐chair; the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion subcommittee; and the Executive Committee. She is also a member of the Baystate Community Benefits Advisory Council. Ruiz is the founder, president and CEO of Golden Years Home Services. He was the first Hispanic popularly elected official in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, serving on the Springfield School Committee from 1980-1986. Prior to founding Golden Years, he worked in banking at Region’s Bank. He was recently recognized as one of business’s most influential Latinos by Hispanic Executive magazine. Zienowicz is the executive director of the Ware Council on Aging. Furthermore, he sits on the board of directors for the Quaboag Hills Community Coalition, the Ware Cable Access Television, and the Advisory Board for BHN Carson Center. He is a member of the Bay State Eastern Region Community Benefits Advisory Board, the Quaboag Region Coordinating Council, and the Quaboag Hills Substance Use Alliance. Speller is a weeknight news anchor for Channel 22 WWLP. She serves as a board member for local nonprofit I Found Light Against All Odds, is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, volunteers for the Miss Western Massachusetts Scholarship Assoc., and is a panelist for Girls Inc. of the Valley. Additionally, she was the recipient of the “Leadership in Broadcasting Award” from Bay Path University in 2019 and a 2021 Boston/New England Regional Emmy Winner. D’Amour is the director of E-Commerce at Big Y World Class Market and a third-generation member of Big Y Foods’ founding D’Amour family. Prior to working at Big Y, he worked at Delta Dental of Rhode Island as a sales and marketing representative. Additionally, he holds a B.A. from Saint Michael College.

 

HNE Offers $100,000 in Grants for DEIB in Maternal/Infant Health

SPRINGFIELD — Health New England is offering $100,000 in grants for non-profit organizations that address inequities to improve maternal and infant health. The company’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) grants will award up to $10,000 per organization. The DEIB grants will fund non-profits whose programs address health equity and focus on engaging at least one social determinant of health (SDOH). SDOHs are conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that affect health, quality of life, and life expectancy. These may include socioeconomic status, food insecurity, education, access to health care, safe housing, discrimination, violence, and trauma, etc. Registered 501(c)(3) non-profits focused on communities in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties are eligible. Eligible organizations can find out more and apply for the grant here. Submissions are due by midnight on May 30.

Mercy Medical Center Earns Fourth Consecutive ‘A’ Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

SPRINGFIELD — Mercy Medical Center has received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2022. This national distinction recognizes Mercy Medical Center’s achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital. This latest recognition marks Mercy’s fourth consecutive “A” safety grade. The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over thirty national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries, and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

 

Lee Bank Foundation Distributes $83,750 in First Grant Funding Round of 2022

LEE — Lee Bank Foundation has awarded $83,750 to 12 Berkshire area organizations and an additional grant to Pittsfield Public Schools in its first-round of 2022 community funding. Recipients were awarded grants ranging from $1,000 to $16,000 to support their local programming. Included in the awards are a series of Arts Access Grants for arts and culture organizations to expand access to programming for underserved audiences.

The following organizations received funding:

• Berkshire Center for Justice;
• Berkshire Community Diaper Project;
• Berkshire Concert Choir;
• Berkshire County Arc;
• Berkshire Historical Society;
• Berkshire Family YMCA;
• Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity;
• Community Access to the Arts;
• Great Barrington Public Theater;
• Greenagers;
• Roots Rising; and
• The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

Arts Access Grants of $1,000 each were awarded to Berkshire Concert Choir, Berkshire Historical Society, and Great Barrington Public Theater. Additionally, Lee Bank Foundation announced a $16,000 grant to the Pittsfield Public Schools — $1,000 for each school serving children and adults in Pittsfield, to coincide with the groundbreaking of the new Lee Bank branch on South Street. The deadline for the next round of 2022 Foundation funding is June 1. The application and more information can be found on the Community Impact section of Lee Bank’s website (https://www.leebank.com/community-impact/donations-sponsorships.html). To be considered for grant awards, applicants must be a (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation is focused on funding programs that work to bridge income and opportunity gaps in our region. Funding requests should reflect one or more of Lee Bank Foundation’s primary focus areas: education and literacy; food security and nutrition; economic growth and development; health and human services; mentorship, internship and “school to work” initiatives; and arts and culture

 

Marriott Brand Restored on Downtown Springfield Hotel

SPRINGFIELD — The Marriott brand has been restored to a downtown Springfield hotel in preparation for a planned September opening. The Marriott ‘M’ logo was attached to the Tower Square Hotel recently, a milestone in a nearly four-year-long effort to restore a brand name that was lost in 2017. Extensive renovations of the property, projected to cost $40 million, are ongoing, with a grand reopening planned for this fall. The new Marriott will have 266 rooms.

 

North Brookfield Savings Named Among ‘Top Extraordinary Banks’

NORTH BROOKFIELD — North Brookfield Savings Bank, was recently named among the top extraordinary banks in the United States by The Institute for Extraordinary Banking. This award comes on the heels of the Community Choice Central Mass. Best Bank Award it received for 2021. North Brookfield Savings Bank was recognized with the institute’s Banky Award for its commitment to strong community banking. This recognition is given to top community banks across the country to help people find the best banks in their communities.

 

Massage Clinic to Open at Asnuntuck Community College

ENFIELD, Conn. — The public is invited to make a reservation for a massage through Asnuntuck Community College’s massage clinic. Massages can provide physical and mental benefits. Massage can loosen tight muscles, lower blood pressure, and assist in recovery from injuries and illness. Students enrolled in ACC’s Massage Therapy program provide the massages for the clinic. The appointments begin May 23, and run until August 16 on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Appointment times are 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Rates are $30 for 50 minutes, and $60 for 100 minutes. Gift certificates are available. Tipping is not allowed by state law. Reservations are required. Visit https://asnuntuck.edu/massage/ to learn more about the clinic.

 

Spectrum Home Health & Hospice Care Named to ‘Elite List’

LONGMEADOW — JGS Lifecare, a not-for-profit healthcare system serving seniors and their families in Western Mass. for more than 110 years, announced that Spectrum Home Health & Hospice Care, one of its subsidiary organizations, has made the 2022 Hospice Honors Elite list. Hospice Honors is a prestigious annual national program from HEALTHCAREfirst that recognized hospices that continuously provide the highest level of quality care as measured from the caregiver’s point of view. HEALTHCAREfirst is a leading provider of billing and coding services, CAHPS surveys, and advanced analytics. It acknowledges the highest performing agencies by analyzing the performance of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) hospice survey satisfaction measures. Award criteria were based on Hospice CAHPS survey results for an evaluation period of October 2020 through September 2021. Award recipients were identified by evaluating performance on a set of 24 quality indicator measures. Performance scores were aggregated from all completed surveys and were compared on a question-by-question basis to a National Performance Score calculated from all hospices contained in the HEALTHCAREfirst’s Hospice CAHPS database. Hospice Honors recipients include those hospices scoring above the HEALTHCAREfirst national performance score on 20 of the 24 evaluated questions. HEALTHCAREfirst holds a special recognition, Hospice Honors Elite, to honor hospices scoring above the HEALTHCAREfirst National Performance Score on all 24 of the evaluated questions.

 

‘Together HCC’ Raises $192,000 for Scholarships, Student Aid

HOLYOKE — Alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Holyoke Community College led a historic day of giving last month, raising more than $192,000 for student support programs during its one-day ‘Together HCC: Drive to Change Lives’ campaign. Organizers had set a goal of 300 donors for the 24-hour, April 26, fund drive. The final tally was 418, a 41% increase from 2021. Auto dealer Gary Rome, an HCC Foundation board member, led the way with a $5,000 challenge when the campaign met its goals of securing 300 donors. Another alumni donor was Dylan Pilon, ’12, of Springfield, a former scholarship recipient who graduated from HCC debt free, which allowed him to start his own company, Cloud 9 Marketing in East Longmeadow. In addition to Rome and Pilon, Peg, ’58, and Gary Wendlandt, Jim Izatt, ’59, trustee Robert Gilbert, Foundation board member Carl Eger, ’56, and Shirley Eger, and HCC President Christina Royal all posed matching and challenge gifts for the campaign.

 

‘Parklets’ Come to Downtown Amherst

AMHERST — The Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) has received an $80,750 grant from the Regional Economic Development Organization (REDO) for outdoor seating accommodations on Amity Street and South Pleasant Street that have been dubbed ‘parklets.’

The grant is funded through the Massachusetts Office of Business Development and is being administered through the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council. It will cover the materials, labor, and insurance costs.

Each parklet will be located in front of a designated food-and-drink establishment for that establishment’s use, and the sidewalk next to each parklet location will be maintained as a pedestrian pathway. These ‘parklets’ will also be accessible to those with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards for accessible design.

The Amherst BID is managing this project with support from the Amherst Planning Department staff. The parklets are being constructed by Keiter Corporation, a Florence-based construction company. Additionally, Evan Jones from Cowls Building Supply, located in Amherst, worked with the BID to procure the materials at a reduced cost.

“The main goal of this project is to help activate the downtown streetscape by providing extended sidewalks to serve as outdoor dining spaces, to attract residents and visitors and support local businesses. As the town explores urban design standards and streetscape designs for the downtown, this pilot project is an excellent opportunity for all stakeholders to learn from and enjoy,” said Maureen Pollock, Amherst planner.

The parklets are expected to be fully constructed by Saturday.

Daily News

Lee Bank Foundation Distributes $83,750 in First Grant Funding Round of 2022 

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LEE — Lee Bank Foundation has awarded $83,750 to 12 Berkshire area organizations and an additional grant to Pittsfield Public Schools in its first-round of 2022 community funding. 

Recipients were awarded grants ranging from $1,000 to $16,000 to support their local programming. Included in the awards are a series of Arts Access Grants for arts and culture organizations to expand access to programming for underserved audiences. 

The following organizations received funding: 

  • Berkshire Center for Justice;
  • Berkshire Community Diaper Project;
  • Berkshire Concert Choir;
  • Berkshire County Arc;
  • Berkshire Historical Society;
  • Berkshire Family YMCA;
  • Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity;
  • Community Access to the Arts;
  • Great Barrington Public Theater;
  • Greenagers;
  • Roots Rising; and
  • The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

  

Arts Access Grants of $1,000 each were awarded to Berkshire Concert Choir, Berkshire Historical Society, and Great Barrington Public Theater. Additionally, Lee Bank Foundation announced a $16,000 grant to the Pittsfield Public Schools — $1,000 for each school serving children and adults in Pittsfield, to coincide with the groundbreaking of the new Lee Bank branch on South Street.  

The deadline for the next round of 2022 Foundation funding is June 1. The application and more information can be found on the Community Impact section of Lee Bank’s website (https://www.leebank.com/community-impact/donations-sponsorships.html) 

To be considered for grant awards, applicants must be a (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation is focused on funding programs that work to bridge income and opportunity gaps in our region. Funding requests should reflect one or more of Lee Bank Foundation’s primary focus areas: education and literacy; food security and nutrition; economic growth and development; health and human services; mentorship, internship and “school to work” initiatives; and arts and culture 

Applicants are only eligible for funding once in a 12-month period. 

Lee Bank Foundation was established in 2021 to support Lee Bank’s long-standing mission of community reinvestment. In its first year, the Foundation awarded a total of $228,610 in grants and the Bank contributed an additional $84,000 in sponsorships. 

Company Notebook

Company Notebook

By

PeoplesBank Announces New Banking Center in South Windsor, Conn.

Fresh off its successful launch in the center of West Hartford and the renovation of its Suffield Banking Center, PeoplesBank has announced that it will add to its Connecticut footprint by building a new 2,000-square-foot banking center at 50 Cedar Ave. in South Windsor. The banking center is expected to be the anchor for other adjacent development that may include a restaurant, coffee and retail shops, and a medical office building.Designed by Tecton Architects of Hartford, the banking center will feature many of the innovative technologies that PeoplesBank has rolled out at its other new and renovated locations, including two VideoBankerITMs and two EV charging stations. The new banking center will also utilize the bank’s Universal Banker approach, which allows its associates to provide a wide range of banking services to customers. The new South Windsor Banking Center is expected to be open in early December, 2022.

 

Florence Bank to Celebrate 20th Annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program

FLORENCE — For 20 years, Florence Bank has awarded grants of up to $5,000 each to dozens of nonprofits chosen by its customers, and at its annual gathering this year, it will once again offer up $100,000 to organizations that support young and old in the community. At its 20th Annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants gala, to be staged May 19 at 5 p.m. at Frank Newhall Look Memorial Park, the bank will offer awards to 45 nonprofits and celebrate a total of $1.4 million in community giving through this one channel. Organizations like Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield and the Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Holyoke will receive awards for the first time this year thanks to customer voting. In addition to Shriners Hospitals for Children — Springfield, the Therapeutic Equestrian Center and Dakin, the following organizations received enough votes to qualify for a grant and will receive an award at the celebration: Amherst Neighbors, Amherst Survival Center, Belchertown Animal Relief Committee Inc. (BARC), Belchertown K-9, Cancer Connection, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Cooley Dickinson Hospital VNA & Hospice, Easthampton Community Center, Easthampton Elementary Schools PTO, Edward Hopkins Educational Foundation, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Friends of Forbes Library, Friends of Lilly Library, Friends of M.N. Spear Memorial Library, Friends of Northampton Legion Baseball, Friends of the Williamsburg Library, Goshen Firefighters Assoc., Grow Food Northampton, Granby Senior Center, Habitat for Humanity Pioneer Valley, Historic Northampton, Hitchcock Center for the Environment, It Takes a Village, J.F.K. Middle School, Kestrel Land Trust, Leeds Elementary School PTO, Ludlow Boys & Girls Club, Manna Community Kitchen, Northampton Community Music Center, Northampton High School PTO, Northampton Neighbors, Northampton Survival Center, Our Lady of the Hills Parish, Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, Revitalize CDC, Riverside Industries, R.K. Finn Ryan Road School, Safe Passage, Smith Vocational High School PTO, The Parish Cupboard, Whole Children, and Williamsburg Firefighters Association.

 

Greater Springfield CVB Names 2022 Howdy Award Finalists

The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) has announced 50 Finalists for the upcoming 2022 Howdy Awards for Hospitality Excellence. The Howdy Awards, as they are also known, celebrate workers in visitor-facing roles across Western Mass who deliver outstanding guest service, create loyal customers for their businesses and help make a positive impact upon the region’s hospitality economy.The 2022 Howdy Awards will be celebrated on May 16 at 6 p.m. at the MassMutual Center, and will also include the presentation of the Spotlight Award to Nate Costa and the Springfield Thunderbirds ownership group for keeping professional hockey in Western Mass.

The 50 finalists are:

Accommodations
FeliciaFernandez, front desk clerk, Hampton Inn and Suites, Hadley;
AustinGinman, front desk agent, MGM Hotel, Springfield;
GenesisRamos, front desk clerk, Residence Inn, Chicopee; and
FeliciaLaurin, housekeeping supervisor, The Inn on Boltwood,Amherst.

Attractions
David Dunston, show staff, Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield;
Laura Litterer, owner,Full of Grace Farm, Hadley;
Steve Ferraro, director of Operations, Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield;
Sabrina Brizzolari, director of Event Services, Mass Mutual Center, Springfield;
Gary Laprade, tour host,Sports Travel and Tours, Hatfield;
Pearl Wesley, ranger, Springfield Armory, Springfield;and
Sharon Ferrara, Welcome Center manager,Springfield Museums, Springfield.

Banquets
Shanique Fair, catering sales manager,MGM Springfield;
Will Diaz, event planner, Log Cabin, Holyoke; and
Brenda Lee Glanville, director of Sales & Marketing, Summit View Banquet House, Holyoke.

Beverage
Terry Ryan, bartender, Collins Tavern, West Springfield;
Rob Dullea, bar manager,Fitzwilly’s, Northampton;
Jessica Santinello, bartender, Maple Leaf, Westfield;
Matthew Jerzyk, bartender,Max’s Tavern, Springfield; and
Amanda Reed, bartender,the Ranch Pub House, Southwick

Food Casual
June Leduc, general manager, Delaney’s Market, Longmeadow;
Silvana Cardaropoli, customer service, Palazzo’s, Springfield;
Humberto Caro, manager, Starbuck’s, Monarch Place, Springfield; and
Erica Rosado, breakfast attendant, Tru by Hilton, Chicopee.

Food Tableside
Kelsi Donohue, server, Bnapoli Italian, West Springfield;
Donna Nardi, server,Cal’s Restaurant, West Springfield;
Matthew Canata, counter clerk,EB’s, Agawam;
Darlene Robinson, server,Gregory’s Pizza, Wilbraham;
Bernadette Beaudry, server,Johnny’s Roadside Diner, Hadley;
Benny Beans, server,Lattitude, West Springfield;
Amy Silvestri,general manager,UNO’s Pizzeria & Grill,Springfield; and
Michael Moriarty, server,Villa Napoletana, East Longmeadow.

Public Service
Serena Curley, concierge,Baystate Medical Center, Springfield;
Latrina Haynie, phlebotomist, Baystate Lab, Springfield;
January Russell, insurance agent,Bluestone Insurance/Horace Mann, Agawam;
Heather Wyman, office manager,Cordes Orthodontics, Westfield;
Paul Barden, Meals on Wheels,Greater Springfield Senior Services, Springfield;
Tricia Zoly, nurse, Holyoke Council on Aging, Holyoke; and
Harold Anderson, program director, Valley Eye Radio, Springfield.

Retail
Yates Greenhalgh, cashier, Big Y, Wilbraham;
Kerri O’Connor, manager,Athleta, Longmeadow;
Patrick Hamel, service advisor, Gary Rome Hyundai, Holyoke;
Tiarra Henderson, framing specialist, Michael’s, West Springfield;
Maria Lepage, sales and leasing consultant,Gary Rome Hyundai, Holyoke;
Sabrina Pretti, customer service,Insa Inc., Easthampton;
Carolyn Owens, cashier,Walgreen’s, Springfield;
Janet Graves, retail sales associate, Yankee Candle Village, South Deerfield;and
Stephen Ross, sales associate, Yankee Candle Village, South Deerfield

Transportation
Jose Guzman, valet parker,Baystate Medical Center, Springfield;
Barbara Eckert, booth attendant, Civic Center Garage, Springfield; and
Tom McLeer, PVTA bus driver,PVTA, Springfield

The Howdy Awards for Hospitality Excellence are sponsored by Eastern States Exposition, Aladco Linen Services, Mass. Convention Center Authority, Freedom Credit Union, Performance Foodservice, People’s United Bank, MGM Springfield, MassMutual Center, Baystate Health, Yankee Candle Village, Modelo Especial, The Republican, MassLive, WWLP TV-22 and IHeart Media.

The GSCVB, an affiliate of the Economic Development Council of Western Mass, is a private non-profit destination marketing organization dedicated to promoting Western Mass for meetings and conventions, group tours, sports and leisure travel.

 

Whalley Computer Associates Named One of The 2022 Tech Elite 250

SOUTHWICK — Whalley Computer Associates (WCA) has again been named to the Tech Elite 250 list comprised of solution providers in the U.S. and Canada that have made the investments necessary to earn the highest level of certifications from the largest and most prestigious manufacturers of technology products and services. CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, named WCA to the Tech Elite 250 in 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2021 as well. WCA’s engineering team has earned about 125 certifications with nearly 30 different manufacturers by numerous dedicated engineers. Founded in 1979, WCA has been providing IT solutions and services to customers throughout New England and upstate New York for 43 years.

 

UMass Amherst Dining to Measure Carbon Footprint for Individual Dishes

AMHERST — Bolstering UMass Amherst’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2032, UMass Amherst Dining Services has made the commitment to measure the carbon impact of their menu. In doing so they will be the first college or university dining program in the country to include carbon footprint for individual dishes.

The initiative will help students reduce their carbon footprint with their everyday food choices by including a carbon rating on the menu identifiers. In a fall survey of over 800 people, 88% of students indicated the climate crisis informs their decisions at least some of the time. In addition, 75% indicated they believe their food choices impact the environment and 76% said reducing their carbon footprint is important to them. Launching during Earth Week, the first phase of this project will feature an A-E carbon rating for all menu items at Hampshire Dining Commons on the menu identifiers, online and on the UMass Dining App. Determining the carbon footprint of a dish is a multi-faceted process that incorporates things like water consumption as well as storage and transport. To create a clear,concise way to communicate thesevalues fortheir customers, UMass Dining is working withMy Emissions, a leading provider of food carbon labelling. My Emissions’ standardized process makes it easy to calculate the carbon footprint from a recipe and demonstrates the impact of a customer’s food choices using a rating scale.Factoring in all the contributing elements, My Emissions has developed an A-E rating scale based on the carbon intensity (“A” signals Low impact and “E” signals Very High).

 

Big Y Donates $100,000 to Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Relief

SPRINGFIELD — Big Y World Class Markets added to the collected donations from customers and employees from March 17 to March 30 through their traditional registers, online and myExpress check out for Ukraine Humanitarian Relief. Community and employee donations along with additional support from Big Y resulted in a donation of $100,000, which will be donated to the global Red Cross network response to provide humanitarian relief to people affected by the crisis in Ukraine. As the conflict continues, the Red Cross continues to help families impacted by this devastating conflict. International Red Cross teams are currently on the ground in the region distributing food, delivering medicine and medical supplies, assisting with evacuations, and providing shelter.

 

JGS Lifecare Welcomes Northeast Rehab Associates

LONGMEADOW — JGS Lifecare, a not-for-profit healthcare system serving seniors and their families in Western Mass. for more than 110 years, announced the addition of Northeast Rehab Associates Inc. to services offered at its Longmeadow campus. Northeast Rehab, a specialized sub-acute rehab service operated by Registered Physical Therapist Cherie Stack for the past 25 years, most of those years spent in Agawam, will operate out of The Sosin Center for Rehabilitation, located at the Leavitt Family Jewish Home at 770 Converse Street in Longmeadow. “JGS Lifecare, an affiliate of Legacy Lifecare since 2018, is always seeking ways to enhance the services we offer to our residents, families and the local community,” said Mary-Anne Schelb, director of Business Development for Legacy Lifecare’s Western Mass. market. “We have a full continuum of eldercare services located on 23 acres on Converse Street that the community knows well and has confidence in. The addition of Northeast Rehab to our family of services is a mutually enhancing partnership that will benefit not only our residents, but their families as well as our local community.” Northeast Rehab has specialized in orthopedic rehab for more than two decades. Over the past five years, care has expanded to include cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. Stack’s longtime staff will come with her, offering continuity of care and a seamless recovery for all of their patients. “We’re very excited to welcome Northeast Rehab Associates Inc. to our campus of care,” said Rob Whitten, LHNA, administrator of the Leavitt Family Jewish Home at JGS Lifecare. “It was clear from the start that we share a similar commitment to providing the highest quality of rehab services, and that our environment and how we deliver care is a great match.

40 Under 40 Class of 2022

Justin Roberts

By Contributor

Vice President of Marketing, Country Bank; Age 32

For Justin Roberts, being vice president of Marketing at Country Bank is all about giving back to the community.

“It all goes back to my interest that I’ve always had in giving back and making sure that individuals and organizations continue to succeed, especially the ones that have important missions that support the communities and the individuals that live in them and that need help,” he told BusinessWest.

Roberts’ desire to support individuals who need help was the driving force behind Suit Up Springfield, a nonprofit he founded eight years ago that provides professional attire in the form of suits, shirts, and ties to individuals graduating from high school or college, and individuals being released from incarceration who need assistance with their professional development. The program has provided attire to thousands of young men in the Greater Springfield area.

Additionally, Roberts has developed a partnership with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, providing professional attire to all inmates in the post-incarceration program. He’s even an honorary Hampden County deputy sheriff.

Beyond Suit Up Springfield, Roberts’ role at Country Bank has allowed him to be active with countless organizations.

“We do so much good and give back so much time, talent, and treasure to the community, which has always really been such an important part of my mission, my personal mission statement,” he said. “I’ve been very fortunate to both personally and professionally give back in so many ways, whether it’s sitting and serving on some boards or volunteering for some organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Square One, or my board involvement at AIC, where I did my undergrad and MBA work. It just all ties back to the opportunities that I have to continue to give back and support the communities and the individuals that make them up.”

Currently, Roberts is vice president of the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity board. He’s been involved with building 10 homes in the past five years for families in need of good, affordable housing in Western Mass. He was instrumental in raising more than $150,000 to build Tommy’s House, a house built in memory of Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, who died as a result of an act of domestic terrorism at the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Tennessee in 2015.

Outside of his work and volunteering, Roberts loves to spend time with his family, his partner, Heather, and their two daughters, Maxie and Charlie. He loves playing golf, cooking, and eating good food.

 

— Elizabeth Sears

Daily News

Florence Bank to Celebrate 20th Annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program 

By

 

FLORENCE — For 20 years, Florence Bank has awarded grants of up to $5,000 each to dozens of nonprofits chosen by its customers, and at its annual gathering this year, it will once again offer up $100,000 to organizations that support young and old in the community. 

At its 20th Annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants gala, to be staged May 19 at 5 p.m. at Frank Newhall Look Memorial Park, the bank will offer awards to 45 nonprofits and celebrate a total of $1.4 million in community giving through this one channel. 

Organizations like Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield and the Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Holyoke will receive awards for the first time this year thanks to customer voting. 

“We are so grateful,” said Stacey Perlmutter, director of development at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Springfield. “All care and services at Shriners Hospitals for Children are provided regardless of a family’s ability to pay. This grant money will help us to continue to provide life-changing pediatric specialty care to families throughout Western Massachusetts and beyond.” 

Likewise, Gerry O’Connor Page, executive director of Therapeutic Equestrian Center (TEC) in Holyoke feels grateful for an assist that will help provide therapeutic horseback riding to individuals with physical, emotional or psychological disabilities. 

“We will use the money to enable us to keep prices down,” she said. “It helps make the service accessible.” 

In the past, the bank has granted funds to some Hampden County-based nonprofits, such as Dakin Humane Society, which typically is the top vote-getter each year. This year, as Florence Bank develops its engagement in the southern county, the awards to organizations based there are increasing. 

“We have branches now in West Springfield, Springfield and Chicopee, and we very much want to be good neighbors in those communities,” said Florence Bank President and CEO Kevin Day. He noted that this year, the bank held a Zoominar event to educate Hampden County nonprofit leaders about the Customers’ Choice program. 

“We wanted to be sure they were aware of the program so they could take part and have the best chance at success,” he said. 

Florence Bank’s community grants program is an annual offering founded in 2002, and, through it, Florence Bank customers are invited to vote for their favorite local nonprofit in hopes it will receive a share of grant funding. 

Voting takes place all year long, online at www.florencebank.com/vote and in bank branches, and each customer has only one vote. To qualify for a community grant, organizations must receive at least 50 votes. In 2021, roughly 6,700 votes were cast, making 45 nonprofits eligible for a grant. 

Over the past 20 years, Florence Bank has tallied more than 141,000 customer votes and given grants to roughly 164 different organizations. 

Organizations to receive awards this year range from police, fire, library and school groups to nonprofits that provide food, shelter or support to people living with a serious illness or disability. Leaders of these nonprofits will learn the amount of their award at the May event. 

In addition to Shriners Hospitals for Children — Springfield, the Therapeutic Equestrian Center and Dakin, the following organizations received enough votes to qualify for a grant and will receive an award at the celebration: Amherst Neighbors, Amherst Survival Center, Belchertown Animal Relief Committee Inc. (BARC), Belchertown K-9, Cancer Connection, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Cooley Dickinson Hospital VNA & Hospice, Easthampton Community Center, Easthampton Elementary Schools PTO, Edward Hopkins Educational Foundation, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Friends of Forbes Library, Friends of Lilly Library, Friends of M.N. Spear Memorial Library, Friends of Northampton Legion Baseball, Friends of the Williamsburg Library, Goshen Firefighters Assoc., Grow Food Northampton, Granby Senior Center, Habitat for Humanity Pioneer Valley, Historic Northampton, Hitchcock Center for the Environment, It Takes a Village, J.F.K. Middle School, Kestrel Land Trust, Leeds Elementary School PTO, Ludlow Boys & Girls Club, Manna Community Kitchen, Northampton Community Music Center, Northampton High School PTO, Northampton Neighbors, Northampton Survival Center, Our Lady of the Hills Parish, Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, Revitalize CDC, Riverside Industries, R.K. Finn Ryan Road School, Safe Passage, Smith Vocational High School PTO, The Parish Cupboard, Whole Children, and Williamsburg Firefighters Association. 

People on the Move

People on the Move

By

Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank, announced eight recent staff promotions.

Mary McGovern

Mary McGovern

• Mary McGovern was promoted to executive vice president, chief financial and operating officer. She joined Country Bank in 2011 as the executive vice president and chief financial officer. She oversees the bank’s finance, operations, electronic delivery, information technology, retail banking, retail lending, facilities, and security. She holds an MBA in accounting and finance from Babson College and recently served on the board of the Baystate Health Foundation.

Miriam Siegel

Miriam Siegel

• Miriam Siegel was promoted to first senior vice president, chief Culture and Development officer. She will continue to lead the human-resources and learning and development functions, and serves as the bank’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer. Joining Country Bank in 2018, she brought 26 years of professional experience as the senior vice president of Human Resources for United Bank. She serves on the board of Behavioral Health Network, the Baystate Wing Hospital board, and the Wilbraham Personnel Advisory Board.

Jennifer Bujnevicie

Jennifer Bujnevicie

Laura Dennis

Laura Dennis

• Jennifer Bujnevicie and Laura Dennis, of the Retail Banking division, were promoted to vice presidents. Collectively, they contribute 36 years of experience at Country Bank; each began her professional banking career as a teller and has grown within the organization to oversee the Retail Banking division. Together, they bring a wealth of experience to the banking centers and are focused on providing the bank’s customers with exceptional customer service throughout its network. Both hold associate degrees in business administration and management from the New England College of Business and have attended the New England School for Financial Studies.

Alyson Weeks

Alyson Weeks

• Alyson Weeks was promoted to vice president of Human Resources and Professional Development. She has been with Country Bank for 13 years, starting as a teller and working in various other roles in the Retail Banking division, including teller supervisor, Branch Operations manager, and Retail Operations manager, before joining the Human Resources team six years ago. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Worcester State University and a master’s degree in education from American International College.

Erin Skoczylas

• Erin Skoczylas, assistant controller, was promoted to assistant vice president, assistant controller. She began her career at Country Bank 25 years ago as a part-time Operations clerk. Before transitioning to Accounting in 2008, she worked in various positions throughout the Operations department. She holds an associate degree in business administration from Springfield Technical Community College and a bachelor of business administration degree from Western New England University. She is also a 2017 graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies.

Tracey Wrzesien

• Tracey Wrzesien of Retail Banking, Wilbraham Banking Center was promoted to assistant vice president. She has been with Country Bank for 27 years and previously served as a Retail Banking officer. She is the vice president of the Wilbraham-Hampden Rotary Club and will take over as president in July. She is a graduate of the New England College of Business and holds an associate degree in science and business administration with a concentration in finance and is also a graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies.

Dianna Lussier

Dianna Lussier

• Dianna Lussier has been promoted to assistant vice president of Risk Management. She has been with Country Bank for 18 years and previously served as the Risk Management officer. During her tenure with Country Bank, she has worked in various roles, including accounting representative and financial-reporting analyst. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance and accounting from Worcester State College and has attended the New England School for Financial Studies. She is currently attending the Graduate School of Banking and Wharton Leadership Program. She was also the recipient of the President’s Platinum Award in 2021.

•••••

Springfield Museums announced that Jenny Powers has been named director of the Springfield Science Museum. A science educator for 20 years and the family engagement coordinator for the Springfield Museums for six years, Powers is ready to take her knowledge of playful learning to the Science Museum in the form of interactive, immersive additions to the museum. She also takes inspiration from the last woman who directed the Science Museum, Grace Pettis Johnson, who led the way from 1910 to 1949. Powers’ dynamic programing has filled the Museums on family-engagement days with exciting features such as bubble parties, high-fives with the Cat in the Hat, and Mount Crumpit derbies during Grinchmas. She has also been a regular guest on WWLP’s Mass Appeal, sharing hands-on science that families could explore together at home.

•••••

Alissa Fuller

Alissa Fuller

Florence Bank is announced that Alissa Fuller joined the bank as assistant vice president, Compliance and CRA manager. She has more than 20 years of experience in retail banking, consumer lending, and compliance. Prior to joining Florence Bank, she was a compliance specialist at a local community bank. Her duties included ensuring that the organization’s operations complied with relevant laws, regulations, and policies. In her new role at Florence Bank, Fuller’s primary responsibilities will include the oversight of programs to ensure compliance with all federal and state laws that govern the bank’s operations. In addition, she will play a vital role in the encouragement and development of the bank’s Community Reinvestment efforts. She graduated from the New England College of Business and Finance in 2016 with an associate degree in business administration with a concentration in management.

•••••

Bulkley Richardson recently welcomed Jeffrey Roberts to the firm as counsel in the Trusts & Estates and Business practices. Roberts has handled many sophisticated estate-planning matters and complex business transactions throughout his career. His practice will continue to focus on estate planning, trusts and estates, taxation, and estate administration, as well as corporate work and business transactions primarily for closely held companies. He also has extensive experience with advice to family-owned companies with respect to business-succession planning and representation of the owner with respect to the sale of a closely held business. Roberts has practiced law at Robinson Donovan P.C. since graduating from Georgetown Law in 1974 and served as the firm’s managing partner for many of those years.

•••••

Chris McMasters

Phillips Insurance Agency Inc. announced the promotion of Chris McMasters to the role of vice president. He is an accredited adviser in insurance and has been with Phillips Insurance for more than eight years. He is a graduate of Springfield College. “Chris has developed a strong clientele within the construction, hospitality, and manufacturing industries throughout New England,” said Joseph Phillips, president of Phillips Insurance. “His strong work ethic and creativity in developing risk-management strategies has set him apart.”

•••••

The Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Agricultural Society, the nonprofit organization that manages Northampton’s Three County Fair and fairgrounds, has elected two new members to its board of directors, Jessica Dizek of Mapleline Farm in Hadley and Thomas Giles, former owner of Hadley Garden Center. Dizek and Giles join the society’s board, consisting of 21 other members who make up the fair’s agricultural leadership. Dizek is the fifth generation on her family’s farm. Mapleline Farm milks about 125 Jerseys and bottles their milk on the farm premises, while running a distribution business, wholesaling fluid milk products to the local area and Boston market. Prior to her taking over operating the farm full-time in 2018, Dizek held full-time employment off the farm for 20 years, most recently at UMass Amherst. She started at the university working for cooperative extension programs and eventually working in alumni major gifts. During this time, she also earned her MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. She currently serves as treasurer for the New England Jersey Breeders Assoc. and as a director for the Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board, and is a member of the Massachusetts Dairy Advisory Board for the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center. Giles is a graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, having majored in landscape operations, and first worked for the Hadley Garden Center in the spring of 1973. In January 1988, Giles and his wife, Janine, purchased the center and ran it for 33 years until selling it to Gardeners Supply Co. of Vermont in January 2020. Giles is an active member of the First Congregational Church of Hadley and is on the board of directors for Easthampton Savings Bank and has also served on the horticulture/forestry advisory committee at Smith Vocational High School.

•••••

Heather Gawron

Annie Celdran

Annie Celdran

The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) announced it has hired Development and Grants Associate Heather Gawron and Audience Development Manager Annie Celdran. Gawron has focused the past 10 years of her career on fundraising for community nonprofits in Western Mass. Most recently, she served as senior director of Development at New England Public Media (NEPM), where she focused on overseeing the nonprofit media organization’s fundraising efforts, including grants, on-air fundraising campaigns, and its planned and major giving programs, contributing to the organization’s overall budget of $10 million. Prior to NEPM, Gawron spent years at American International College as executive director of Institutional Advancement. During her tenure at AIC, Gawron was an engine for growth, strengthening and expanding the college’s alumni-engagement program on a national scale. Her stewardship work with alumni yielded remarkable growth in engagement of the alumni base and landed one of the largest-ever single donations made to AIC. She also worked closely in supporting the grant director to secure Title III funding and developed scholarship funds to help AIC students continue their education. Before AIC, Gawron worked for Alstom University, headquartered in Paris, and helped launch five international corporate university campuses across Europe and Asia. Prior to joining SSO, Celdran most recently worked for New England Public Media as the New Voices Campaign manager. She communicated regularly with donors, visitors, and volunteers and worked closely with the president, chief operating officer, and Marketing and Development personnel on ambitious fundraising campaigns. A Western Mass. native, Celdran spent some of her career in San Francisco, utilizing her client-services skills at Hanson Bridgett, LLP, a Bay Area law firm with a reputation for community engagement. At the firm, she managed the Client Concierge and Office Services departments, also bringing her creativity to various fundraising campaigns such as the firm’s annual Food From the Bar campaign in support of the SF-Marin Food Bank.

•••••

Beth Cohen, professor in Western New England University (WNE) School of Law and former WNE Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, has been named interim dean of the School of Law by Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Maria Toyoda. Cohen will provide interim leadership following the departure of current Dean Sudha Setty, who will begin her new role as dean of the City University of New York School of Law on July 1. A School of Law professor since 1990, Cohen has also served as director of the Legal Research and Writing Program since 1999. She was the associate dean for Academic Affairs from 2009 to 2020 and the director of the Academic Support Program from 1994 to 2008. She teaches Lawyering Skills, Externship Seminar, Professional Responsibility, and Mindfulness in Law Practice, and has written a number of articles in the areas of legal education, legal writing, civic education, and name-change law. Cohen graduated cum laude from Suffolk University Law School and earned a diploma in Advanced International Legal Studies in Salzburg, Austria, from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge Law School. She also co-founded and co-directed the popular civic-education Mini-Law School Program at WNE. A search committee will be appointed to conduct a national search for a new School of Law dean. Cohen will hold her position until a new dean is appointed.

•••••

Carolyn Martinez

Carolyn Martinez

Shannon Mumblo, executive director of Christina’s House, announced that Carolyn Martinez has joined the organization as program manager. In her new role, Martinez will work closely with Christina’s House human-services professionals and direct service staff to ensure that mothers and their children who were homeless or near-homeless are developing vital life skills and are steadily working through the program with the goal of transitioning to stable housing and self-sufficiency. Martinez brings first-hand experience to Christina’s House as a graduate of the program. She has worked in community healthcare settings for the past several years and has completed certificate programs in child behavioral health and community health. She is currently a student at Cambridge College working toward a bachelor’s degree in human services.

•••••

Milford Federal Bank announced that Jeremy Leap has joined the Bank as senior vice president, Commercial Lending. He will lead a growing team of commercial bankers, joining Anna Case, associate vice president, Commercial Credit officer, and Operations manager; Anita Carroll, Commercial Portfolio manager; and Stephanie Saraidarian, Commercial Credit representative. Leap has 16 years of experience as a commercial lender, including in the Western Mass. region at Country Bank in Ware and People’s United Bank in Springfield, and most recently at Savers Bank in Southbridge. He is involved with the United Way and Habitat for Humanity.

Daily News

Rotary to Launch Record-breaking Day of Service

By

WEST SPRINGFIELD — More than 100 Rotary clubs and 4,000 Rotarians from Massachusetts and Connecticut will volunteer in their communities on Saturday, April 9 for a record-breaking Rotary Day of Service, collecting food and clothing for the homeless, refurbishing parks, building shelters, and much more.

The Rotary Club of West Springfield has partnered with the Parish Cupboard to collect a wish list of non-perishable items such as jelly, shelf-stable milk, canned and boxed food, as well as travel-sized shampoo.

Donations are being accepted now through April 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at two locations: the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club, 615 Main St.; or Bertera Chrysler Jeep, 539 Riverdale St., West Springfield.

With the involvement of clubs from Western Mass. and the entire state of Connecticut, the Day of Service is an unprecedented Rotary effort to improve the lives of individuals and families in the communities they serve.

“Rotarians are known for their tireless efforts to help those in need, but the Day of Service will be the single largest volunteer effort we’ve ever held in our region,” said Joanne Alfieri, governor of District 7890, which oversees 57 clubs in Western Mass. and Northern Conn.

“Literally every community in our state will be impacted by what happens on April 9,” added Jeff Krause, governor of Rotary District 7980, which oversees 63 clubs in Southern Conn. “From building houses for Habitat for Humanity in Norwich to painting an elementary school in Meriden, our projects will make a difference where help is needed most.”

The Rotary Day of Service promises to be a rewarding day of friendship and community spirit that brings together thousands of people who want to make a difference. For more information, visit www.rotarydayofservice.org.

Daily News

Milford Federal Bank Names Jeremy Leap Senior Vice President, Commercial Lending

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MILFORD — Milford Federal Bank announced that Jeremy Leap has joined the Bank as senior vice president, Commercial Lending. He will lead a growing team of commercial bankers, joining Anna Case, associate vice president, Commercial Credit officer, and Operations manager; Anita Carroll, Commercial Portfolio manager; and Stephanie Saraidarian, Commercial Credit representative.

“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Jeremy to our commercial banking team” said Paul Gilbody, president & CEO of Milford Federal Bank. “Jeremy’s depth and experience in commercial lending expands our capabilities significantly with this important growth area for Milford Federal. He brings strong relationships and familiarity in the communities we serve that will benefit our existing clients and future expansion of our lending portfolio.”

Leap has 16 years of experience as a commercial lender, including in the Western Mass. region at Country Bank in Ware and People’s United Bank in Springfield, and most recently at Savers Bank in Southbridge. He is involved with the United Way and Habitat for Humanity.

Picture This

Picture This

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Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

 

 

 

211 Day

 

The United Way of Pioneer Valley hosted the grand opening of its new Springfield Community Service Center, sponsored by Balise Auto Group, on Feb. 11, a day declared as ‘211 Day’ in the Commonwealth. Municipal and business leaders gathered at ceremonies at 1441 Main St., the location of the new center, for a ribbon cutting that followed comments from several speakers on the services provided by Mass211 and the importance of this program to the region. Ceremonies were held simultaneously in Framingham and the Mass211 headquarters there. Among those speaking were Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno (pictured at the podium); Paul Mina, president and CEO of the United Way of Pioneer Valley; and many others.

 

 

Recognizing Support for Community Colleges

 

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal was awarded the 2022 National Education Service Award during the Assoc. of Community College Trustees’ (ACCT) Community College National Legislative Summit. Holyoke Community College President Christina Royal was on hand to make the presentation. Pictured, from left: Richard Rhodes, American Assoc. of Community Colleges board chair; Neal; Royal; James Cooksey, ACCT board chair; and Jee Hang Lee, ACCT president and CEO.

 

 

Home Sweeter Home

 

In September, Purple Heart Homes (PHH), a veterans-services agency that focuses on housing solutions, and Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity collaborated on a home-preservation project for Peter, a retired Army National Guard staff sergeant, and his wife, Beth. They purchased a duplex in Monson three years ago and live in one unit, while Beth’s daughter and young son live in the other residence. The project fixed a moss-spotted roof, a broken water heater in the daughter’s unit, and damaged exterior doors at both dwellings.

 

 

 

Company Notebook

Company Notebook

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Pride Stores Sold to ArcLight Capital Partners

SPRINGFIELD — Eight months after announcing plans to sell the chain, Pride Stores CEO Bob Bolduc announced a sale to ArcLight Capital Partners. The 31 stores — with several more in development — will keep the Pride name, and the company’s customers and 525 employees will see little change in day-to-day operations, Bolduc told local news outlets, which is one of the reasons ArcLight won out over several other interested parties. In 1976, Bolduc bought a self-serve gas station in Indian Orchard and gradually expanded his business over the years, creating the chain of stores known today as Pride. He also developed a reputation as an industry innovator by marrying the self-service station with another emerging phenomenon, the convenience store. Other innovations would follow; Pride would eventually become the first chain in Western Mass. to put a Dunkin’ Donuts in the stores, and the first to incorporate a Subway. But where the company has really made a name, in recent years, is with its own fresh-food production, supported by the Pride Kitchen, located at the company’s headquarters on Cottage Street in Springfield.

 

TD Bank Center Sold to New Real-estate Partnership

SPRINGFIELD — The 240,000-square-foot, class-A office complex located at 1441 Main St. in Springfield, known as the TD Bank Center, has been sold. The property, located at the corner of Main Street and Harrison Avenue, was sold by an affiliate of TD Bank to a limited-liability company comprised of the principals of Colebrook Realty Services and a company controlled by Jeb Balise, CEO of Balise Auto Group. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed. Originally known as Center Square, the property was developed in the early 1980s by a subsidiary of SIS Bank in a project led by Colebrook CEO Jack Dill. Colebrook has managed and leased the building since its opening in January 1982. Most recently, Colebrook partners Mitch Bolotin and Kevin Morin have had responsibility for leasing and managing TD Bank Center. Balise and Colebrook have worked together for nearly two decades on Balise real-estate projects, represented by Bolotin.

 

 

Western New England University Cited Among Top Online Programs

SPRINGFIELD — In newly released rankings by U.S. News & World Report, Western New England University (WNE) was again recognized among the 2022 Best Online Programs. Among online MBA Programs, WNE made significant gains, jumping 71 places and ranking 153rd (up from 224th in 2021); among Online Graduate Business Programs (Non-MBA), the university ranked 110th (up from 129th in 2021); and among Online Master’s in Engineering Programs, it ranked 79th, up from 104th. The rankings place Western New England University in the top 10 in Massachusetts for accredited online MBA and graduate business programs and in the top three in Massachusetts for accredited master’s in engineering programs. For the 2022 edition, U.S. News & World Report assessed 1,728 online degree programs and ranked 1,646, both all-time highs. Best Online Programs rankings credit schools for long-term investments in designing and scaling their student services, technologies, curricula, and instructor training toward distance learners. The Western New England University College of Engineering continues to be top-ranked in the Online Master’s in Engineering Programs category. For the 2022 Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs rankings, U.S. News ranked ABET-accredited schools using five categories: engagement, faculty credentials, and training; expert opinion, services, and technologies; and student excellence. The College of Engineering offers several full master’s programs online: MS in industrial engineering, MS in engineering management, and MS in electrical engineering. The colleges of Engineering and Business offer a dual-degree master of science in engineering management and an MBA that can be completed entirely online.

 

Holyoke Community College to Introduce Free Child-watch Service

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) will soon introduce a free, drop-in child-watch program for parents who need safe and affordable supervision for their children while they tend to their college studies. When the Itsy Bitsy Child Watch opens in March, HCC will be just the second community college in the state — and the only one in Western Mass. — to offer a child-watch service for its students. The Itsy Bitsy Child Watch will offer free, short-term care to children 6 weeks to 12 years old, provided their parents sign up in advance and remain inside on the Homestead Avenue campus. Parents will be given a restaurant-style pager to alert them to return if necessary. The pilot phase is being funded through a $100,000 allocation in the 2022 Massachusetts budget secured by state Sen. John Velis. HCC is in the process of hiring an interim director to get the child-watch program up and running. Many of the details still need to be worked out, such as days and hours of operation.

 

Forest Park Zoo Again Honored for Education Programming

SPRINGFIELD — For the second time in six months, the Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center is being recognized for its innovative education programming. Most recently, the zoo received the 2021 Educational Award of Excellence, presented by the Zoological Assoc. of America for its Kids Go Wild programming. Kids Go Wild provides a fun, interactive way for school-aged children to learn about various animal species while exploring diets, habitats, adaptations, daily zoo life, and more through cross-hatched science, literacy, and art lessons. Each lesson also meets state education standards set forth by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in at least one or more of the aforementioned disciplines. These lessons were created, developed, and ultimately implemented by the zoo’s director of education, Caroline Cay Adams. The one-on-one, hands-on interactions offered as part of Kids Go Wild bring the typical textbook science lessons right off the page. Kids Go Wild goes beyond single-program learning objectives by encouraging groups to book multiple programs that are implemented over a longer period of time. This ensures that the educator can scaffold lessons to incorporate themes, vocabulary, and topics from previous lesson plans, as well as offer plenty of opportunities for participants to engage with ambassador animals. Examples of lessons include Animal Adaptations; the Food Web; Living Dinosaurs; and Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores. In August 2021, Adams also received the Janet McCoy Excellence in Public Education Award from the American Assoc. of Zookeepers for her work on Kids Go Wild.

 

Berkshire Bank Earns Top Marks in Corporate Equality Index

BOSTON — Berkshire Bank announced that it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Berkshire joins the ranks of more than 840 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year. “We are honored to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation,” said Gary Levante, senior vice president, Corporate Responsibility. “Our goal at Berkshire is always to be a shining example of how a purpose-driven organization can be successful while lifting up everyone in our community. Our Pride Employee Resource Group has been steadfast in their work to create a more equitable workplace, and this honor is a testament to their tireless efforts. We hope that this recognition and our culture will inspire more members of our LGBTQIA+ family to join the Berkshire team as customers and employees.”

 

MCLA, Habitat for Humanity Partner to Offer Free Tax Assistance

NORTH ADAMS — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) and its Department of Business Administration will once again partner with Habitat for Humanity to offer free tax-preparation services to local residents in need through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Habitat for Humanity administers VITA, a program of the IRS, to assist taxpayers with disabilities or limited English-speaking skills, those 60 years of age or older, and individuals who make $57,000 or less per year. MCLA students will be available to complete both basic and advanced returns, including those with itemized deductions. The students who participate in this program undergo a rigorous training, become IRS-certified, and will work under the supervision of MCLA Professor of Accounting Tara Barboza, an enrolled agent with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and a certified public accountant (CPA). In addition to meeting a significant need in Northern Berkshire County, participating in the VITA program is an opportunity for students to gain valuable, hands-on preparation experience. They will earn college credit, and accounting students can use this credit toward the requirements for the CPA exam. Interested individuals should call Habitat for Humanity offices at (413) 442-0002 or (413) 442-3181 to find out if they qualify and schedule an appointment. Hours will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 to 8 p.m. in Murdock Hall on the MCLA campus in North Adams. The program will continue through April 13.

 

Daily News

Monson Family Celebrates Home Preservation Program

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WEST SPRINGFIELD — In September, Purple Heart Homes (PHH), a veterans-services agency that focuses on housing solutions, asked Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH), a nonprofit and non-governmental organization, if it would like to collaborate on a home-preservation project. Peter, a retired Army National Guard staff sergeant, and his wife, Beth, purchased a duplex in Monson three years ago. They live in one unit. Beth’s daughter and young son live in the other residence. Both units needed repair.

GSHFH’s Home Preservation Program provides affordable microloans to qualifying homeowners who need help with accessibility modifications, home weatherization, general home repairs, yard cleanup, and landscaping. Greater Springfield Habitat sent staff to assess the three areas of concern — a moss-spotted roof, a broken water heater in the daughter’s unit, and damaged exterior doors at both dwellings.

“We are always happy to work cooperatively with Purple Heart Homes to improve the living conditions for an area veteran and his or her family,” said Deborah O’Mara, Family Services manager. “By teaming up, we can do much more than either organization could ever do alone. When we are finished, the Wiggins family will have a fully functional and weathertight home in which to live.”

Matt Stevenson, director of PHH’s Veteran Home Opportunity Program, agreed.

“For Purple Heart Homes, our partnership with GSHFH for Peter’s home remodel/repair project is a significant force multiplier for our organization. This collaboration bridges both our organizations’ strengths, and together, we’re able to assist more veterans in our communities,” Stevenson said. “This is the second veteran project PHH has completed with Greater Springfield Habitat, and we look forward to a continued partnership in the future.”

The roof, siding, and water-heater issues were addressed in December. Exterior doors for side entrances and the basement are on order.

“My house was looking like the Amityville Horror house, but now it sparkles like Disneyland,” Peter said. “The moss on the roof, gone, The mossy steps in the front, gone. An excellent job worthy of praise and kudos.”

Myke Connolly is a serial entrepreneur who has always understood — and always preached — the power of marketing.
Cover Story

Myke Connolly Excels at Getting the Message Across

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Standing Out in His Field

Myke Connolly is a serial entrepreneur who has always understood — and always preached — the power of marketing.

Myke Connolly is a serial entrepreneur who has always understood — and always preached — the power of marketing.

Myke Connolly, known to some as Mr. Stinky Cakes, is a serial entrepreneur who has always understood — and always preached — the power of marketing. His latest venture is a business that brings that message to light, figuratively but also quite literally. Stand Out Truck has now attracted clients ranging from parents of high-school graduates to the local shop to President Biden — or at least one of his marketing teams. The goal is to make this a national brand, and he’s well down that road.

Myke Connolly says the e-mail found its way into his inbox around 2 that Monday afternoon.

The firm handling some marketing and promotion work for the Biden administration wanted to know if Connolly and his team at Stand Out Truck could have one of his vehicles — pickup trucks outfitted to carry digital wording and imaging — in New Hampshire the next day to present a message promoting the president’s Build Back Better plan of action.

The quick answer, as it almost always is with such inquiries, was ‘yes.’

By early that evening, the message “Better Roads. Better Bridges. Better Jobs. — Brought to you by Joe Biden” — complete with a picture of the 46th president — had been readied, and before dawn the next morning, a crew was on its way to the Granite State.

“We spent some time in Manchester, then we went to Woodstock, where the president spoke in front of that bridge, and then we went back to Manchester, and then back to Springfield — it was an eight-hour campaign,” he noted, adding that, other than the name on the account, this was much like most of his gigs to date.

The assignment from the Biden camp gives Connolly and Stand Out Truck (SOT) a new and impressive top line for its growing list of clients, and a new example of how quickly the company can respond to client needs and present a message to an intended audience.

And since this serial entrepreneur known to some as ‘Mr. Stinky Cakes’ launched this venture just as the pandemic was arriving in this region (more on that later), there have been all kinds of messages — and all kinds of audiences.

In that first category, there’s been everything from birthday wishes and congratulations to a high-school or college graduate to last-minute messages from political candidates; from invites to a pitch contest to welcome messages from a bank with a new branch in the neighborhood. The audiences, meanwhile, have ranged from families to groups attending a VFW-sponsored car show to cities and counties, as in New Hampshire.

Stand Out Truck landed a high-profile assignment helping President Biden promote his Build Back Better plan.

Stand Out Truck landed a high-profile assignment helping President Biden promote his Build Back Better plan.

And while the concept is gathering speed, as well as clients, Connolly believes he’s just getting started. Indeed, while he has one eye on the present and his two trucks on the road, his other is on the future and prospects for taking the business to the regional and even national levels, with perhaps licensing options (there’s already one of those in place) and franchising.

“The goal is to build a national brand — eventually, I want to take my company public,” he said, adding that he’s building for the long term and striving for steady growth.

Meanwhile, Connolly, 39, lives by what he encourages his clients to do — aggressively marketing his business. He said the Biden camp found him not by accident, but because he’s visible and always promoting what he does. And he advises businesses — and those politicians — to do the same; indeed, Stand Out Truck is an offshoot, or expansion, of a marketing business he started called Launch and Stand Out Agency. That’s the same title he put on a book he wrote in 2013.

“We make ourselves so visible and so accessible, we have some high-profile people that reach out to us all the time,” he explained, he said, adding that his business model is all about getting a message across — figuratively, but, in the case of his trucks, also quite literally.

“The goal is to build a national brand — eventually, I want to take my company public.”

And this new venture is the culmination of three decades (yes, he started when he was in grammar school) of being in business and marketing himself and his products and services.

“I always tell people … it’s not the truck,” he said. “It’s everything behind it; that’s why it works.”

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Connolly about his latest venture, a lifetime (almost) of entrepreneurship, and how, in his words, he’s marketing “in slow motion.”

 

Seeing His Name in Lights

Connolly’s relatively new mailing address is a small suite in the Venture X complex — a co-working space — in Holyoke. Along one wall of that space is a collection of more than 100 photos of his Stand Out Trucks in action.

The wall is almost entirely full, and these framed images speak to just how far this venture has come in almost two years. And as he talked, Connolly kept gesturing … to the Biden assignment. To his message to an employee enjoying a birthday — “his phone was ringing all day because people were seeing the truck.” To at least a half-dozen political candidates and their messages. To several corporate clients with various messages. To high-school graduates … the list goes on.

One wall of Myke Connolly’s space at Venture X

One wall of Myke Connolly’s space at Venture X is covered by photos of his Stand Out Trucks in action.

The road to filling that wall has been a long one, with a number of twists and turns.

As noted earlier, Connolly is a serial entrepreneur. He’s been in business and marketing, and also studying business and marketing, to some extent since he was 9.

Connolly grew up in the Bahamas and spent a lot of his time with his stepfather, who owned a pest-control business. He remembers a lot about those days, but especially what he saw on the coffee tables and TVs of clients, especially the wealthy ones. The coffee tables boasted business magazines, and the TVs had shows with the stock-market crawler at the bottom.

“I would go home and watch the TV show with the ticker,” he recalled. “I understood nothing, but I knew enough to know that all these successful people were doing the same thing — and watching that ticker — so there had to be something to that.”

While watching, he did a lot of reading and learned about successful entrepreneurs like Yankee Candle founder Mike Kittredge, Vermont Teddy Bear founder John Sortino, and many others — stories he said he could understand as a young person and draw inspiration from.

When, in 2008, he started his first business, Stinky Cakes, which offered practical gifts to new parents such as cakes shaped from diapers (hence the name), he would call on Kittredge, Sortino, and some of the others to talk about marketing, brand building, and much more.

“In month two, they started canceling graduations. So I said, ‘forget about selling ad space to businesses … I’m just going to go celebrate all these kids that I know.’ I turned it into a graduation truck.”

“These guys were in my phone; when I had questions, I would call them,” he told BusinessWest. “And that’s why I encourage kids today to read and to learn about entrepreneurs, and to reach out to them; truly successful people always want to find a way to help.”

As for marketing, Connolly says he’s been doing that since he was 9, when he would take some of the candy his grandmother would bring back from trips to Florida and sell it to classmates in school.

“I had flavors, like Jolly Ranchers, that the school store didn’t have,” he explained. “I didn’t know it was marketing at the time, but I started giving the candy to kids in my class. That’s how simple marketing is — showing people that would buy what you have that you have what they want.”

As a result of his success in business and marketing, Connolly was asked to do some teaching, guest lecturing, and mentoring of young entrepreneurs by groups like Valley Venture Mentors and EforAll Holyoke.

He focuses heavily on building credit, creating solid cash flow, and sound money management. “If you don’t know how to manage your money, none of this will ever work,” he said. “I say, ‘you can be making $1 million a year, but it you’re spending $1.5 million … then you’re in big trouble.’”

One course he’s taught is called the “100 Grand Plan,” which, as that name suggests, advises those taking it on how to make their first $100,000. Among the keys to doing so, and one that is often overlooked, is marketing.

“In order to make money, you have to understand marketing, but no matter how much we laid it out and taught them, some of them just didn’t get it,” he told BusinessWest. “So some of them started asking me to do their marketing for them.”

This led to the creation of the Launch and Stand Out agency, he went on, adding that one of his clients wanted to feature children on billboards across the country and hired him to do some of the buying of space on those boards.

This experience prompted him to want become part of what’s known as the ‘out-of-home’ advertising business, and, specifically, digital billboards — in this case, ones that move.

“I had a group of really intelligent engineers put together the truck … and we just started,” he said, joking that he could have bought two Ferraris for what he spent on the trucks and the related equipment.

 

The Road to Success

A big component of any business venture is timing, said Connolly, adding that, with Stand Out Truck, his was awful. For the most part, anyway.

He launched on March 9, 2020, a carefully chosen date that coincides with the death (in 1997) of rapper Biggie Smalls. Unfortunately, it also coincided with the arrival of COVID-19. Indeed, just as he was putting his trucks on the road, the state and most all businesses were shutting down, and people across the region were hunkering down.

Myke Connolly’s clients run the gamut

Myke Connolly’s clients run the gamut from local organizations to national brands.

It was a tough time to start, but Connelly, again practicing what he preaches — in lectures to college students, advice to young entrepreneurs, and also in the book he wrote called Launch and Stand Out — made sure he started out with enough capital to withstand what he expected would be a few soft months of getting his name and product out and building up the business.

Business turned out to even softer than he anticipated. But he was helped by some of those connections he made teaching and lecturing in area colleges.

“In month two, they started canceling graduations,” he recalled. “So I said, ‘forget about selling ad space to businesses … I’m just going to go celebrate all these kids that I know.’ I turned it into a graduation truck.”

Elaborating, he said he essentially covered half the cost of hiring one of his trucks to celebrate a graduate himself, charging the rest to families looking for a unique way to honor a son or daughter not able to walk across a stage to pick up a diploma.

“I made it super affordable,” he recalled. “Kids were being celebrated on the truck for $75, and that included photography, editing the photos, everything; we gave them something really special. We probably did more than 500 of those.”

Since that adventurous start, the company has been steadily building its client base, which now includes everything from the local pizza shop to national brands (Texas Roadhouse, for example) to the president, and the goal is the same with all of them — to help get the message out, but in a unique and somewhat powerful way.

The concept caught the attention of PeoplesBank, which first used one of Connolly’s trucks to drive applications to the EforAll Holyoke class last spring. The bank used the company for its own business for the opening of a branch in West Hartford, hiring SOT to generate awareness around the banking-center location prior to its official opening, and also to appear at the grand-opening party and a nearby ‘build day’ undertaken in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity in Hartford.

“Mychal is a ‘hustler’ in the very best sense of the word,” said Matt Bannister, senior vice president of Marketing and Corporate Responsibility for the bank. “He has endless energy and enthusiasm, tremendous work ethic, and a strong focus on getting results for his customers. The SOT allows us to bring our message to places it might not ordinarily reach, and the quality of the images on the truck is a good representation of the brand.”

Moving forward, Connolly, who now boasts a team of 10, including designers, drivers, and those managing the equipment, wants to earn more testimonials like that. With them, he believes his goal of taking the company national — and eventually going public — are perhaps within reach.

“Some people think we’re a guy with a truck. We’re not — we’re a startup, and we’re looking to build the right way,” he said, adding that, while there are digital billboards in virtually every market, his concept is relatively unique. Meanwhile, he brings strong marketing experience to the table that can help clients create a strategy, not merely a message on wheels.

“I’m not just a guy with a truck — I’ve been doing marketing since I was 9 years old,” he went on. “I love marketing, and I respect the craft of marketing, and I love giving that to my clients. It’s not just about putting a picture on a truck and driving around.”

 

To a Higher Gear

In addition to all those framed pictures of his trucks in action, Connolly’s office also sports a small sign that serves to inform and inspire both his students and himself.

It features numbers breaking down what $1 million a year in revenue equates to, as in … $83,333 a month, $19,230 a week, and $2,739 a day. There’s then a poignant tagline: ‘Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do.’

Connolly has lived by that credo all his life, and Stand Out Truck is the latest example. He doesn’t know where he can go with this concept, but he’s allowing himself to think, and dream, big.

That’s the message he drives home to his students and mentees, and now … well, he’s driving home all kinds of messages. And, in doing so, writing another stirring chapter in the book that is his life.

 

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

Daily News

Nonprofit Leaders Attend Zoominar on Florence Bank’s Customers’ Choice Program

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FLORENCE — Twenty-six Hampden County nonprofit leaders attended Florence Bank’s first Zoominar event in mid-October to learn about participation in the bank’s Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program.

The organizations have since launched individual efforts to raise awareness about their missions in hopes of helping them gain votes — and funds — at the bank’s 20th annual Customers’ Choice celebration in May 2022.

“So generous,” said Laurie Flynn, president and CEO of Link to Libraries. “Thank you so much. Florence Bank is such a wonderful community partner.”

Nonprofit leaders who missed the Zoominar and would like a link to the video can contact Erin Defoyd, Marketing Communications manager/officer, at [email protected].

Florence Bank held the informational event as it now has three branches in Hampden County — in West Springfield, Springfield, and Chicopee — and bank leaders want all nonprofits to be aware of the grant program so they can take advantage of the opportunity.

“Part of our mission is philanthropic in nature,” President and CEO Kevin Day told attendees on the Zoominar. “We provide support to the communities we serve in many different ways. Twenty years ago, the bank began asking our customers where some of the bank’s donations dollars should be spent, and our Customers’ Choice program was launched. Listening to customers was a natural extension of how we run our bank.”

Zoominar attendees also heard Defoyd give an overview of the materials in the bank’s Customers’ Choice PR kit and talk specifically about using social media to promote the program. Janice Beetle of Beetle Press, who partners with the bank’s marketing team, talked about how to customize the press-release template.

Monica Curhan, senior vice president and Marketing director, served as moderator and also introduced the managers of the three Hampden County branches: Emily Tower, West Springfield; Nikki Gleason, Springfield; and Kimberly Downing, Chicopee.

To qualify for a community grant, organizations must receive at least 50 votes from Florence Bank customers. In the past 20 years, Florence Bank has donated $1.3 million to 158 nonprofit organizations. In 2020, almost 7,000 votes were cast, and 32 nonprofits accepted grant awards in May, with a total of $100,500 handed out.

These nonprofits attended the Zoominar: Homework House, Litwin School PTO, Square One, Link to Libraries Inc., Shriners Hospitals for Children – Springfield, Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield, Chicopee Fire Department, Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, Greater Holyoke YMCA, Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, Kiwanis Club of Springfield, Randall Boys & Girls Club, Revitalize CDC, Rick’s Place, Ronald McDonald House of Springfield, the Gray House Inc., the Parish Cupboard, Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Transitions Through Motion, Valley Opportunity Council, and YMCA of Greater Springfield.

These organizations are listed on the voting page and in a promotional piece being handed to customers in the Hampden County branches through Dec. 31, when voting closes.

The bank’s kit for nonprofits includes an information sheet on the Customers’ Choice program, a sample flyer to display, and a press release leaders can adapt and send to the media. To access the Community Grants Kit, visit www.florencebank.com/customer-choice-kit.

Customers of Florence Bank can vote for a nonprofit by visiting www.florencebank.com/customers-choice-community-grants or voting in a Florence Bank branch.

Features Special Coverage

COVID Has Given New Definition to Corporate Stewardship

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A Changing Dynamic

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the business landscape in countless ways — from where and how employees work to how people communicate. It has also prompted businesses large and small to stop, think about that phrase ‘corporate stewardship’ and what it means to them, and perhaps re-evaluate this all-important concept. We put together a panel of local business and nonprofit managers to discuss the broad topic of corporate stewardship and how COVID may have provided new definition — in every aspect of that phrase — to this issue. For businesses, the pandemic has provided an opportunity to revisit the matter of community involvement and often find new and different ways to give back.
For nonprofits, missions have been broadened, and there has some been pivoting, out of both necessity and a desire to serve in different ways. The panelists are: Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank; Theresa Jasmin, chief financial officer at Big Y Foods; Amy Scribner, partnership director at East School-to-Career Inc., a nonprofit that provides internships, or work-based learning opportunities and other career-education initiatives, for students; Jack Verducci, vice president of Corporate Partnership for the Worcester Red Sox; Dexter Johnson, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Springfield; and Michelle D’Amore, executive director of Ronald McDonald House. Scully may have set the tone for the discission when he said, “I think the pandemic has been exhausting and aging, but it’s also been reflective, and I think it’s prompting people to be reflective about how to live your life and how to make a difference.”

BusinessWest: Let’s start by getting your take on — and your working definition of — those phrases ‘corporate stewardship’ and ‘being a good corporate citizen.’

Scully: “Country Bank has been around for 172 years, and its legacy for all those years has been the belief that healthy communities thrive. We’re all in business for our companies to do well, but from a community perspective, we need communities that are healthy — healthy economically, heathy demographically, educationally, with regard to healthcare. So giving back has always been a focus here, and in recent years we’ve taken it to a higher level, both with writing checks and having people on the street giving back and being part of the community. And it differs, depending on what the needs are. There can be very significant multi-year pledges — we just pledged $1 million for hunger awareness in June, with $500,000 for food banks in both Central and Western Mass., because if people have good nutrition, healthy communities will thrive — or having 14 people at Habitat for Humanity helping to build a house. It’s a focus that we do big and small.”

Jasmin: “Being involved in the community is part of the fabric of our company; we consider ourselves a family, we have a culture of caring, and we focus on personal connection, whether that’s with our customers, our employees, or throughout the community. And that manifests itself in many different ways, from large donations to capital campaigns to investments in time and talent. For us, though, it’s about relationships and creating strong vibrant communities; that’s what corporate stewardship means to us.”

Scribner: “For our organization, it’s not so much the money; it’s about organizations allowing these students to come in for semester and do a work-based learning opportunity, and that has long been a challenge for us. We’re trying to create a pipeline for employment, and to do that, we need businesses to assist us and open their doors to students. Often, it’s not about just writing a check, but getting involved on a deeper level.”

D’Amore: “We as a nonprofit are always seeking — and grateful to receive — financial support from the community. But we also rely on our volunteer base. Our organization was built on volunteers; it is the foundation of what we do. For us, we’re continuing our outreach and working with the community to ensure that what we receive is supporting the families who are with us — and there are many forms that this support can take.”

Verducci: “Our WooSox Foundation is a new foundation and not heavily funded, but what we do have is a platform to provide valuable and equitable experiences to the community; specifically, we tend to focus on pediatric oncology, recreation, education, and social justice. So while we love to donate the funds that we do have, we tend to be able to do the most good through corporate partners and partnerships within the community.”

BusinessWest: Has the pandemic changed the dynamic when it comes to corporate stewardship, and if so, how?

Jasmin: “What changed was how urgent the need was and the need to move quickly to respond to those needs. We have a pretty structured mechanism for people who are looking for financial assistance. But during the pandemic, that was accelerated because there was a high sense of urgency. For example, within a week of the shelter-in-place order in March of 2020, we gave some sizable donations to each of the five food banks in our operating area because businesses were shutting down, and people were out of work; the social structure to support those people was not in place yet, so food banks were being taxed. We made that gift quickly, and we made a second gift four weeks later when the need was continuing. That’s one of the ways we adjusted — moving more quickly to meet needs.”

Theresa Jasmin

Theresa Jasmin

“What changed was how urgent the need was and the need to move quickly to respond to those needs.”

Scully: “The urgency absolutely was escalated, but so has the dynamic. When I think of the nonprofits I sit on, so many of them rely on not only corporate giving, but some type of event or two over the course of the year. We’ve all been to a million chicken dinners; what I say to my group is that, when the auction is there, bid high and bid often, because that’s what it’s all about. The big piece that we saw was that people weren’t going to events because they weren’t being held. And it was a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind,’ unfortunately. The money was needed, the funding was needed, but the money wasn’t coming in, and yet all of those organizations had a more dire need than is typical because there were so many people impacted by the pandemic. We looked at it and said, ‘yeah, we can stay with our traditional model of what we do, but there’s a big need to step in here.’ When we look at corporate stewardship and how things have changed over the past 20 months, the need has increased exponentially. So many were hoping that this was the year — we all had our calendars ready for events, and then, they had to switch to virtual events, which don’t raise enough money. So the corporate community needs to realize that, even if there isn’t an event, the needs are so great, and they need to get out there and make a difference.”

D’Amore: “From a nonprofit perspective, we had to figure out how we could support our mission differently. When the pandemic was creeping, we were mandated by our global entity, which holds our licensing agreement, that we could no longer accept new families. And when the last of the families went home, we actually turned it around to provide support to frontline healthcare workers. We opened the house to workers at Baystate to give them an opportunity — if they needed a place to stay, if they needed to take a shower or get a cup of coffee. So our team was committed to support healthcare and support our partner hospitals who are there for us all the time. The tables turned a little bit, but we are able to continue to support our mission in this time of need, and you saw many organizations doing similar things. We pivoted and reinvented ourselves.”

Scribner: “Last year was a real struggle for students; 20% of those students in the Commonwealth just fell off the radar. So we had to change our mindset and pivot, just to help these students communicate how they were feeling. We would have speakers come in an talk about that — how they’re dealing with it, how their companies and themselves personally are dealing with COVID and being on Zoom meetings and not being in school and not being at work. Kids, while resilient, really had a tough time; they missed going to work and interacting with people. It’s those little things that we don’t think about — like going to a company or going to UMass on a field trip. We’re slowly getting back to whatever the new normal is. But last year, we had to have an open mindset and be really flexible about what we could do for the students and also about what we can learn from all these experiences and take those best practices.”

Amy Scribner

Amy Scribner

“Last year, we had to have an open mindset and be really flexible about what we could do for the students and also about what we can learn from all these experiences and take those best practices.”

Johnson: “With the pivot in funding that happened when a lot of companies started steering dollars toward COVID-related things, we also steered a lot of what we were doing toward COVID-related things; we were one of the few places that didn’t really close. When childcare was shut down for the Commonwealth essentially, and then an emergency first-responder-type childcare reopened for those working in retail or transportation or hospitals, we pivoted; our centers closed for one week and then reopened as an emergency childcare facility. We did continue to operate during that time, and on the youth-development side, there were still a lot of great opportunities from a funding standpoint to continue to be involved with some of our corporate sponsors that were changing direction and focusing on COVID.”

Verducci: “We essentially became volunteers; we turned our ballpark in Rhode Island, where we were still based until May, into a food-distribution network. Food insecurity became a huge issue in the region, so we were able to partner with Ocean State Job Lot, which would donate the food, and we would use McCoy Stadium as a vehicle to get that food to people who needed it. We also did coat drives, and we turned the park over to the state to become a testing facility. We tried to use our resources to help where it would do the most good. And once we transitioned to Worcester, we again became volunteers, going to Worcester State University to do food drives and coat drives, and most of those partnerships were with our corporate partners that we’ve had long-time relationships with. We all came together and said, ‘how can we do the best thing for the community, and what do we have at our disposal to move quickly in this challenging environment?’”

Jack Verducci

Jack Verducci

“We all came together and said, ‘how can we do the best thing for the community, and what do we have at our disposal to move quickly in this challenging environment?’”

Scully: “It was suddenly about putting on a different pair of glasses and switching gears when it comes to how you do things. It’s all about, as everyone has talked about, switching gears and saying ‘how do we adapt?’ much like we’ve all had to adapt to how we run our businesses remotely and attend meetings via Zoom.”

BusinessWest: What are the lessons we’ve learned from all this, from having to put a different pair of glasses, and how will this carry over into the future in terms of how we look at corporate stewardship and giving back?

Scully: “If we say that this is the end of the pandemic — and that’s a stretch, certainly — I think what all this has done for us is provide reassurance about how just how good people are and that everyone wants to be a part of something greater. We have a big building here, and for a while there, about four of us were here. You weren’t connecting with people. But as soon as the opportunity came for people to come back, not only to the office, but to get involved with volunteering again, they really wanted to. I think the pandemic has been exhausting and aging, but it’s also been reflective, and I think it’s prompting people to be reflective about how to live your life and how to make a difference. I think people want to be part of something greater, so I think that stewardship will be stronger than ever because this has almost been that switch that has prompted us all to rethink what’s important. There’s a silver lining to everything, and sometimes it’s hard to find, but I think this is it.”

Paul Scully

Paul Scully

“If we say that this is the end of the pandemic — and that’s a stretch, certainly — I think what all this has done for us is provide reassurance about how just how good people are and that everyone wants to be a part of something greater.”

Jasmin: “It was reinforcing for us in terms of our viewpoint on our being involved in the community. We took a look at what our philosophy was and really came out with an even greater understanding that these are the pillars we want to focus on. We’re a food company, first and foremost, and one of our pillars is hunger relief and helping with food insecurity. And that was reinforced for us — this is a continuing need, and we should be involved with it. And just in general, it’s also reinforced that we should continue to be involved — that our investment that we’re making in time and money and people is needed and is valuable. What this has taught us is that we need to be invested continuously, so when a crisis occurs, you can react quickly. It’s not something you can develop from scratch. Overall, it was reinforcing.”

Verducci: “I think the pandemic was a catalyst for empathy amongst companies; it was shared experience that was totally unprecedented, so people were empathetic with each other, and they really did understand what was happening with everyone. Instead of people saying ‘maybe not this year’ when we reached out, everyone we contacted over the past 18 months was willing to help in some way. The other thing we realized was that even the best-laid plans are not going to go the way we anticipate, so you need to be flexible and, more importantly, creative, and this will carry forward.”

D’Amore: “As challenging as the pandemic has been, I think a lot of good has come from it in terms of pausing. Whether as an individual, business, or nonprofit, we all took the time to pause, re-evaluate, and say, ‘what’s the need? How can we help each other?’ Sometimes, prior to the pandemic, we were very focused on our own business model or our own mission, and where it was going. But we were all in the same boat essentially wanting to row in the same direction, so we collectively said, ‘how can we do this together?’”

Michelle D’Amour

Michelle D’Amore

“As challenging as the pandemic has been, I think a lot of good has come from it in terms of pausing. Whether as an individual, business, or nonprofit, we all took the time to pause, re-evaluate, and say, ‘what’s the need? How can we help each other?’”

Johnson: “I think the pandemic pushed us [nonprofits] to work closer together in different ways, such as going after joint funding as one large organization rather than individually, so it has definitely had that benefit.”

BusinessWest: Going forward, how do we maintain this new spirit of cooperation, this new sense of urgency, when it comes to giving back?

Jasmin: “One of the things we lost during the pandemic was that personal connection. We missed seeing our colleagues, our families, and people in the community at large; through corporate stewardship and giving back, we can create those personal connections, and people are recognizing how important this is. The community is us, so when you’re giving back to the community, you’re giving back to yourself, your family, your friends, and your co-workers.”

Scully: It starts with all of us — the leaders or organizations — to set the pace. The pandemic may not be over, but I think that what is over is the hunker-down mentality of being locked up at home in the basement on a computer talking to your colleagues all day. It’s time to get on with life. It won’t be the old normal, it will be the new normal, and the new normal is going to be dependent on so many of us to set that tone — that it’s time to get back out there for a Habitat event, with getting over to the Ronald McDonald House to help prepare a dinner when that becomes available to do. It’s dependent on the leadership or organizations to reinforce that tone.”

Scribner: “This pandemic has really allowed people to take time to reflect on their own lives and what’s important to them and their priorities. And when you’re given that time, I think you realize what’s important in life. When it comes to being hunkered down, I think the pandemic provided time and opportunity for people to say, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore; I want to get out, and I want to be part of my community. I want to be part of making a difference.’ People are realizing just how precious things are now, whether it’s shoveling the sidewalk for a neighbor or providing food for a food bank.”

Dexter Johnson

Dexter Johnson

“I think the pandemic pushed us [nonprofits] to work closer together in different ways, such as going after joint funding as one large organization rather than individually, so it has definitely had that benefit.”

Johnson: “In the normal ebb and flow of things, we get hyped up because something’s happened, whether it’s 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina or the tornado — things that bring us together for a short time. And then, life gets back to normal, and human nature tends to make us drift back to how we were. I think COVID is very different … it impacted everyone, every state, every city — we all know someone who has lost their life or lost their job because of it. It’s had a more far-reaching impact than any of those other tragedies, and, hopefully, that will allow it to stick with us and keep that mentality of realizing how fragile life can be.”

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

Daily News

United Way of Pioneer Valley Opens Volunteer Signups for Day of Caring 2021

By

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley is holding volunteer signups for Day of Caring 2021, which takes place on Friday, Sept. 24. Volunteers may sign up at uwpv.org/doc21-events.

“There is a greater need than ever for kindness, good deeds, and building our sense of community this year,” said Paul Mina, president and CEO of United Way of Pioneer Valley. “I implore anyone with free time on or around Day of Caring 2021 to sign up and do good with us. Help our nonprofits, who have struggled greatly through the COVID-19 pandemic, and you will start your last weekend of September with the best night’s sleep you can find — knowing you’ve done a good thing when it was needed most.”

This year, Day of Caring sites include Chicopee Boys & Girls Club, Chicopee Child Development Center, Stanley Park in Westfield, Habitat for Humanity, Westfield Schools, Springfield Boys & Girls Club, Gray House, and YMCA of Greater Springfield, among others. Volunteers will be instructed to follow COVID-19 safety protocols at each location.

Learn more about Day of Caring, the United Way’s annual day of giving back, at uwpv.org/day-of-caring, or donate at uwpv.org/donate.

People on the Move

People on the Move

By
Dr. Lynnette Watkins

Dr. Lynnette Watkins

Dr. Lynnette Watkins, an ophthalmologist and healthcare administrator and leader, has been named president and CEO of Cooley Dickinson Health Care. Currently the group chief medical officer for the Baptist Health System/Tenet Healthcare – Texas Group, she will begin her new role at Cooley Dickinson on Sept. 27. Since joining Baptist Health System/Tenet Healthcare in 2017, she has been a member of a team that has provided executive oversight for the multi-hospital system that stretches across the state, with more than 3,600 beds and $3.45 billion in patient revenue. She also has significant leadership experience in community-hospital settings. In addition, Watkins has ties to Massachusetts and the Mass General Brigham system, having completed her residency at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, where she began her clinical career in ophthalmology and oculoplastic surgery and served on the faculty of Harvard Medical School. Before joining the Baptist Health System, Watkins held the position of chief medical officer and chief operating officer at Paris Regional Medical Center in Paris, Texas. She has also served as chief medical officer in Tenet’s Abrazo Community Health Network in Arizona. Her career as a healthcare executive began in Mishawaka, Ind., where she was vice president and chief medical officer for the Saint Joseph Health System/Trinity Health. Watkins earned her undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and completed her internship in internal medicine at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City before coming to Boston in 1995 as a resident in ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. After residency, she completed a fellowship in oculoplastic surgery at the University of Iowa, then returned to Massachusetts Eye and Ear, where from 1999 to 2004 she directed the emergency ophthalmology service and walk-in clinic and was an attending physician in the Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Service.

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Brian Rucki

Brian Rucki

Amanda Carpe

Amanda Carpe

Bacon Wilson announced that Brian Rucki and Amanda Carpe have joined the firm as associate attorneys. Rucki is a member of the real-estate team, and Carpe has joined the probate and estate-planning department. Prior to joining Bacon Wilson, Rucki spent five years practicing law in Westfield, where he worked on all aspects of real-estate transactions including purchases, sales, refinances, and title work, as well as estate-planning matters. Previously, he also served as a clerk in the solicitor’s office for the town of Agawam, where his work focused on municipal law. He attended Western New England University School of Law, earning his juris doctor laude in 2016. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst in 2013. Carpe comes to Bacon Wilson with five years of experience in estate planning, estate administration, guardianship, conservatorship, and residential real estate. She previously practiced in Ludlow and Worcester. In addition to her work in estates and probate, she clerked for the Hampden County Juvenile Court and interned with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, where her work focused on juvenile and child-welfare law. She earned her juris doctor in 2016 from Western New England University School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree from Wilkes University in 2013.

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Joseph Deady

Joseph Deady

Kaitlyn Malin

North Brookfield Savings Bank announced the promotions of Joseph Deady and Kaitlyn Malin within the Operations department. Deady has been promoted to Digital Services manager/fraud analyst. He will be responsible for ensuring the bank is using all possible digital products to align with its strategic goals and the needs of our customers, while overseeing account fraud. He joined the bank as a teller in 2011 and has held various roles, including supervisor and management roles and finally fraud analyst in the Operations department in 2015. Most recently, he held the title of Operations specialist and fraud analyst, handling debit-card fraud claims and account compromises and processing and reviewing international wires. Deady has more than 10 years of professional banking experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He is also ACH-certified. He supports his local communities by volunteering his time and attending fundraising events for local, community-focused organizations like Camp Putnam in New Braintree. Malin has been promoted to Operations specialist. She holds an associate degree from Mount Wachusett Community College. She previously held the position of Operations customer service representative, where she was tasked with answering customer calls and connecting customers and non-customers with appropriate staff to assist them. She also was responsible for reviewing all daily Operations reports. Before coming to the bank in November 2020, she worked as a teller at Athol Savings Bank. In her three years, there she assisted customers with transactions, concerns, and other inquiries. In her new role, Malin will be responsible for reviewing reports to mitigate fraud and risk for both the bank and customers as well as servicing customers’ online banking needs and completing account modifications such as travel notifications.

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J. Williar Dunleavy, chairman of Berkshire Bank and its parent company, will retire in September, the bank announced. He will be succeeded on the board of both the bank and Berkshire Hills Bancorp by David Brunelle, currently vice chairman. Brunelle is co-founder of Northe Pointe Wealth Management in Worcester. He has been on the board since 2017. Dunleavy took over as chair of the board in late 2019, when Bill Ryan, formerly the chief exective of Banknorth, gave up the position for health reasons.

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Joseph DaSilva

Joseph DaSilva

Richard Glejzer

Richard Glejzer

Jeannette Smith

Jeannette Smith

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) recently welcomed three new vice presidents to its executive team: Joseph DaSilva, vice president of Administration and Finance; Richard Glejzer, vice president of Academic Affairs; and Jeannette Smith, vice president of Student Affairs. DaSilva has worked in public higher education for more than 28 years, the last 21 at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC). During his tenure as vice president of Administration and chief financial officer, he provided executive-level vision, leadership, planning, and direction, and managed all aspects of fiscal operations, facilities management, Campus Police, Information Technology, Student Financial Services, and Human Resources/Employee Benefits and Operations Center. Glejzer was most recently the interim dean of Graduate Studies at Muhlenberg College, and previously served as provost and dean of Faculty at Marlboro College for 10 years. Prior to joining Marlboro, he served as professor and chair of English at North Central College and as chair of the college’s academic programs and policy committee. Among his other institutional duties, he served on the college’s steering committee and the dean’s academic advisory committee. He was a faculty liaison to the board of trustees. Earlier in his career at North Central, Glejzer revised the composition program as the director of Writing. Smith is a scholar-practitioner with 16 years of work experience in higher education, having worked most recently as the associate dean of Student Affairs and Engagement at Evergreen State College. She was previously employed at Truckee Meadows Community College, the University of Nevada Reno, and Elmhurst College. Her practice areas of experience include student unions, residence life and dining, academic advising, financial aid, shared governance, and student employment. Her scholarship areas of interests include policy, equity, financial aid, and student development.

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Sam Einzig

Sam Einzig

UMassFive College Federal Credit Union recently introduced Sam Einzig as the newest member of UMassFive’s Retirement Planning and Investments team available through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. He supports the credit union’s team of CFS financial advisors by scheduling appointments, sending appointment reminders, and helping with advisor administrative duties and service work. As an advisor assistant, he is also now the primary contact for current and prospective clients looking to work with the credit union’s trio of financial advisors. Einzig has worked at UMassFive as a member service specialist since September 2018, prior to taking on his latest role with the Retirement Planning and Investments team. He is licensed as a producer of life insurance and accident and health or sickness insurance in Massachusetts, and is currently pursuing his FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities licenses. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston, where course studies in music business and taxation in the music industry kindled his interest in the financial world, as well as helping people.

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Country Bank announced several recent staff promotions. Julie Yi has been promoted to senior vice president, controller and Operations. She has extensive experience in finance and operations and serves on Country Bank’s senior management team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and is a certified public accountant. Justin Calheno has been promoted to assistant vice president, Retail Lending. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Westfield State University and is a graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies. He serves as a board member for the Ludlow Boys and Girls Club. Lisa Saletnik has been promoted to assistant vice president, Business Systems. She holds an associate degree in health science from Bay Path University and is a graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies. Mackenna Hogan has been promoted to Commercial Banking Administration officer. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from UMass Amherst. Antonio Palano has been promoted to assistant vice president, Retail Lending. He holds an associate degree in business administration from Springfield Technical Community College. Newly appointed officers include Sam Pursey, Erin Skoczylas, Ashley Swett, and Sarah Yurkunas. Pursey has been promoted to Relationship Management officer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from UMass Amherst. Skoczylas has been promoted to assistant controller. Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University, an associate degree in business administration from Springfield Technical Community College, and is a graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies. Swett has been promoted to Customer Care Center officer. She is a graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies. Yurkunas has been promoted to Relationship Management officer. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Bay Path University, a certificate from the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. in Fundamentals of Credit Analysis: Intro to Commercial Lending, and is currently enrolled in the New England School for Financial Studies.

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Mary Cate Mannion

Mary Cate Mannion

Garvey Communication Associates Inc. (GCAi) announced that veteran ABC News affiliate reporter and anchor Mary Cate Mannion has joined the team as a digital PR analyst and will be responsible for planning, producing, and editing video content; photo supervision; and writing posts for digital dissemination on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and the Google Ads Display Network, but not Tik Tok, as well as working directly with media publications. She is working in GCAi’s Springfield edit suite with award-winning video producer Darcy Young and planning digital campaigns with award-winning digital marketer James Garvey, who is based in GCAi’s Marina del Rey, Calif. office. Mannion is an award winner in her own right, receiving a Broadcasters Award and two Emmy nominations during her tenure as an anchor and energy-news reporter with NBC News affiliate KFYR-TV. Her reporting was also used in an investigative segment by John Oliver on HBO’s Last Week Tonight, and she has served as a correspondent for Headline News. She earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Emerson College. She crossed paths with Young during her time at Western Mass News, when she emceed the Springfield Colleen Contest, for which Young is a long-time volunteer. Mannion also her singing skills during an American Idol audition in Boston and was successful for six rounds. Mannion has also achieved considerable success as a competitive Irish dancer, something she is still enthusiastic about today as a member of Springfield’s Claddagh School.

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Mercedes Maskalik, formerly the director of Marketing at CUE Inc., a membership and professional-development nonprofit organization, has been appointed assistant vice president for Marketing and Communication at Western New England University. In her new role, Maskalik will oversee the university’s Division of Marketing and External Affairs, whose mission and purpose is to broadly and creatively share the story of Western New England University regionally, nationally, and internationally. In her previous position as director of Marketing at CUE, Maskalik was responsible for the development, coordination, and management of all marketing and communications efforts to promote the CUE brand, the professional learning community, and the professional learning events. She received her master’s degree in organizational communications from Central Connecticut State University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Southern Connecticut State University. An active member of a number of international associations, Maskalik’s professional affiliations include the American Marketing Assoc., the Public Relations Society of America, and the European Assoc. of Communications Directors. She is the co-author of Social Marketing Environmental Issues, a theoretically grounded text on social-marketing strategies for influencing environmental behaviors.

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Bryan Czajkowski

Bryan Czajkowski

Market Mentors, a marketing, advertising, and public-relations agency, announced the addition of Bryan Czajkowski as director of Production and Technology. He brings more than 25 years of experience to the newly created position, in which he oversees the agency’s web, design, video, and production operations. Czajkowski most recently served as chief technology officer for Rebel Interactive Group in Southington, Conn. Through this and previous positions, he has gained extensive experience working with international and national organizations across diverse industries, from finance and insurance to automotive and aerospace. The opportunity to integrate his various professional skills and interests is something that drew Czajkowski to the Market Mentors position.

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Bulkley Richardson announced that Mike Sweet has joined the firm as a partner in the Business and Finance department. Sweet started his career at a Wall Street-based law firm and has been practicing in Springfield for the past 25 years. His practice focuses on representing businesses and the people that own and manage those businesses through all stages of their business cycle, as well as in their personal lives. “This is an exciting development for the firm and furthers our goals for continued growth and talent acquisition,” said Dan Finnegan, managing partner. “Mike has established longtime relationships with his clients and continues to achieve successful results for them. He has earned the reputation of a great lawyer, and we feel honored to have him on our team.”

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Vanessa Smith

Vanessa Smith

Vanessa Smith, senior vice president and chief legal officer for Baystate Health, has been appointed to the Holyoke Community College (HCC) board of trustees by Gov. Charlie Baker. The term will run until March 1, 2025. “I am passionate about education and its ability to empower, inspire, break down barriers, and create pathways to opportunity,” Smith said. “I am honored to begin my service as trustee during Holyoke Community College’s celebration of its 75th anniversary, and I look forward to helping shape its bright future.” Smith has worked for Baystate Health since 2016 as associate general counsel, vice president, chief general counsel, and now senior vice president and chief legal officer. Prior to that, she was a partner in the law firm Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP in Springfield. She has also worked as an assistant attorney general in the New York Attorney General’s Office in Syracuse and as a court attorney for the New York State Court of Appeals. She holds a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in French from Wells College.

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Bulkley Richardson partners Michael Burke and Mark Cress were named 2022 Lawyer of the Year in their respective practice areas by Best Lawyers in partnership with U.S. News Media Group. Burke was recognized for his work in personal-injury litigation, and Cress was recognized for his work in corporate law. Burke and Cress have been named by Best Lawyers since 2001 and 2003, respectively. Lawyer of the Year rankings are awarded to one lawyer per practice area in each region, making it a distinguished accolade. Honorees receive this award based on their extremely high overall peer feedback within specific practice areas and metropolitan regions.

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Michael Cardaropoli

Michael Cardaropoli

Attorney Michael Cardaropoli, a partner in the law firm Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan and Blakesley, has been appointed to serve on the board of directors of Springfield Habitat for Humanity. “I’m proud of the opportunity to serve on the board of this incredible organization,” he said. “We have a rich history as a firm of charitable connections to the community. I had first-hand experience with the Habitat for Humanity team as we worked on the SGT Sullivan house, and I am so pleased to now be a part of their ongoing efforts.” Twelve staff members from Pellegrini Seeley, Ryan and Blakesley donated a total of nearly 100 man hours to kick off the Gunnery Sgt. Thomas J. Sullivan project on the first build day in 2018. The firm also contributed $2,500 to the effort. “As a firm, we are committed each day to help make the lives better for the residents of Springfield,” Cardaropoli said.

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Bacon Wilson announced that eight of the firm’s attorneys have been named to Best Lawyers in America 2022. Kenneth Albano, the firm’s managing partner, was recognized in Best Lawyers for business organizations, including LLCs and partnerships; Michael Katz for bankruptcy and reorganization; Stephen Krevalin for family law; Hyman Darling for elder law; Gary Breton for banking/finance law and business organizations; Gina Barry for elder law; Mark Tanner for real-estate litigation; and Peter MacConnell for real-estate law. In addition, MacConnell was named 2022 Lawyer of the Year for real-estate law in Springfield, a designation presented to a single outstanding lawyer in each practice area for each region. Bacon Wilson, P.C. is one of the largest Pioneer Valley firms, with 43 attorneys and approximately 80 paralegals, administrative assistants, and support staff. The firm has five locations, in Springfield, Amherst, Hadley, Northampton, and Westfield. First published in 1983, Best Lawyers is regarded as one of the definitive guides to legal excellence. There is no opportunity to pay for a listing; rather, lists are based entirely on peer review.

Banking and Financial Services Special Coverage

PeoplesBank Expands Its Branch Presence into Hartford County

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Open for Business

Romika Odedra says the branch’s layout emphasizes the customer experience.

Holyoke-based PeoplesBank recently expanded its presence in Connecticut with a branch in West Hartford. The new location is projected to help the bank grow its already considerable portfolio of consumer and commercial business from south of the border, especially in an ongoing climate of mergers and acquisitions.

 

When PeoplesBank opened its newest branch in West Hartford on August 30, it wasn’t exactly its first foray into Connecticut’s capital region. Far from it.

“This is a retail opening in West Hartford, but half of our commercial business is in Connecticut already — actually, about 60%,” said Matt Bannister, the bank’s senior vice president of Marketing & Corporate Responsibility.

“Some is up in the Granby-Windsor-Suffield area,” he went on, alluding to PeoplesBank’s first three Connecticut locations, in East Granby, Suffield, and West Suffield. “Some is down here in the Hartford region, and it actually goes all the way down to the shore. We’re kind of catching up with this retail storefront because the commercial customers want a presence here. They’ve been saying to us, ‘come down to Connecticut.’ And West Hartford just makes sense; it’s a great community, and a good place to be.”

Aleda De Maria, executive vice president of Consumer Banking and Operations, said a growing commercial presence in Hartford County cried out for a full-service physical branch.

“The banking centers are there for when they need a little more contact, when they have a little more complexity, or they just want to expand their relationship. We need to make sure we have everything.”

“We absolutely need it. The majority of our new accounts are still opened at brick-and-mortar locations. For more complex conversations, customers want to talk to a person, and they want to have that live interaction. There still is a need for that face-to-face contact.

“I think what the industry is trying to do with the self-service channels — with online, with mobile, with video bankers — is give people the ability to do the quick, day-to-day transactions when they want to, without having to park and go in and talk to somebody, and get it done quickly,” she went on. “The banking centers are there for when they need a little more contact, when they have a little more complexity, or they just want to expand their relationship. We need to make sure we have everything.”

Michael Oleksak, executive vice president and chief lending and credit officer, said all those Connecticut dollars in the bank’s commercial portfolio have not come mainly from the Granby-Suffield area, but predated those physical locations.

Matt Bannister with one of the West Hartford branch’s two interactive video teller machines.

Matt Bannister with one of the West Hartford branch’s two interactive video teller machines.

“We have a significant amount of business in the Greater Hartford area, specifically in the Farmington, Glastonbury, West Hartford communities and downtown Hartford, but we also go as far as New Haven and Greenwich. So our tentacles are fairly long when it comes to our Connecticut presence.

“Most of that is in commercial real estate, which tends to be more transactional,” he went on. “We are able to do a lot of full-service banking for these commercial real-estate customers because of our cash-management expertise and the different products we have, but without a branch presence, it’s really difficult to do business banking.”

The branch presence in West Hartford allows the team to do more commercial and industrial (C&I) lending, and complements a recent expansion of the bank’s C&I team with former TD Bank veterans, Oleksak noted.

“We have a very strong following now, and I think by having a physical presence there, we’ll become a more visible part of the community,” he went on. “We do support our current borrowers, including with a lot of their philanthropic initiatives, but it’s kind of behind the scenes because we don’t have a presence there. But with a physical presence, and with the disruption in the market with the M&T acquisition of People’s United, it will really open the door for us to be a bigger part of the community.”

De Maria agreed. “We’ve already created such a solid foundation with our name and then with the physical presence from the acquisition we did in Suffield in 2018,” she told BusinessWest. “And now, with our West Hartford presence, I think we have a solid opportunity to bring the service we provide for our commercial customers to our retail-customer world, and really marry those two sides together and make an impact.”

 

Making Contact

Many visitors to the new branch will first notice the interactive video tellers, one in the entry and one in the drive-thru lanes, bringing the bank’s total number of such machines to 22 at 17 locations. Users can call up a live teller in Holyoke who manages four or five machines at once.

“That way, we can be open seven days a week and have extended hours and not have to have people physically in the branch. And the video banker can do almost any transaction,” Bannister said, noting that Peoples is the only bank in the Hartford to offer the service. “Part of our technology story is good, consumer-facing technology.”

Romika Odedra, vice president and regional manager, said customers appreciate face time with a live person rather than interacting with a machine and the more limited options available at an ATM. And Bannister added that, with the pandemic still raging, many customers appreciate being able to conduct complex transactions in a contactless way.

“We are able to do a lot of full-service banking for these commercial real-estate customers because of our cash-management expertise and the different products we have, but without a branch presence, it’s really difficult to do business banking.”

“Video tellers are something we’re proud to bring to the market,” De Maria said. “It brings seven-day-a-week banking to West Hartford and our surrounding areas.”

Once inside the branch, customers will see pods instead of traditional customer lines — a model Peoples and other banks have been implementing for years. Customers can stand beside the teller and even see what he or she is looking at on the computer screen, if necessary. “In the beginning, people were like, ‘where do I go?’” Odedra said. “But it’s so easy — it’s warm, it’s welcoming, it’s not ‘there’s the line.’ It’s nice to have that one-on-one experience.”

The branch also employs a ‘universal banker’ model, Bannister said. “Any bank employee you see out here can do all the transactions. You can go to a teller pod or pop into an office if it’s more convenient or you just want privacy to have a conversation.” In other, more specialized offices down the hallway from the main area, he added, the bank will offer a mortgage expert, a wealth adviser, and other ancillary services.

And in front, at the main entrance, is a high table, couch, and coffee bar. “We’re trying to say to people, ‘come on in and hang out; get to know us a little bit,” Bannister said. “The thought is, we want to have sort of an open storefront.”

That’s partly to reflect the neighborhood the branch is in, with restaurants and small shops lining the streets and the shopping and dining mecca Blue Back Square just down the road.

“This area really is hopping with foot traffic,” he said. “And if you’re a bank with a retail storefront, you want foot traffic.”

Those who drive to PeoplesBank will appreciate the free parking lot the bank shares with the town’s Post Office.

“I used to work at a different bank, and that was the biggest issue we had, the parking,” Odedra said. “I’m so glad we have the parking we have. We don’t have to rush the customer out; we have time to have that one-on-one with them and invite them to have a cup of coffee.”

Bannister said West Hartford has been an enthusiastic town to work with, from its Chamber of Commerce to local economic-development leaders.

“Right from the start, when we were saying we wanted to come down, they were like, ‘how can we help?’ We’re in a lot of communities, and some of them are very welcoming, and some are maybe not so much. This one has been great to work with.”

 

Opportunity Knocks

The branch is fully staffed as well, with a mix of on-site and hybrid workers, reflecting the current makeup of the entire PeoplesBank organization. Some are West Hartford natives who know the market, Bannisher said, while some were attracted by working near all the nearby restaurants and other neighborhood amenities.

Aleda De Maria

Even in an age of mobile banking, Aleda De Maria says, people still want face-to-face interaction at branches for many services.

There’s room to expand in Hartford County, he added, with plans to open at least two more branches in the next couple of years.

“We’re coming in with a message of ‘we’re here, and we’re here to stay, and we can do everything the big banks do, but with a local feel and local decisions,’” De Maria said. “And I think that’s what’s missing in banking in general nowadays — being able to bank how you want to bank but also at a community bank where you don’t have to worry about who’s going to buy them.”

That presence means civic involvement and philanthropy as well, Bannister said, noting that PeoplesBank plans to give close to $60,000 in the first month alone to local organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Hands on Hartford (which assists with food pantries and the homeless population), the United Way, Foodshare, and even two West Hartford community events the bank will sponsor this fall and next summer.

“Right from the start, when we were saying we wanted to come down, they were like, ‘how can we help?’ We’re in a lot of communities, and some of them are very welcoming, and some are maybe not so much. This one has been great to work with.”

“We feel like we’re leading with the values we want to be known by in the community, which are innovation, technology, customer service, and the community support.”

De Maria agreed with Bannister than broadening the bank’s footprint in Connecticut is a must. “We will continue to actively look for physical locations, primarily in Hartford County,” she said. “We’re not opposed to outside Hartford County should it make sense, but in Hartford County, we feel we have an opportunity for our brand to really make an impact in the community.”

And that means expanded business, including commercial lending, Oleksak said. “I think there’s tremendous opportunity in this market for us, given our size and the experience of our lending staff. We’re very diverse, and between small business, large commercial real-estate loans, and now C&I expertise, I think we bring a lot to the table. It’s a great opportunity for us.”

 

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Company Notebook

Company Notebook

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Country Bank, WooSox Announce Community Giving Campaign

WARE — Country Bank and the Worcester Red Sox have announced a community giving campaign to support nonprofit leaders throughout the region. To kick off the campaign, dubbed “WooStars,” Country Bank recognized 11 local nonprofits at Polar Park, including Springfield-based organizations Friends of the Homeless, Ronald McDonald House, Christina’s House, and Habitat for Humanity, along with Worcester-based organizations the United Way, Why Me, Sherry’s House, Provision Ministry, St. John’s Food Pantry for the Poor, the Boys and Girls Club, and Habitat for Humanity. Each nonprofit was presented with a $5,000 check from Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank. Representatives of the nonprofits also participated in a television commercial to support the campaign. Country Bank and the Worcester Red Sox Foundation will select nine additional nonprofit leaders who have stepped up to the plate to serve their community. The deadline for nominations is Aug. 15. Each winner will receive a $5,000 donation to their nonprofit and will be recognized at a presentation in Polar Park on Sept. 9. In addition, the bank has also launched a Most Valuable Teacher (MVT) campaign that recognizes the outstanding work teachers do every day to educate and support students. The public is invited to nominate a WooStar at www.countrybank.com/about-us/woostars or a Most Valuable Teacher at www.countrybank.com/personal/youth-accounts/most-valuable-teacher.

 

Fontaine Brothers to Tackle Court Square Project

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield-based Fontaine Brothers has been named the general contractor for the long-awaited rehabilitation of 31 Elm St. in Court Square in Springfield into a 74-unit apartment complex. Construction work on the $50 million project is expected to begin in the fourth quarter and take roughly two years to complete. The project represents a partnership between OPAL Development, WinnDevelopment, MGM Springfield, and MassMutual, with funding coming from a variety of sources, including $11.3 million in state and federal historic tax credits. In addition to the housing units, plans call for retail space and a restaurant on the ground level. The project is expected to employ 100 to 120 union construction workers.

 

Lee Bank Foundation Announces $64,500 in Community Funding

LEE — Lee Bank Foundation awarded $64,500 to eight Berkshire-area organizations in its second round of 2021 community grant awards. Recipients were awarded grants ranging from $2,000 to $12,500 to support their local programming. Organizations receiving funding include Berkshire Bounty, Berkshire County Historical Society, Berkshire South Regional Community Center, Elizabeth Freeman Center Inc., Flying Cloud Institute, Music in Common, New Stage Performing Arts Center Inc., and Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires. To be considered for grant awards, applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on funding organizations that work to bridge income and opportunity gaps in the region. The next application deadline is Sept. 1. Funding requests should reflect one or more of Lee Bank Foundation’s primary focus areas, which include education and literacy; food security and nutrition; economic growth and development; health and human services; mentorship, internship, and school-to-work initiatives; and arts and culture. Applicants may submit only one application in a 12-month period. Online applications and information can be found at www.leebank.com/community-impact/donations-sponsorships.html.

 

Market Mentors Receives Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Certification

SPRINGFIELD — Market Mentors, the region’s largest marketing, advertising, and public-relations agency, announced it has received certification from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women-owned businesses thrive and grow. WBENC certification provides Market Mentors with access to a vast network of support, including targeted business opportunities and increased visibility in corporate and government supply chains, education, and development programs. It is also an approved third-party certifier for the SBA’s Women-Owned Small Business federal contracting program. WBENC certification validates that a business is at least 51% owned, controlled, operated, and managed by a woman or women. One or more women must have unrestricted control of the business, a demonstrated management of day-to-day operations, and a proportionate investment of capital or expertise. To become certified, business owners undergo a thorough vetting process, including review of business documentation and a site visit. After working in media for more than a decade, Abdow founded Market Mentors in her home in 2003. Over the past 18 years, it has grown into a team of more than 20 professionals with multiple areas of expertise and breadth of experience across a range of industries.

 

WSU Receives $1.5M Grant to Increase Healthcare Access

WESTFIELD — Westfield State University’s (WSU) Department of Social Work received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for its Integrative Behavioral Health (IBH) Equity Project. The project builds a specialized workforce within rural, medically underserved areas as well as among diverse and historically marginalized populations to address barriers identified by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in social determinants of health. This HRSA award will be distributed over the next four years and will train 92 Westfield State graduate students in the master of social work (MSW) program in the following integrative behavioral-health specialties: child, youth, and family; health social work; substance use and addictions; and Latinx community health. These students will receive $920,000 in training stipends over the next four years. Westfield State President Linda Thompson, whose background is in nursing, health sciences, and public policy, noted that the IBH project continues the university’s growth in building important healthcare programs that meet the needs of the Commonwealth. The Field Education Team in Westfield State’s Department of Social Work established IBH/Integrated Primary Care and interprofessional training partnerships across Western and Central Mass. to train students to gain proficiency as they provide in-person and telehealth services to children, youth, and families as well as individuals living with addiction and mental-health issues. It is broadening to include organizations that serve the Spanish-speaking Latinx population. The IBH Equity Project will also increase linguistic and cultural access to social-work education by offering classes in Spanish to impact the structural health inequities that affect students and clients throughout the Pioneer Valley. WSU is the first institution in the area to offer social work courses in Spanish. The project advances the university’s progress toward an institutional goal of gaining the federal Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) designation. Achieving the designation is part of a larger commitment by Westfield State to address systemic racism and inequities on the campus, such as in its policies and practices.

 

Professional Drywall Construction Expands into New York State

SPRINGFIELD — Professional Drywall Construction Inc. (PDC), a commercial drywall company headquartered in Springfield, is expanding its footprint into New York State, having recently opened a new office in Malta on July 1. Leading the expansion is Randall Berkebile, who will serve as project executive and New York regional manager at the new branch. “We have been looking into expanding into New York for quite some time, and Malta is a great, centralized location to set up our new shop,” said Ron Perry, owner of PDC. “We brought Randall in to help establish our company in the capital district and beyond. His years of experience and deep contacts in the region will assist in us creating a strong foothold in the community.” Berkebile, a resident of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., is a graduate of Ball State University. He has almost a decade of experience in construction-management roles and will be responsible for overseeing projects and growing the New York branch. PDC also has a branch office in Norwalk, Conn.

 

Public Art to Be Installed in Springfield’s Pynchon Plaza

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums and Springfield Cultural Partnership announced the artists chosen to augment the newly renovated Pynchon Plaza. The SPark! Igniting Our Community call resulted in many quality applications. The chosen artists include Roberly Bell (Pelham), artful seating; Lauren Celini (Springfield), utility art; Michelle Falcón Fontánez (Boston) and Alvilda Sophia Anaya-Alegría (Springfield), mosaic art; RT Woods (Springfield), fencing art; Beth Crawford Haydenville), 3D sculptural art; Jeffrey Lara (Springfield), 3D sculptural art; Make-It Springfield, library box; and Outdoor Musical Instruments (United Kingdom), sound sculpture (to be embellished by a local artist). The call was open to all artists, and special consideration was given to installations that include Springfield artists, artists of color, LGBTQA+ artists, and female artists. Funding of these eight projects comes from a combination of public and private monies, including a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Program Grant and a City of Springfield Community Development Block Grant. The project is designed to engage city artists, residents, community stakeholders, and cultural institutions to actively participate to reimagine public art that celebrates Springfield’s citizens, culture, and historical legacies. Competitive proposals will be inspired by aspects of Springfield itself, including its historic and/or present-day people, cultures, places and landscapes, architecture, etc., and can be literal or creative, interpretive representations. The SPark! Art Committee included representation from the Springfield Cultural Council, Springfield Parks, the Apremont Quadrangle Civic Assoc., Skyview Downtown, and the Springfield Technical Community College Carberry Fine Arts Gallery.

 

Daily News

Country Bank, Worcester Red Sox Announce Community Giving Campaign

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WARE — Country Bank and the Worcester Red Sox have announced a community giving campaign to support nonprofit leaders throughout the region.

To kick off the campaign, dubbed “WooStars,” Country Bank recognized 11 local nonprofits at Polar Park, including Springfield-based organizations Friends of the Homeless, Ronald McDonald House, Christina’s House, and Habitat for Humanity, along with Worcester-based organizations the United Way, Why Me, Sherry’s House, Provision Ministry, St. John’s Food Pantry for the Poor, the Boys and Girls Club, and Habitat for Humanity. Each nonprofit was presented with a $5,000 check from Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank. Representatives of the nonprofits also participated in a television commercial to support the campaign.

Country Bank and the Worcester Red Sox Foundation will select nine additional nonprofit leaders who have stepped up to the plate to serve their community. The deadline for nominations is Aug. 15. Each winner will receive a $5,000 donation to their nonprofit and will be recognized at a presentation in Polar Park on Sept. 9. A total of $90,000 will be donated this year through the WooStar campaign.

“One of the most important goals of our partnership with the Worcester Red Sox is to find ways for us to collectively give back to our communities in an impactful and meaningful way. Country Bank is deeply rooted in supporting its communities and a value that we have lived by for 171 years,” said Shelley Regin, the bank’s senior vice president of Marketing, adding that “this campaign rewards those doing the life-changing work out there.”

In addition, the bank has also launched a Most Valuable Teacher (MVT) campaign that recognizes the outstanding work teachers do every day to educate and support students. Country Bank has a long-standing Teacher of the Month campaign to support teachers in the region, so it is exciting to partner with the WooSox to make the MVT campaign even more rewarding for teachers and students.

“We are continually inspired by the unrelenting community outreach of Country Bank,” WooSox President Charles Steinberg said. “Our shared interest in education is leading us to recognize some of our unheralded heroes — our MVTs, or Most Valuable Teachers. We look forward to shining the spotlight in the sunlight on our educators, and we thank Country Bank yet again for their splendid partnership.”

The public is invited to nominate a WooStar or Most Valuable Teacher by clicking here or here to complete a simple nomination form.

Picture This

Picture This

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Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

 

 

Brewing Up Business

 

 

 

 

 

One Way Brewing opened its doors at 807 Maple Road in Longmeadow on May 22, marking the launch of Longmeadow’s first brewery. One Way Brewing released a flagship beer, Kickstarter, a New England IPA. Pictured at top: two of the many customers who showed up at the event, which featured lines stretched around the building for much of the day. Above, Jason Tsitso, partner and head brewer, loads up six-packs of beer for sale at the kickoff event

 

 

 

 

Honoring a Legacy

Springfield’s Sinai Temple and the Jerome S. Gurland Human Relations Award Committee recently selected Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) as the 2021 award recipient. GSHFH Executive Director Aimee Giroux (pictured, right) met with Rabbi Jeremy Master (left) on May 26 to accept the honor. Award namesake Rabbi Gurland of Longmeadow, who passed away on May 20, had been an advocate for community service and interfaith relations. Giroux said the funds will be used to promote community involvement, primarily with youth volunteers through construction on its Bay Street project.

 

 

 

Customers’ Choice Community Grants

During a May 18 celebration at Look Park, Florence Bank awarded $100,500 to 32 community organizations through its 19th annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program. Each year, Florence Bank customers are invited to vote for their favorite local nonprofit; to qualify for a community grant, organizations must receive at least 50 votes. In 2020, almost 7,000 votes were cast. Pictured: Monica Curhan, senior vice president and Marketing director, joins President and CEO Kevin Day in leading the awards presentation.

 

 

Banking and Financial Services

Recent Appointments

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PV Financial Announces Two Additions to Team

PV Financial Group recently welcomed two new members to its team — Antonio Bastos as retirement plan coordinator and Andrea Santos as digital marketing specialist. Both will be working in PV’s main office located in Ludlow.

Antonio Bastos

Antonio Bastos

Andrea Santos

Andrea Santos

Upon graduating from Nichols College in Dudley with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Bastos accepted a job with MassMutual Retirement Services. During his five years with the company, he represented and sold MassMutual’s qualified retirement plan platform to small and mid-sized businesses. Bastos also obtained his Series 6 and Series 63 licenses while gaining beneficial knowledge and experience with qualified retirement plans.

At PV Financial, Bastos’s role is to manage all the qualified retirement plan clients, from day-to-day servicing to fielding all inquiries from retirement plan participants and plan trustees. He will also maintain relationships with retirement-plan providers in the industry. Other responsibilities will include staying connected and up-to-date on new products, services, and ERISA compliance regulations so he can properly and confidently serve PV Financial’s retirement plan clients and participants.

“By having Tony join the team at PV Financial, we have committed to the qualified retirement plan marketplace,” said Edward Sokolowski, PV’s managing partner. “As many local financial firms have been exiting this business, Tony will be able to fill the void and offer professional guidance to companies looking for quality advice for their retirement plans.”

Santos graduated from Holyoke Community College with an associate’s degree in Business Administration, as well as from Elms College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing. Upon graduating from Elms, Santos accepted a job at Northwestern Mutual. During her four years with the company, she held the position of director of Client Services, where she was responsible for the oversight of new business insurance applications and investment accounts, as well as insurance underwriting correspondence. She also worked with clients directly on account inquiries and led the office’s marketing efforts.

At PV Financial, Santos will be the digital marketing specialist. She will be the first point of contact for new and current clients who are a part of PV Financial’s new program, PV Navigator. Other responsibilities include maintaining the program’s website and social media accounts, staying up to date with the services provided within the program, maintaining relationships with the program’s clients, and assisting the advisors with outreach.

“Having Andrea join our team is a major step in the future success of PV Financial,” said Sokolowski. “Andrea’s talents in social media and client relationships will be a cornerstone to our newly launched investment program, PV Navigator.  I look forward to the energy and focus Andrea will bring to our firm and the positive impact she will have on our clients.”

Country Bank Appoints New VP of Marketing

Country Bank announced that Justin Roberts has joined the Marketing and Community Relations team as vice president of Marketing. Roberts’ experience in strategic marketing spans more than a decade in various industries. As a former small-business owner, he brings not just marketing savvy, but real-life experience.

Justin Roberts

Justin Roberts

“I am excited to join the Country Bank team,” Roberts said. “Having admired the brand for several years, I am looking forward to help activate the bank’s founding partnership of the Worcester Red Sox and promoting Country Bank’s presence throughout the region.”

In Roberts’ previous positions, he worked as the Development officer at American International College (AIC) in the office of Institutional Advancement, and also worked at MassLive, where he helped lead the Digital Marketing Strategy team to support local, regional, and national clients. His entrepreneurial spirit recently led him to open his own marketing and community-relations agency before joining the Country Bank team.

Roberts, who earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA in marketing from AIC, is the founder of Suit Up Springfield, a nonprofit organization that provides professional attire and mentorship to young men in Greater Springfield.

He also serves as vice president of the board for Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity. He has served on many nonprofits and community organizations, including Wonderfund of Massachusetts, the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, the Rotary Club of Springfield, and Square One. He is a member of the New England Financial Marketing Assoc. and received the Game Changer award from the Center for Human Development.

“We are thrilled to welcome Justin to the Marketing and Community Relations team. His experience in marketing and digital strategies, combined with his extensive civic and community engagement, makes him a perfect fit for Country Bank,” said Miriam Siegel, first senior vice president of Human Resources. “We’re proud of Justin’s efforts within the communities we serve and look forward to his profound passion for community service while representing Country Bank. u

 

Florence Bank Welcomes Experienced Lender

Florence Bank announced the appointment of Douglas Gilbert to the position of vice president of Commercial Lending. Gilbert comes to the bank with more than 27 years of banking experience.

Douglas Gilbert

Douglas Gilbert

His most recent role was at Country Bank, where he served as first vice president and team leader in the Commercial Lending department. His duties there included managing the Commercial Lending team and an extensive loan portfolio. His experience also includes serving as vice president and head of Commercial Lending at Easthampton Savings Bank and as assistant vice president in Commercial Lending at Westfield Bank.

“It is a great opportunity to be affiliated with Florence Bank, which has such an excellent reputation and does so much good in the community,” Gilbert said. “Everyone here has made me feel right at home from the beginning.”

Gilbert is a certified public accountant who earned an undergraduate degree from Westfield State University and an MBA from the University of Connecticut. He also serves on the board of the Quaboag Valley Business Assistance Corp.

Kevin Day, president and CEO of Florence Bank, added that “Doug is a great addition to the Florence Bank team. His significant lending experience coupled with his knowledge of the communities we serve will be a tremendous value to our business customers.”

Class of 2021

Matthew Nash

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Manager, Audit & Assurance Department, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; Age 31

Like most who venture into the broad realm of accounting, Matt Nash discovered early on that he had an affinity for numbers. But, again, like most of those who join this profession, he discovered this business isn’t really about numbers; it’s about relationships and helping business owners and managers cope with the challenges and opportunities that come their way.

And that was before COVID-19.

The pandemic has merely served to amplify those sentiments, said Nash, manager in the Audit & Assurance Department at Holyoke-based Meyers Brothers Kalicka, who, since joining the company as an intern a decade ago, has risen in the ranks and taken on a host of new responsibilities within the firm, while also becoming quite active within the community as well.

“It’s making it more fun,” he said of the pandemic, with a discernable amount of sarcasm in his voice. Speaking with BusinessWest at the height of tax season, he said the firm is helping clients navigate a host of COVID-related matters, from two rounds of Paycheck Protection Program grants to the Employee Retention Credit, to simply keeping the doors open in the wake of falling revenues. “It keeps it interesting.”

And that phrase applies to much more than accounting and auditing. Indeed, Nash and his wife, Riley, welcomed their first child, Brooks, just a few months after COVID arrived, with the pandemic adding new layers of intrigue to what is always a memorable and challenging time.

“Any time my parents or my wife’s parents wanted to see our son, it was almost like a two-week quarantine for them,” he recalled. “My father-in-law wasn’t able to hold my son for three or four months after he was born. It definitely made things much more difficult.”

As for his work in the community, Nash, a native of West Springfield, said he wants to give back to the region, and the firm not only encourages its employees to do so, it facilitates that process by giving them the time to get involved.

Nash is a board member with Springfield School Volunteers, a member of the Ronald McDonald House golf tournament committee, a mentor for the Westfield State University accounting program, a volunteer for Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, and a co-leader of his firm’s community initiative to help ‘stuff the bus’ for the United Way of Pioneer Valley.

 

—George O’Brien

People on the Move

People on the Move

By
Russ Fontaine

Russ Fontaine

Country Bank announced that Russ Fontaine has been promoted to senior vice president, Customer Experience. He is a seasoned banking professional with 30 years of experience in key management and leadership roles in consumer sales and service. Fontaine previously held the position of first vice president, Sales and Market Management with Country Bank, where he oversaw sales and service. One example of a new program introduced by the bank, as a result of Fontaine’s recommendation, was the deployment of a “Voice of the Customer” program that enables the bank to measure and better understand the overall customer experience through various survey metrics. In his newly created role, Fontaine is tasked with leading a bankwide collaborative effort to view things from the customer’s perspective; this applies to both the bank’s external customer and its internal customer. Fontaine is active within the community, serving on the board of directors for the Central/Western Massachusetts March of Dimes and as a 2021 co-chair for the March for Babies fundraising event in Massachusetts. He has also served on the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity board of directors, including holding the chair role for the organization’s Restore committee. Additionally, he has been an avid supporter of the United Way and the Western Massachusetts Special Olympics.

•••••

Anita Sedlak

Florence Bank promoted Anita Sedlak to the position of vice president, branch manager of the Easthampton office. Sedlak brings extensive knowledge and skill to her new role. Prior to her recent promotion, she was the senior assistant branch manager at the Easthampton office. During her tenure at the bank, she has been the recipient of the Florence Bank Community Support Award, which is granted to employees who demonstrate superior levels of involvement in the community. She is a graduate of the New England School of Financial Studies. She serves her community as treasurer of Easthampton Dollars for Scholars, finance committee member for the Easthampton Helping Hand Society and a board member of the Florence Bank Easthampton Branch Charitable Foundation.

•••••

The Western Mass Business Show, the WHMP radio program showcasing business leaders of the Pioneer Valley, will have a new host, Tara Brewster, beginning May 1. The show explores the experiences and perspectives of entrepreneurs, delving into their aspirations, strategies, and evolution in friendly but probing conversations. It is intended to be both entertaining and instructive, whether the listener runs a company or not. The show airs on WHMP on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Brewster is vice president for Business Development at Greenfield Savings Bank (GSB). It is her mission to form many trusted relationships with business and organizational leaders and help guide them toward how GSB can be a resource and solution for what ails them. She serves on the boards of several nonprofits, including Double Edge Theater, the Downtown Northampton Assoc., the David Ruggles Center, Hampshire Regional YMCA, MassHire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board, and North Star Self-Directed Learning for Teens. The Smith College alumna is also the co-founder and former co-owner of Jackson & Connor, the upscale menswear store in Thornes, in downtown Northampton. Brewster takes the microphone from Ira Bryck, who started the show in 2014. Bryck ran the Family Business Center for 25 years and now consults with the leadership-coaching firm Giombetti Associates. Interested prospective guests can reach out to Brewster at [email protected].

•••••

Annalise Eak

Annalise Eak

The Westfield Starfires announced the addition of Annalise Eak to the staff as coordinator of Group Sales & Fan Experiences. Eak, a Westfield native and graduate of Westfield State University, is pursuing a graduate degree at Bay Path University. For the last seven years, she has served as a marketing supervisor at Six Flags New England. She was a Starfires Game Day Operations volunteer at Bullens Field in both 2019 and 2020. She is vice president of the Westfield Babe Ruth board of directors and served on the World Series executive committee in 2019. She is a Westfield Centennial Lions Club member and Westfield Technical Academy sports volunteer. The Westfield Starfires are part of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, which offers collegiate summer baseball to fans in seven New England cities. The Starfires joined the league as an expansion franchise for the summer of 2019 and play in historic Billy Bullens Field in Westfield. The 2021 schedule will be released in the coming weeks.

•••••

Comcast announced the appointment of Colleen Cone as vice president of Human Resources for the company’s Western New England region, which is headquartered in Berlin, Conn. and includes more than 300 communities in Connecticut, Western Mass., New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Cone will oversee the region’s human-resource functions, including talent management, career development, and training; benefits, with a focus on employee wellness; and employee engagement and recognition. Prior to joining the Western New England region, Cone was the senior director of Human Resources for Comcast’s Greater Boston region, where she was responsible for employee engagement and other initiatives that addressed compliance and supported a strong and healthy workplace culture. She also previously served as vice president of Talent and Culture for Skillsoft, where she was the senior leader responsible for employee engagement, internal communications, U.S. talent acquisition, and performance-management processes and recognition for a global workforce. Cone holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. and a juris doctor degree from Penn State University’s Dickinson School of Law. Named by New Hampshire magazine to its 2016 list of Exceptional Women in Business, she also serves on the board of directors of New Hampshire Tech Alliance and Families in Transition.

•••••

Ann-Marie Simao

Ann-Marie Simao

Joshua Carreiro

Joshua Carreiro

Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) honored two faculty members as this year’s 2021 Endowed Chairs, awards named for two of the college’s founders. In a video sent to the STCC campus community, President John Cook congratulated this year’s recipients, Professors Ann-Marie Simao and Joshua Carreiro. Carreiro received the Anthony M. Scibelli Endowed Chair, and Simao received the Joseph J. Deliso Sr. Endowed Chair. They received a monetary award — $3,000 each — and wooden chairs with plaques inscribed with their names. They can apply $1,500 to professional development and $1,500 to their academic department. In announcing the Deliso recipient, Barbara Washburn, interim dean of the School of STEM, said Simao, a mathematics professor, is known for her early adoption of open education resources (OER), which allows students to access textbooks and other resources for free. She uses OER for all of her math courses. Simao earned a master’s degree in education from Fitchburg State University and in math from Central Connecticut State University. She received a bachelor’s degree from Providence College. Richard Greco, dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, said Carreiro, who has been teaching at STCC since 2012 and serves as chair of Social and Behavioral Sciences, has shown strong leadership in online education, and has helped faculty transition to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Carreiro earned his PhD in sociology from UMass Amherst. He started his college pathway at Manchester Community College in Connecticut, where he earned an associate degree. He then transferred to University of Connecticut in Storrs, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and philosophy.

•••••

Maria Toyoda, currently the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and professor of Political Science & Legal Studies at Boston’s Suffolk University, has been appointed senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost at Western New England University, effective July 12. President Robert Johnson announced the appointment, citing Toyoda’s successes in cross-disciplinary collaboration, commitment to student success, procurement of grant funding, modernization of processes, and mobilization of faculty as partners in the recruitment process at her prior institution. Toyoda will be the university’s chief academic officer and oversee the academic integrity of all colleges, schools, and institutes on campus. The position is responsible for working with the deans and faculty to maintain the quality of current programs, develop new programs, and oversee the academic-appointment process. In her current role at Suffolk University, Toyoda oversees 18 departments with 200 full-time faculty and staff with responsibility for an undergraduate population of 5,000 students. On March 30, she was honored as one of Get Konnected’s 50 Most Influential People of Color in Higher Education. She received her PhD and master’s degree in government at Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in human biology from Stanford University with honors in values, technology, science, and society. Toyoda succeeds interim Provost Curt Hamakawa, who will return to his previous position as professor of Sport Management. Hamakawa is also the director of the Business Study Abroad program, the Business Honors program, and the Center for International Sport Business in the university’s College of Business.

•••••

The Connecticut Bar Assoc. (CBA) announced that Jennifer Levi, professor of Law at Western New England University (WNEU) School of Law, is the 2021 Tapping Reeve Legal Educator Award winner. The award is presented to legal educators who have made significant contributions to the cause of legal education over a period of years and have distinguished themselves as legal educators of the highest quality. Levi has dedicated her career to fighting for the rights of women, children, the poor, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered clients, and was a founder of the law school’s Center for Gender and Sexuality Studies, which is now part of the School of Law’s Center for Social Justice. In addition, she is a nationally recognized expert on transgender legal issues and the director of GLAD’s Transgender Rights Project litigating precedent-setting cases establishing basic rights for LGBTQ people. Established in 2012, the Tapping Reeve Legal Educator Award is presented to a member of the Connecticut Bar Assoc. who is a member of the faculty, a clinical instructor, or an adjunct instructor at UConn, Quinnipiac, Yale, or Western New England University law schools, or a member of the CBA who has contributed greatly to the legal education of his or her colleagues. The recipient must have demonstrated sustained commitment and made significant contributions to the cause of legal education in the state and have distinguished himself or herself as a legal educator of the highest quality as a teacher, scholarly writer, or both.

•••••

Dan Dodge

Dan Dodge

Associated Builders Inc. of South Hadley recently welcomed Dan Dodge, whose role will encompass business development, pre-construction planning and logistics, and project coordination. Dodge’s career spans more than 30 years of demonstrated achievements in commercial real-estate development and construction for major retailers and Fortune 500 companies. Previously, he served in progressive roles as manager of Land Planning, construction project manager, and director of Development at Berkshire Development LLC, followed by the role of managing director of Development at NAI Plotkin. He has evaluated and conducted due diligence on more than 200 real-estate development projects, ranging from a 50,000-square-foot single tenant property valued at $5 million to a 300,000-square-foot, multi-tenant property valued at $40 million. His experience includes project coordination for national brand anchor stores including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohl’s, HHGregg Electronics, Staples, and Bed Bath & Beyond. Dodge holds an unrestricted Massachusetts construction supervisor license, a certificate in construction project management and contracting, a certificate in AutoCAD, an OSHA 30-hour certificate, and a certificate in architectural and civil drafting and design. He is a Massachusetts-licensed real-estate salesperson and an FAA-certified drone pilot. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and a former South Hadley Planning Board member.

•••••

Janice Beetle, a longtime writer and editor from Western Mass., has released her second book, Willful Evolution: Because Healing the Heart Takes Strength, through her own publishing imprint, Janice Beetle Books LLC. In 2010, Beetle was laid off from her full-time job in the Valley, and her late husband, Ed Godleski, died four days later. Beetle tells the story of her grief journey in her first memoir, Divine Renovations, published in 2011. Her new book, Willful Evolution, is a sequel that tells the story of the past decade and how Beetle reinvented herself; revitalized her PR and communications business, Beetle Press; and also created Janice Beetle Books in 2019. On more personal notes, the book shows how traveling, family, a series of adventures and bad turns, and exercise helped Beetle gain physical and emotional strength and survive online dating. She compares her book to Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle, and Daring Greatly by Brené Brown. Through Janice Beetle Books, Beetle also helps authors of all skill levels — as well as non-writers — carry a book idea through to publication. She also offers writing coaching services. Beetle’s books are available at janicebeetlebooks.com, www.levellerspress.com/off-the-common-books, and on Amazon.

Real Estate

Real Estate Transactions

By

The 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

BUCKLAND

80-82 Ashfield St.
Buckland, MA 01339
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Ness L. Van
Seller: Donald W. Craig
Date: 03/12/21

7 South St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Augustino D. Gamelli
Seller: Gaffigan IRT
Date: 03/19/21

1-5 State St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Hanna Investment Group LLC
Seller: McCusker Anderson LLC
Date: 03/17/21

COLRAIN

273 Shelburne Line Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Robert J. Gruber
Seller: Dorothy S. Cornman TR
Date: 03/12/21

DEERFIELD

55 Sawmill Plain Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $423,000
Buyer: James E. Filipkowski
Seller: Jeffrey A. Blake
Date: 03/16/21

GILL

1 Center Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Eugene A. Rice
Seller: Irene Moore
Date: 03/16/21

129 French King Hwy.
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Benegan 2 LLC
Seller: Clark, Jack, (Estate)
Date: 03/19/21

GREENFIELD

106 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Paxton P. Reed
Seller: David Frazier
Date: 03/16/21

15 Ferrante Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: Jerome Wieler
Seller: E. C. & J. C. Brzezinski IRT
Date: 03/12/21

8-10 Grant St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Samuel Plotkin
Seller: James E. Filipkowski
Date: 03/16/21

28 Madison Circle
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $228,700
Buyer: Kenneth Cook
Seller: Marsha A. Bittner
Date: 03/12/21

68 Newell Pond Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Kevin Downes
Seller: Timothy Meyer
Date: 03/15/21

LEYDEN

83 River Road
Leyden, MA 01337
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Cory M. Johannessen
Seller: Marie Betts-Bartlett
Date: 03/12/21

 

MONTAGUE

56 Turners Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Christopher F. Goguen
Seller: Jeannine M. Deangelis
Date: 03/15/21

ORANGE

38 Dexter St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Kevin Silva
Seller: Maureen A. Riendeau
Date: 03/12/21

156 East Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $220,900
Buyer: Jarad J. May
Seller: Ranlyn Property Investments LLC
Date: 03/19/21

158 East River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Miranda M. Rowe
Seller: Reginald C. Haughton
Date: 03/16/21

53 Hamilton Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $311,000
Buyer: Belinda E. Desreuisseau
Seller: Donna Dubour
Date: 03/19/21

34 Mechanic St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Joseph Grossi
Seller: Sebastian Velez-Rivera
Date: 03/12/21

52 Putnam St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Adam Rosenbaum
Seller: Francis Romano
Date: 03/12/21

ROWE

228 Zoar Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Simon J. Zelazo
Seller: Carse, James P., (Estate)
Date: 03/19/21

SUNDERLAND

230 Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $374,900
Buyer: Alyssa E. Crockett
Seller: Joseph A. Manning
Date: 03/08/21

WHATELY

Chestnut Plain Road (ES)
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Kestrel Land Trust Inc.
Seller: Charles H. Dauchy
Date: 03/19/21

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

34 Charles St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Shannon Bein
Seller: Michael F. Roy
Date: 03/18/21

17 Colonial Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Umit Tanriverdi
Seller: Christopher A. Walles
Date: 03/16/21

11 Meadow Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Joseph D. Valenti
Seller: Gary G. Miolla
Date: 03/18/21

19 Rosie Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Richard C. Gingras
Seller: Gingras, Kevin H., (Estate)
Date: 03/10/21

325 Silver St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $975,000
Buyer: FRP Silver LLC
Seller: OA Holdings LLC
Date: 03/18/21

76 Stewart Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Travis A. Lansing
Seller: Donald J. Donahue
Date: 03/12/21

59 Tracy Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Angela R. Tassinari
Seller: Irene Walsh
Date: 03/11/21

48 Wrenwood Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Michael Hutchison
Seller: Kathryn M. Patterson
Date: 03/10/21

BLANDFORD

88 Main St.
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Justin D. King
Seller: John F. Kornacki
Date: 03/18/21

BRIMFIELD

50 Little Alum Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Justin Liberman
Seller: Alan Rush
Date: 03/19/21

45 Marsh Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Nestor Retamal
Seller: Carole Gursky
Date: 03/15/21

20 Palmer Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Lee W. Adams
Seller: Lincoln G. Adams
Date: 03/10/21

CHICOPEE

21 Adams St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Christopher C. Kervian
Seller: Jesus Guzman
Date: 03/10/21

177 Artisan St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: John Koske
Seller: William J. Polverini
Date: 03/18/21

6 Barre Circle
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Mariam I. Allam
Seller: Nancy T. Pajak
Date: 03/12/21

127 Blanan Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Ian K. Handfield
Seller: Zachary M. Hay
Date: 03/10/21

69 Chateaugay St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Katie M. Livingstone
Seller: Erin L. Santa
Date: 03/15/21

541 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Scott A. Fortin
Seller: Lisa Tavernier
Date: 03/11/21

43 Cortland St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Matilda Sanchez
Seller: M3 Innovations Inc.
Date: 03/19/21

89 Dunn St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Kristen Hubert
Seller: Hubert, Arthur L. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 03/17/21

308 East St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Ashley E. Reidy
Seller: Karen Ferreira
Date: 03/12/21

13 Garrity St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Ilya Latoshkin
Seller: Alan L. Betournay
Date: 03/10/21

939 Granby Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Angelina Malave
Seller: Jonathan D. Fleming
Date: 03/15/21

32 Hudson Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Ruben Rodriguez-Rivera
Seller: Scott A. Lessing
Date: 03/11/21

502 Irene St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Natalya Kravchenko
Seller: Patricia B. Hay
Date: 03/12/21

81 Keddy Blvd.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Matthew D. Graczyk
Seller: James Vanderwalker
Date: 03/17/21

16 Lawrence Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Ireneu M. Freitas
Seller: Michael Cartier
Date: 03/16/21

26 Louise Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Tess E. Kania
Seller: Lois J. Stratton
Date: 03/08/21

70 Marguerite St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Raymond Martin
Seller: Duffy, Steven D., (Estate)
Date: 03/19/21

36 Mary St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Kevin R. Vance
Seller: Onexis Iturrino
Date: 03/10/21

458 Meadow St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Miguel Ceballo-Quinones
Seller: Aleksey Kamyshin
Date: 03/18/21

1741 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Sherine A. Hastings
Seller: Kenneth R. Hamel
Date: 03/12/21

32 Montello Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Trisha F. Fox
Seller: Jon J. Edwards
Date: 03/15/21

44 Munger Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Benny Pabon
Seller: Jeffrey C. Chiecko
Date: 03/18/21

34 Myrtle St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $240,900
Buyer: Oniel Morrison
Seller: Halina Beben
Date: 03/16/21

70 Narragansett Blvd.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Helen Turner
Seller: Sergey Sevostyanov
Date: 03/17/21

80 Orchard St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Dennis L. Brantley
Seller: Mark L. Lemelin
Date: 03/12/21

35 Shaw Park Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $168,210
Buyer: KeyBank
Seller: KeyBank
Date: 03/12/21

105 Stebbins St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,708
Buyer: Pennymac Loan Services LLC
Seller: Eric J. Morin
Date: 03/10/21

50 Thaddeus St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Charles P. Vanasse
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/15/21

27 Worthington St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Tanya E. Roman
Seller: Leclerc Brothers Inc.
Date: 03/12/21

EAST LONGMEADOW

13 Acorn St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Yabela RT
Seller: Hayley E. Durand
Date: 03/17/21

Bella Vista Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Richard A. Shuman
Seller: John Papale
Date: 03/16/21

16 Day Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Peter Maserati
Seller: August A. Maserati
Date: 03/19/21

112 Dearborn St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Nicholas O. Jorge
Seller: Theresa A. Cox
Date: 03/12/21

Deer Park Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: GB Real Estate LLC
Seller: 21 Shillingford RT
Date: 03/18/21

138 Hampden Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Orion Mortell
Seller: Brian D. Kirk
Date: 03/19/21

88 Harwich Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Jonathen Browne
Seller: Jeremy B. Warren
Date: 03/16/21

297 Kibbe Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Christian R. Morneau
Seller: Cardinal Home Investors LLC
Date: 03/12/21

21 Kingman Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Amanda M. Jimenez
Seller: Christian A. Martin
Date: 03/17/21

27 Shaw St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: SRV Properties LLC
Seller: Edward Rutkowski
Date: 03/08/21

21 Sutton Place
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Daniel Aronov
Seller: Richard Ursino
Date: 03/19/21

HAMPDEN

110 Colony Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $271,250
Buyer: John Anderson
Seller: Mark W. Anderson
Date: 03/19/21

26 Martin Farms Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $306,000
Buyer: John L. Swingen
Seller: Helen M. Lavallee
Date: 03/11/21

15 Old Coach Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Wendy L. Colbath
Seller: Paul V. Harper
Date: 03/08/21

HOLLAND

20 Forest Park Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Stephanie Lefebvre
Seller: Matthew D. Jeznach
Date: 03/18/21

33 Lee Ave.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Brian Scully
Seller: RCN Capital Funding LLC
Date: 03/08/21

HOLYOKE

41 Argyle Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Yasmin I. Santiago
Seller: Jeffrey J. Murphy
Date: 03/15/21

427-429 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Greenvale Properties LLC
Seller: SHL Realty LLC
Date: 03/12/21

14 Briarwood Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Jacob Freeman
Seller: Mark Cutting
Date: 03/11/21

63-65 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Braulio Vega
Seller: Gilberto Garcia
Date: 03/15/21

47 Chapin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Javier Serrano
Seller: Alfred Shattleroe
Date: 03/15/21

234 Easthampton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Katelyn M. Perchak
Seller: Lisa Bihler-Lyle
Date: 03/19/21

97 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Rinaldi Pease Acquisitions LLC
Seller: Durand RE Investments LLC
Date: 03/17/21

12 George Frost Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $393,000
Buyer: Ruth S. Rauluk
Seller: Joshua C. Rickman
Date: 03/08/21

502 Hillside Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Dawn Howard
Seller: Christina M. Rigali
Date: 03/11/21

21 Jackson St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Diego Munoz-Torres
Seller: Rescom Mass. Investments LLC
Date: 03/17/21

44 Laurel St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Margaret T. Kraus
Seller: Clara W. James
Date: 03/19/21

1106 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Issa Mateo
Seller: Patriot Living LLC
Date: 03/08/21

33-35 North Bridge St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Walter X. Colon
Seller: Water Colon
Date: 03/15/21

1466 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Rajin Ramraykha
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/16/21

193-195 Oak St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Alondra Sanchez
Seller: Alycar Investments LLC
Date: 03/12/21

4-6 Orchard St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $301,700
Buyer: Maya A. Gounard
Seller: Karl H. Hastings
Date: 03/18/21

45 Ridgeway St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Ismary Santiago-Lugo
Seller: Jose M. Figueroa
Date: 03/18/21

246-248 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Nathaniel Flachs
Seller: Rock Valley Enterprises Inc.
Date: 03/16/21

127 Vermont St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Mark S. Dunlap
Seller: Mark S. Dunlap
Date: 03/19/21

LONGMEADOW

223 Academy Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Spencer G. Ackerman
Seller: Salvatore F. Cangialosi
Date: 03/19/21

45 Franklin Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: April Rockwood
Seller: Michael J. Gauvine
Date: 03/19/21

48 Greenmeadow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Megan M. Weatherborn
Seller: Courtney E. Wenleder
Date: 03/08/21

128 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Sean D. Keane
Seller: Michael R. Massie
Date: 03/12/21

9 Leetewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $494,000
Buyer: Synae Whang
Seller: Victor Degray
Date: 03/11/21

102 Lincoln Park
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Johsua C. Rickman
Seller: Stratton Renovation LLC
Date: 03/08/21

1423 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Jose A. Cuevas-Rentas
Seller: John H. Bellows
Date: 03/11/21

32 Osceola Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Mark Flanagan
Seller: Serge N. Evanguelidi
Date: 03/11/21

225 Prynnwood Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $499,900
Buyer: Terry Peckham
Seller: Michael Donskoy
Date: 03/12/21

230 Sheffield Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Christopher Goshea
Seller: Joel M. Simon
Date: 03/18/21

48 Stirling St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Anne C. Wheeler
Seller: Gregory J. Stevens
Date: 03/19/21

94 Wilkin Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Zakia Natour
Seller: Jodie S. Burstein
Date: 03/11/21

290 Wolf Swamp Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $316,500
Buyer: Netty Z. Perez-Pineiro
Seller: Christopher Stamas
Date: 03/11/21

LUDLOW

598 Alden St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Eric R. Smith
Seller: Brock French
Date: 03/18/21

4 Alice St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Nicholas Roux
Seller: Debra E. Hawkins
Date: 03/09/21

11 Allison Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Matthew F. Lemieux
Seller: Karen M. Benard
Date: 03/11/21

195 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Amy L. Goding
Seller: Chrystal J. Vieira
Date: 03/11/21

45 Duke St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Anthony Jorge
Seller: Rachel Correia
Date: 03/12/21

246 Genovevo Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $482,500
Buyer: Sandra A. Table
Seller: Hua Z. Zhao
Date: 03/19/21

215 Holyoke St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $213,400
Buyer: Cameran A. Eugenio
Seller: Stephanie Lawrence
Date: 03/09/21

2 Leland Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $562,500
Buyer: Brian D. Benard
Seller: John L. Murphy
Date: 03/11/21

21 McLean Pkwy.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Danielle M. Hayes
Seller: Maria Arlete-Mole
Date: 03/10/21

52 Michael St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Devon J. Thomas
Seller: Edward Aniolowski
Date: 03/09/21

47 Napoleon Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Nico Fraga
Seller: Justo, Antonio E., (Estate)
Date: 03/15/21

196 Rood St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Pedro D. Fernandes
Seller: Alfred J. Albano
Date: 03/10/21

Sunset Ridge
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Fernando Elias
Seller: Riverbend 2 Properties LLC
Date: 03/18/21

340 Westerly Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Kevin Musiak
Seller: Fernando D. Tereso
Date: 03/19/21

20 Worcester St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Alyssa A. Dube
Seller: Carlos Santos
Date: 03/19/21

MONSON

216 East Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Jamie M. Bryson
Seller: Edward J. Veneto
Date: 03/16/21

32 Flynt Ave.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Brittany Ramos
Seller: Melissa R. Vanderburgh
Date: 03/19/21

245 Moulton Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Anthony W. Muffoletto
Seller: Shaw, Frederick W., (Estate)
Date: 03/16/21

7 Pine St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Melina Rosario-Crespo
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/10/21

PALMER

196 Breckenridge St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Jared Harrison-Gouvin
Seller: Kyle Gouvin
Date: 03/15/21

1036 Central St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: BD Construction LLC
Seller: Xing G. Wang
Date: 03/15/21

19 Holbrook St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $252,900
Buyer: Michael A. Lavalley
Seller: Kevin McGerigle
Date: 03/12/21

1282-1290 South Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $1,105,000
Buyer: M Squared Holdings LLC
Seller: 1282-1290 South Main St. LLC
Date: 03/18/21

RUSSELL

Dickinson Hill Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Frances Lamountain
Seller: Dana E. Wojick
Date: 03/17/21

SPRINGFIELD

109 2nd St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Edwin N. Acevedo
Seller: Liszka, Stanley W. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 03/09/21

40-42 Acorn St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Kenrie Hayles
Seller: Herbert Bair
Date: 03/12/21

100-102 Acushnet Ave.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Mohamed A. Aliyar
Seller: Waseem Mudasar
Date: 03/17/21

730 Alden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jake A. Manzi
Seller: Ernest C. Williams
Date: 03/19/21

33 Amber St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Alexis Rivas-Mateo
Seller: Sybel Gonzalez
Date: 03/10/21

773-775 Armory St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Abigail Sanchez
Seller: Byron Walker
Date: 03/12/21

35 Atwater Ter.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Miguel E. Bermudez
Seller: Hayward, Doris M., (Estate)
Date: 03/19/21

515 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Ana Nieves
Seller: Jamie Snell
Date: 03/08/21

1035 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Khanh Pham
Seller: Ronald E. Aponte
Date: 03/16/21

54 Bernard St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Steven R. Hull
Seller: Timothy Derrig
Date: 03/15/21

38-40 Biltmore St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Jennifer Cabrera
Seller: Malissa Jean-Charles
Date: 03/12/21

175 Bloomfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Tupatupa Toto
Seller: Greater Habitat For Humanity
Date: 03/09/21

1205 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Andre Bandiaky
Seller: Luis A. Colon
Date: 03/12/21

305 Breckwood Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: John Barron
Seller: 305 Breckwood Blvd. LLC
Date: 03/09/21

91 Cambridge St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Jose Hiraldo
Seller: Jose M. Dejesus
Date: 03/15/21

33 Castle St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Green Light Homes LLC
Seller: John T. Cavicchia
Date: 03/10/21

67-69 Chester St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Carmen E. Reyes
Seller: Amat Victoria Curam LLC
Date: 03/17/21

74-76 Clantoy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Marcelo P. DeAguiar-Silva
Seller: Standard Properties Inc.
Date: 03/19/21

102 College St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Denesha Campbell
Seller: JJJ 17 LLC
Date: 03/19/21

141 Dayton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $223,200
Buyer: Anderson C. Ogwumike
Seller: Joseph C. Ward
Date: 03/19/21

47-49 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Junior Santos-Feliciano
Seller: JJS Capital Inv LLC
Date: 03/10/21

115 Dubois St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Jacqueline Mestre
Seller: Marycruz Martin
Date: 03/15/21

17 Elaine Circle
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $364,000
Buyer: Abigail Gonzalez
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 03/18/21

143 Endicott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Hillisa G. Byer
Seller: Casey Belieu
Date: 03/12/21

70 Ferncliff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Walter Ramos
Seller: Orange Park Management LLC
Date: 03/16/21

75 Florence St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Diana Soto
Seller: Diaz Properties LLC
Date: 03/19/21

47 Forest St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Juan C. Ramos
Seller: Round 2 LLC
Date: 03/19/21

61 Forest St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Amat Victoria Curam LLC
Seller: Deluca Development Corp.
Date: 03/08/21

86 Granby St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Lakpa Tamang
Seller: Karen Domenech-Chinnery
Date: 03/15/21

95 Grandview St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $252,500
Buyer: Susan M. Toro
Seller: Dawn C. Spenard
Date: 03/19/21

33-37 Grant St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Harish Damodharan
Seller: Reid, Joshua, (Estate)
Date: 03/17/21

83-85 Hamburg St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Ramon T. Fabian
Seller: Patrick Manning
Date: 03/08/21

60-62 Home St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Minas S. Alitbi
Seller: Anthony Chicklowski
Date: 03/17/21

10 Ingraham Ter.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $1,685,409
Buyer: Behavioral Health Network
Seller: J. Norbert Properties LLC
Date: 03/15/21

12 Ingraham Ter.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $1,685,409
Buyer: Behavioral Health Network
Seller: J. Norbert Properties LLC
Date: 03/15/21

59-61 James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01001
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: 401 Liberty LLC
Seller: Behavioral Health Network
Date: 03/16/21

140-142 Johnson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Matt J. Indomenico
Seller: Graduate Housing Services LLC
Date: 03/16/21

15 Josephine St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Suzy M. Cieboter
Seller: Suzy M. Cieboter
Date: 03/12/21

108 Kathleen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Santo Gabin
Seller: Thien D. Vo
Date: 03/15/21

42 Keith St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Carlos O. Arce
Seller: Roger W. Williams
Date: 03/15/21

36 Kent Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: M. E. Rodriguez-Marrero
Seller: Juan A. Santana
Date: 03/09/21

25 Lawnwood St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Jared Berkeley
Seller: Scott J. Mascaro
Date: 03/10/21

50 Macomber Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Blythewood Property Management LLC
Seller: Plata O. Plomo Inc.
Date: 03/12/21

72 Mary Coburn Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Michael Whitfield
Seller: Cox, June Marie, (Estate)
Date: 03/12/21

67-69 Massachusetts Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $172,750
Buyer: Danalax LLC
Seller: Reid, Joshua, (Estate)
Date: 03/19/21

99 Merrill Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Mirelys Perez-Mercado
Seller: Yesenia Vizcaya
Date: 03/15/21

54 Oak Grove Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Israel B. Garcia
Seller: Abigail Gonzalez
Date: 03/16/21

55-57 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $253,500
Buyer: Zaim Azam
Seller: Jose L. Pedro
Date: 03/18/21

97-99 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $172,750
Buyer: Vittapa LLC
Seller: Reid, Joshua, (Estate)
Date: 03/19/21

53-55 Orleans St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $172,750
Buyer: Danalax LLC
Seller: Reid, Joshua, (Estate)
Date: 03/19/21

647 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: Nancy Matos
Seller: Paula M. Circosta
Date: 03/12/21

55 Parkerview St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Anthony Malfino
Seller: Theresa D. Martin
Date: 03/08/21

138 Pasco Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Gerardo Cruz-Quesada
Seller: Waleska Semprit
Date: 03/11/21

36 Pembroke St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Taylor J. Hansen
Seller: Next Level Investments LLC
Date: 03/19/21

152 Pendleton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Mudassir Salisu
Seller: Angelina E. Malave
Date: 03/15/21

16 Pickett Place
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Keyla Diaz
Seller: Delroy Gayle
Date: 03/12/21

25 Pine Acre Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Gilberto V. Dalmau
Seller: Bryan A. Musa
Date: 03/12/21

1599 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Kathleen Demetrion
Seller: Ryan T. Haley
Date: 03/12/21

380 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Kathryn S. Durand
Seller: John J. Walsh
Date: 03/12/21

52 Portulaca Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $243,300
Buyer: Stephanie L. Godek
Seller: Revampit LLC
Date: 03/12/21

47 Queen St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Dagoberto H. Hernandez
Seller: Rafael Capellan-Polanco
Date: 03/17/21

41 Queensbury Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Luz Guerrero
Seller: Nicole Milanes
Date: 03/08/21

69-71 Ranney St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Elvira L. Soares
Seller: Emtay Inc.
Date: 03/12/21

15 Rimmon Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Alvin Cardona
Seller: Gayle C. McCray
Date: 03/19/21

867 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $144,900
Buyer: Crossover Corp.
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 03/17/21

735 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Eduard Popovichenko
Seller: Andrew A. Lopriore
Date: 03/08/21

184 Senator St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Glendon Wallace
Seller: Kara L. Harris
Date: 03/11/21

23 Seymour Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Shari Taylor
Seller: Gabriel Adorno-Rivera
Date: 03/18/21

22-24 Somerset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $279,800
Buyer: Tamar Urena
Seller: Dnepro Properties LLC
Date: 03/09/21

1616 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Bruce Tetrault
Seller: Carol-An Broadway-Chapin
Date: 03/12/21

3 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: 3 Sumner Avenue RT
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/18/21

704-708 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Maninder Kaur
Seller: SJC Management LLC
Date: 03/16/21

716 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: 1 Root Inc.
Seller: X. Main Street Corp.
Date: 03/12/21

59 Terrence St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Jillian A. Sandifer
Seller: MCN New Wave LLC
Date: 03/19/21

312 Tiffany St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: My V. Le
Seller: Raul Garay
Date: 03/19/21

44 Tourigny St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Eugene J. Alexander
Seller: Extremely Clean LLC
Date: 03/10/21

41 Upton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Alexander Ortiz
Seller: Vincent P. Langone
Date: 03/11/21

246 Walnut St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Verna G. Martin
Seller: Hedge Hog Industries Corp.
Date: 03/19/21

374-382 Walnut St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $391,500
Buyer: 374 Walnut LLC
Seller: Reid, Joshua, (Estate)
Date: 03/19/21

590 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Canaan A. Khatib
Seller: Eneroliza Cardenas
Date: 03/19/21

129-131 Wilbraham Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Alexa Acosta
Seller: Bert V. Wright
Date: 03/11/21

31 Worcester Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Rinaldi Pease Holdings LLC
Seller: Round 2 LLC
Date: 03/08/21

1154 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Anthony B. Broadnax
Seller: Thomas P. Keenan
Date: 03/10/21

825 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $172,750
Buyer: Vittapa LLC
Seller: Reid, Joshua, (Estate)
Date: 03/19/21

SOUTHWICK

39 Fernwood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Daniel R. Caputo
Seller: Cummings, Norman W. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 03/16/21

44 North Lake Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Sergey Yanyuk
Seller: Ronald Vandervliet
Date: 03/16/21

44-R North Lake Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Sergey Yanyuk
Seller: Ronald Vandervliet
Date: 03/16/21

73 North Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $369,000
Buyer: Annecca Smith
Seller: Erica Rossini
Date: 03/18/21

37 Summer Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Sergey Yanyuk
Seller: Ronald Vandervliet
Date: 03/16/21

WALES

19 McBride Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $401,500
Buyer: Tyler Stretch
Seller: Robert L. Hegyi
Date: 03/08/21

WEST SPRINGFIELD

85 Bliss St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Krishna Kharel
Seller: Deborah W. Skelly
Date: 03/19/21

63 Bridle Path Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Jeffrey W. Dean
Seller: Timothy V. Flouton
Date: 03/19/21

59 Fox St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Kevin Malmborg
Seller: Kathleen M. Malmborg
Date: 03/15/21

55 Hanover St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Eugeniu Corja
Seller: Tek Gautam
Date: 03/19/21

407 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Denise Scales
Seller: Michael G. Anable
Date: 03/12/21

129 Lancaster Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Nino Valentino
Seller: KSV Realty LLC
Date: 03/11/21

255 Laurel Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Brandon Moore
Seller: Paul C. Shields
Date: 03/18/21

15 Oxford Place
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Alina J. Bracken
Seller: Ivan Mokan
Date: 03/19/21

4 Pine St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $414,277
Buyer: Stoneridge Realty LLC
Seller: Cardinal Homes Inc.
Date: 03/10/21

681 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Rafael Rivera
Seller: Jonathan T. Popp
Date: 03/18/21

879 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Richard S. Staples
Seller: Jeffrey K. Gallup
Date: 03/10/21

26 Sears Way
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $3,040,000
Buyer: 26 Gsears LLC
Seller: Remeche LLC
Date: 03/15/21

799 Union St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Rihab AlZubaidi
Seller: Kimberly N. Siwek
Date: 03/19/21

19 Worthen St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $201,500
Buyer: Rosa M. Echevarria
Seller: Robinson, Jean P., (Estate)
Date: 03/09/21

41 York St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Luis Gonzalez
Seller: Marc Bergeron
Date: 03/08/21

86 York St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: CIG 4 LLC
Seller: Michael Martin
Date: 03/12/21

WESTFIELD

117 Berkshire Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Frank A. Cavallo
Seller: Timothy A. Levasseur
Date: 03/17/21

125 Berkshire Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $186,120
Buyer: John P. Avery
Seller: Joseph R. Avery
Date: 03/10/21

5 Carpenter Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Brian Curran
Seller: Vasily Nesmelov
Date: 03/17/21

170 City View Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Joseph Manfredi
Seller: James M. Kotowski
Date: 03/12/21

1928 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Kyle Randall
Seller: Andrey Gnidenko
Date: 03/12/21

74 East Silver St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Johnathan Spear
Seller: Gertrude J. Maslar
Date: 03/19/21

37 Foch Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Heather Myers
Seller: Glenn Korostynski
Date: 03/12/21

170 Lockhouse Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $4,400,000
Buyer: Nizan Holdings LLC
Seller: Rail Realty Development LLC
Date: 03/16/21

457 Loomis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Daniel P. Donohue
Seller: Ryan W. Taylor
Date: 03/12/21

35 Mill St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Fanny Naranjo
Seller: Shakil Ahmed
Date: 03/10/21

22 Moseley Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Timothy Cardaropoli
Seller: Dmitriy Kozodoy
Date: 03/10/21

3 Myrtle Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Christopher G. Dastous
Seller: Margaret M. Nadeau
Date: 03/12/21

43 Oak Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $289,000
Buyer: Christopher Smigel
Seller: Kenneth D. Smigel
Date: 03/12/21

40 Park St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $321,000
Buyer: Ryan Bonesio
Seller: Christopher Nascembeni
Date: 03/12/21

12 Phelps Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Vantage Home Buyers LLC
Seller: Wojcek, Edward J., (Estate)
Date: 03/19/21

116 Sackett Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $262,800
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Ruth M. Malanowski
Date: 03/17/21

South Meadow Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Brixmor SPE 6 LLC
Seller: Thomas J. McLaughlin
Date: 03/16/21

1343 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Raymond Cote
Seller: James S. Reed
Date: 03/16/21

55 Stuart Place
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Joel T. Malo
Seller: Daniel P. Donohue
Date: 03/12/21

19 Waterford Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Laura M. Taylor
Seller: Joseph M. Manfredi
Date: 03/12/21

16 West School St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Michael P. Fabiani
Seller: James M. Bowler
Date: 03/19/21

56 Western Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Crossroads Property
Seller: Brenda J. Fedora
Date: 03/19/21

1 Yeoman Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Roxanne A. Arkoette
Seller: Lorrie J. Bobe
Date: 03/17/21

WILBRAHAM

3 Bulkley Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: MC AC & MC LLC
Seller: Wilbraham & Monson Academy
Date: 03/15/21

309 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $590,000
Buyer: John Cannellos
Seller: Main Street Rentals LLC
Date: 03/15/21

992 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Leslie S. McCray
Seller: Susan M. Toro
Date: 03/19/21

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

87 Columbia Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $474,100
Buyer: Christopher S. Beach
Seller: Columbia Realty Income LLC
Date: 03/15/21

266 East Hadley Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $25,600,000
Buyer: VA 7 Amherst LLC
Seller: Yosrex LLC
Date: 03/15/21

Flat Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Brian McLaughlin
Seller: Windcatcher RET
Date: 03/12/21

19 Harlow Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Justin Ching
Seller: Christine Ryan
Date: 03/11/21

15 Jenks St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Deborah J. Veatch
Seller: Leslie A. Bestor
Date: 03/19/21

137 Logtown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Daniel Cook
Seller: Nicholas E. Stern
Date: 03/19/21

151 Montague Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: W. D. Cowls Inc.
Seller: Denison Corp.
Date: 03/19/21

845 North Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: 845 North Pleasant St. LLC
Seller: Ting FT
Date: 03/12/21

320 Pulpit Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: W. D. Cowls Inc.
Seller: Denison Corp.
Date: 03/19/21

58 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $532,000
Buyer: Kilerine Properties LLC
Seller: Melanie S. Rose
Date: 03/17/21

916 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $577,500
Buyer: Stephen A. Fusco
Seller: Abida Adnan
Date: 03/19/21

8 Vista Ter.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Annette B. Geldzahler
Seller: Apple Brook West LLC
Date: 03/09/21

BELCHERTOWN

414 Allen Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Elizabeth D. Martin
Seller: Lynne D. Coleman
Date: 03/16/21

167 Barton Ave.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Maher A. Hasan
Seller: Karen M. Walker
Date: 03/08/21

31 Ledgewood Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Musa Cayan
Seller: Sullivan, Joan P., (Estate)
Date: 03/08/21

60 Magnolia Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $447,400
Buyer: William H. Bush
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 03/19/21

51 Metacomet St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Jane Taylor
Seller: Spencer W. Shumway
Date: 03/12/21

251 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $1,125,000
Buyer: Blythewood Property Mgmt. LLC
Seller: Sligo Realty Co. LLC
Date: 03/11/21

257 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $1,125,000
Buyer: Blythewood Property Mgmt. LLC
Seller: Sligo Realty Co. LLC
Date: 03/11/21

259 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $1,125,000
Buyer: Blythewood Property Mgmt. LLC
Seller: Sligo Realty Co. LLC
Date: 03/11/21

Oasis Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Timothy R. Drost
Seller: Shu-Chen Hsiao
Date: 03/15/21

95 Railroad St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $324,500
Buyer: Anthony Patalano
Seller: Douglas M. Delisle
Date: 03/12/21

130 Sheffield Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $421,300
Buyer: Spencer Shumway
Seller: Bank Of America
Date: 03/12/21

20 Springfield Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Drusilla DeVeer
Seller: Holly L. Ruderman
Date: 03/12/21

96 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: 96 Stebbins Street RT
Seller: David M. Martel
Date: 03/12/21

CHESTERFIELD

87 Bryant St.
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Maya Greene
Seller: Richard H. Ladd
Date: 03/15/21

67 Munson Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Laura Dimmler
Seller: Andrea L. Looney
Date: 03/17/21

EASTHAMPTON

62 Briggs St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Shelby L. Hyvonen
Seller: Audrey J. Hyvonen
Date: 03/19/21

22 Clark Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Daniel K. Edwards
Seller: DAPR NT
Date: 03/11/21

35 Groveland St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $337,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Wolf
Seller: John K. Norris
Date: 03/16/21

13 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Hannah R. Carrasco
Seller: John R. Lynch
Date: 03/10/21

13 Knight Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Stephanie L. Provo
Seller: Samuel F. Provo
Date: 03/17/21

12 Paul St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Cleo W. Zancope
Seller: L. E. & Lois C. Briggs FT
Date: 03/17/21

13-15 Pine St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $417,900
Buyer: Nicole Krauth
Seller: J. G. Farrick Sr. RET
Date: 03/17/21

GRANBY

2 Lakeview Ave.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $342,500
Buyer: Jacqueline E. Swist
Seller: John Rogers
Date: 03/18/21

HADLEY

10 Indian Pipe Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $715,000
Buyer: Nicholas E. Stern
Seller: Hui Wang
Date: 03/19/21

136 Middle St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Daniel A. Cavanaugh
Seller: Harry L. Barstow
Date: 03/12/21

30 North Maple St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: John J. Stosz
Seller: Leonard Szarkowski
Date: 03/17/21

229 River Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Alan St.Hilaire
Seller: Green Tree Family LP
Date: 03/17/21

231 River Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Alan P. St.Hilaire
Seller: Green Tree Family LP
Date: 03/17/21

38 Shattuck Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Walter J. Czajkowski
Seller: James P. Tudryn
Date: 03/10/21

HUNTINGTON

204 Norwich Lake
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $298,000
Buyer: Leta Herman
Seller: Allyson R. Hornstein
Date: 03/19/21

13 Old Chester Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $422,600
Buyer: Anne Murray-Chiriboga
Seller: Kovacs, Sandor, (Estate)
Date: 03/08/21

NORTHAMPTON

246 Chestnut St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $479,000
Buyer: Jacob B. Drew
Seller: Sheryl A. Grabon
Date: 03/19/21

18 Dewey Court
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $505,550
Buyer: Amy B. Ben-Ezra
Seller: Joseph Blotnick
Date: 03/18/21

17 Fort St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Scotia MacGillivray
Seller: Ina Iansiti
Date: 03/17/21

14 Hatfield St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $655,000
Buyer: David A. Premo
Seller: Erin E. Carey
Date: 03/12/21

35 Holyoke St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $333,000
Buyer: Janet Warren
Seller: Lynne K. Edwards
Date: 03/08/21

55 Milton St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Madison H. Bishop
Seller: Aethena R. Enzer-Mahler
Date: 03/19/21

117 Olander Dr. #14
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $593,663
Buyer: Susan Donaldson TR
Seller: Sunwood Development Corp.
Date: 03/12/21

73 Redford Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Debra Bercuvitz
Seller: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Date: 03/15/21

291 Riverside Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $651,000
Buyer: Nu-Way Homes Inc.
Seller: Czarniecki, Irene J., (Estate)
Date: 03/08/21

 

SOUTH HADLEY

206 Brainerd St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Jonathan Black
Seller: Benjamin W. Tucker
Date: 03/09/21

31 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Azam Khan
Seller: Kilerine Properties LLC
Date: 03/08/21

36 Lyon Green
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $469,900
Buyer: Real F. Theroux
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 03/19/21

110 Main St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: New England Drum Union
Seller: Knights Of Columbus Building
Date: 03/17/21

36 Mountain Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Thomas Fregeau
Seller: Christine G. Regis
Date: 03/10/21

4 Taylor St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $292,500
Buyer: David M. Eufemia
Seller: Skinner Woods LLC
Date: 03/17/21

SOUTHAMPTON

17 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $2,400,000
Buyer: Shivesha LLC
Seller: Patrick Properties LLC
Date: 03/17/21

66 East St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Alex Komlev
Seller: Gosselin, Jeffrey A., (Estate)
Date: 03/11/21

114 Valley Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Zachary J. Berman
Seller: Yocelyn F. Delgado
Date: 03/12/21

WARE

143 Main St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Carlos F. Martins
Seller: Madigan, Sean M., (Estate)
Date: 03/12/21

100 Old Gilbertville Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Jason Cebula
Seller: Dorothy R. Cebula
Date: 03/15/21

94 South St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $296,500
Buyer: John J. Stueve
Seller: Andrew Tombor
Date: 03/12/21

142 West St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Carlos F. Martins
Seller: Madigan, Sean M., (Estate)
Date: 03/12/21

21 Willow St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Susan J. Cunningham
Seller: Mark R. Gaudette
Date: 03/08/21

WILLIAMSBURG

6 Fairfield Ave.
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Sarah Barnett
Seller: 1XO LLC
Date: 03/19/21

Nash Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: City Of Northampton
Seller: Vance S. Przasnyski
Date: 03/19/21

Old Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: John B. Otis
Seller: Misner, Margaret K. S., (Estate)
Date: 03/17/21

WORTHINGTON

66 Parish Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Michael J. Shimkus
Seller: L. E. Zuckerman 2009 RET
Date: 03/19/21

People on the Move

People on the Move

By
Briana Wales

Briana Wales

Emma Mesa-Melendez

Emma Mesa-Melendez

Keith McKittrick

Keith McKittrick

Ullapi Shrestha

Ullapi Shrestha

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) announced the appointments of Briana Wales as vice president for People and Culture, Emma Mesa-Melendez as director of Communications, Keith McKittrick as Development coordinator, and Ullapi Shrestha as program assistant. These appointments are the latest example of CFWM’s ongoing commitment to expand its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts internally and within the nonprofit sector. Wales will focus on a wide scope of DEI initiatives to guide both the foundation’s external and internal DEI work, training, and development of best practices. She has an extensive career in workforce development for youth and adults and has provided leadership in both nonprofit and quasi-public settings. In her efforts to serve communities, she has fostered partnerships and programming to increase equity and access for underrepresented or marginalized groups. She received her bachelor’s degree in social justice education from UMass Amherst and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mount Holyoke College. Mesa-Melendez will be responsible for CFWM’s communications strategy and will assist with DEI initiatives. In recent work, she has consulted in marketing and graphic design, and previously served as vice president for Community Relations, Human Resources, and Marketing Management for New Valley Bank & Trust. She received her MBA from Southern New Hampshire University and her bachelor’s degree in critical social thought from Mount Holyoke College. She has worked with several nonprofits as both a board member and volunteer, including the Minority Inclusion Project, Farmington Valley YMCA, Vet Air, and the Performance Project. McKittrick comes to the foundation with 25 years of experience in philanthropy. He has held positions at UMass Amherst, Western New England University, and Holyoke Community College, where he has worked with donors to establish scholarships and fundraise for educational initiatives. He received his master’s degree in public administration from Framingham State University and his bachelor’s degree in political science from Westfield State University. Shrestha has worked as an interpreter at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and as an intern at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. She has volunteered with the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. She received her master’s degree in management from Saint Joseph College and her bachelor’s degree in business marketing from the Institute of Technology in Carlow, Ireland.

•••••

Marianna Roy

Marianna Roy

Jodi Giustina

Jodi Giustina

OMG Roofing Products has hired Marianna Roy as a customer service representative and Jodi Giustina as a sales and marketing assistant. Roy is responsible for assisting customers in placing orders and in funneling customer inquiries to the organization. She is initially responsible for handling the Firestone account, the company’s Northeast Region, and a portion of the Mid-Atlantic Region. She began her career at OMG Roofing Products as a temporary customer service representative in July 2020. Prior to joining OMG, she was with the Law Offices of John E. Miller. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University. Giustina is responsible for a wide assortment of administrative duties to support the company’s sales and marketing team, customer service department, as well as key account managers. She joined OMG Roofing Products from PNC Business Credit, where she was a senior business development associate. Earlier, she held several positions with BKM, most recently as a project coordinator. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Simmons College in Boston.

•••••

The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce has named Jordan Hart its new executive director. Hart will replace Andréa Marion, who recently announced her departure to pursue other opportunities. Hart has served in a variety of roles in the past eight years at the chamber, most recently as program coordinator. She is a board member at Enchanted Circle Theater and was a leader of the “Have a Ball in Holyoke” public art effort through Leadership Holyoke. She holds an associate degree from Holyoke Community College and is currently taking courses at Greenfield Community College. Among the top priorities for the 131-year-old chamber moving forward are re-establishing a solid suite of programming and seminars to support local businesses in their success, continuing to serve as a cheerleader for economic development and job growth in the city, and working with leaders throughout the area to bolster civic pride and quality of life in Holyoke and surrounding communities. Key to Hart’s responsibilities will be collaborating closely with partners throughout the region, including leaders at City Hall.

•••••

Michele Snizek

Michele Snizek

River Valley Counseling Center (RVCC) named Michele Snizek its senior program director. Snizek will oversee RVCC’s school-based health centers and HIV/AIDS Project to ensure that these grant-funded programs are responsive to funder terms and conditions and compliant with grant rules and regulations. Snizek received a bachelor’s degree in social work from Elms College and a master’s degree in public administration from Westfield State University. She has extensive experience managing federal and state grants in the Greater Holyoke community, development and writing of grant proposals, managing grant compliance, and reporting and budget management for both federal and state applications. She is also a licensed social worker. Prior to joining RVCC, Snizek was the director of Retention at Holyoke Community College. A key focus of her work was closing HCC’s equity gaps, which were further widened during remote operations this year. This put a spotlight on the need for enhanced mental-health services for students. She started her career at HCC as a Title III activity director, managing a five-year, $1.8 million Department of Education grant focused on first-year students. For more than 20 years, she held two different positions, director of Planning and Development and director of Program Operations, at Holyoke, Chicopee, and Springfield Head Start Inc.

•••••

Michelle Baity

Michelle Baity

BFAIR announced the promotion of Michelle Baity to the position of senior vice president of Human Resources. Baity joined BFAIR’s senior-management team three years ago and brought with her numerous years of experience in human resources as well as the human-services field. Since joining the team, she has formed a strong Human Resources department that has been invaluable with assisting the agency to manage the enormous challenges it has faced over the past year. According to Ethel Altiery, BFAIR’s executive director, “Michelle has been with BFAIR for three years, and working closely with her has been a wonderful experience for me. She has brought my level of knowledge and experience in the world of human resources to a new level. I look forward to working with Michelle for many more years to come.” Baity is directly responsible for crafting employee-benefit offerings and developing an educational-assistance policy to support skill development in pursuit of an organization focused on creating opportunities for advancement.

•••••

Melissa Blissett

Melissa Blissett

Square One announced the promotion of Melissa Blissett to vice president of Family Support Services. A native of Springfield, Blissett joined Square One in 2014 as a Springfield College School of Social Work intern. Upon graduation in 2015, she joined the agency’s Healthy Families and Supervised Visitation programs. In 2017, she went to work as a Child and Family Law Division social worker for the Committee for Public Council Services in Springfield. In 2018, she returned to Square One as assistant vice president of Family Services. Blissett graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in psychology and developmental disabilities. She earned her master of social work degree from Springfield College, where she currently serves as an adjunct professor. She is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and actively volunteers for the Reading Success by 4th Grade initiative.

•••••

Thomas Hull, associate professor of Mathematics at Western New England University (WNEU), recently published his latest book, Origametry: Mathematical Methods in Paper Folding. In his book, Hull takes a deep dive into the math behind origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding. His research uses graph theory, combinatorics, geometry, and other areas of math, with applications in engineering, materials science, art, and education. He is a leading expert on the mathematics of origami, having given talks on this topic all over the world. Hull has been practicing origami since he was 8 years old and studying the mathematics behind origami for the past 30 years. He holds both a PhD and a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Rhode Island and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Hampshire College. Several of the origami models he has invented are well-known among origami artists, including his ‘five intersecting tetrahedra’ model, a star-like structure, featured on the cover of his new book, which the British Origami Society voted as being one of the top 10 origami models of all time.

Daily News

Country Bank Promotes Russ Fontaine to Senior Vice President, Customer Experience

By

WARE — Country Bank announced that Russ Fontaine has been promoted to senior vice president, Customer Experience. He is a seasoned banking professional with 30 years of experience in key management and leadership roles in consumer sales and service.

Fontaine previously held the position of first vice president, Sales and Market Management with Country Bank, where he oversaw sales and service. One example of a new program introduced by the bank, as a result of Fontaine’s recommendation, was the deployment of a “Voice of the Customer” program that enables the bank to measure and better understand the overall customer experience through various survey metrics.

In his newly created role, Fontaine is tasked with leading a bankwide collaborative effort to view things from the customer’s perspective; this applies to both the bank’s external customer and its internal customer. “This increased focus of looking at things through the lens of the customer will strengthen Country Bank’s ability to deliver a best-in-class customer service experience and, as a result, attract new customers for the bank while deepening the relationships of existing ones,” he said.

Mary McGovern, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Country Bank, noted that, “for over 170 years, providing excellent customer service has been a hallmark value and priority for Country Bank. In today’s ever-changing, dynamic customer-service landscape, customer-facing companies must ensure that the entire customer experience is a primary focus. Russ exemplifies Country Bank’s iSTEP corporate values of integrity, service, teamwork, excellence, and prosperity, and is the perfect person to fill this new role.”

Fontaine is active within the community, serving on the board of directors for the Central/Western Massachusetts March of Dimes and as a 2021 co-chair for the March for Babies fundraising event in Massachusetts. He has also served on the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity board of directors, including holding the chair role for the organization’s Restore committee. Additionally, he has been an avid supporter of the United Way and the Western Massachusetts Special Olympics.

Daily News

Community Foundation Announces Four New Hires

By

SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) announced the appointments of Briana Wales as vice president for People and Culture, Emma Mesa-Melendez as director of Communications, Keith McKittrick as Development coordinator, and Ullapi Shrestha as program assistant. These appointments are the latest example of CFWM’s ongoing commitment to expand its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts internally and within the nonprofit sector.

In her new role, Wales will focus on a wide scope of DEI initiatives to guide both the foundation’s external and internal DEI work, training, and development of best practices. She has an extensive career in workforce development for youth and adults and has provided leadership in both nonprofit and quasi-public settings. In her efforts to serve communities, she has fostered partnerships and programming to increase equity and access for underrepresented or marginalized groups. She received her bachelor’s degree in social justice education from UMass Amherst and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mount Holyoke College.

Mesa-Melendez will be responsible for CFWM’s communications strategy and will assist with DEI initiatives. In recent work, she has consulted in marketing and graphic design, and previously served as vice president for Community Relations, Human Resources, and Marketing Management for New Valley Bank & Trust. She received her MBA from Southern New Hampshire University and her bachelor’s degree in critical social thought from Mount Holyoke College. She has worked with several nonprofits as both a board member and volunteer, including the Minority Inclusion Project, Farmington Valley YMCA, Vet Air, and the Performance Project.

McKittrick comes to the foundation with 25 years of experience in philanthropy. He has held positions at UMass Amherst, Western New England University, and Holyoke Community College, where he has worked with donors to establish scholarships and fundraise for educational initiatives. He received his master’s degree in public administration from Framingham State University and his bachelor’s degree in political science from Westfield State University.

Shrestha has worked as an interpreter at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and as an intern at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. She has volunteered with the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. She received her master’s degree in management from Saint Joseph College and her bachelor’s degree in business marketing from the Institute of Technology in Carlow, Ireland.

People on the Move

People on the Move

By
Anthony Worden

Anthony Worden

Michael Tucker

Michael Tucker

Kevin O’Neil, chairman of the board of directors of Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) and its Northampton Cooperative Bank division, announced the promotion of Anthony Worden to president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2021. This promotion is in anticipation of the retirement of current President and CEO Michael Tucker, who is relinquishing his title as president, but will remain CEO until his actual retirement in January 2022, when Worden will take over that role as well. Tucker will remain as a director of the bank and holding company. O’Neil noted that this transition schedule is part of an overall succession plan for the bank that the board adopted some time ago. Worden has worked closely with Tucker in addressing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic within the bank and its local communities. Tucker also noted he has complete confidence in Worden’s ability to lead the bank into the future. O’Neil noted the board was pleased to be able to select someone like Worden who already knows and values GCB’s traditions and internal culture. A Pioneer Valley resident for the past 30 years, he is a director, executive committee member, and chair of the governance committee for the United Way of Franklin County; a former director of the Franklin County Community Development Corp.; and a former director of the Berkshire Brewing Co. of South Deerfield. He received his bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst and his MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, and he is a graduate of the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania.

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Monson Savings Bank announced the recent promotion of Rob Chateauneuf to senior vice president and senior commercial loan officer. In his new role, Chateauneuf will be responsible for leading the bank’s Commercial Lending team as they continue to serve local businesses of all sizes. He is skilled in commercial real-estate lending, C&I lending, construction lending, and SBA lending. At Monson Savings Bank, he most recently served as first vice president of Commercial Lending and has been the bank since 2012. With more than 20 years of banking experience, including commercial lending, residential lending, and retail branch management, he has a comprehensive understanding of the needs and challenges of commercial businesses. Chateauneuf earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Springfield Regional Chamber’s Leadership Institute at Western New England University and the American Bankers Assoc. Stonier Graduate School of Banking – Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2014, he was recognized as one of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty. He served on the board of directors at Hawthorn Services from 2006 to 2010, serving as president and chair from 2008 to 2010. When Hawthorn Services merged with the Center for Human Development (CHD), he was asked to join the CHD board, which he served as chair of the program committee and a member the board of directors from 2010 to 2020. He also served on the board of directors of the South Hadley Chamber of Commerce from 2004 to 2013. He has also been involved in myriad other charitable organizations and volunteer events throughout the years, including those benefiting Habitat for Humanity, the Westfield Boys & Girls Club, the United Way, and the towns of Agawam and South Hadley.

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Berkshire Bank announced the promotion of Jennifer Carmichael to executive vice president and chief internal audit officer. She previously served as senior vice president and audit manager at the bank. In her role, Carmichael will continue to lead all aspects of Berkshire’s internal audit and independent SOX testing programs. She is responsible for providing independent and objective assurance to management and the audit committee on the adequacy and effectiveness of governance and internal controls to support the achievement of organizational objectives as well as promote and facilitate continuous improvement as part of the third line of defense. She reports directly to the audit committee of the board of directors and administratively to acting CEO Sean Gray. Carmichael previously served as senior vice president and audit manager at Berkshire Bank. She joined Berkshire in 2016 from Accume Partners, where she served as senior audit manager to several clients in the New York and New England regions, including Berkshire. She began her career in the community-banking sector in internal audit roles and previously served several years at Ballston Spa National Bank, including as assistant vice president, compliance and BSA officer and assistant auditor. In addition to her professional achievements, she also serves as a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and the Vermont Veterans Home board of trustees, where she serves on the strategic planning committee.

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Eric Ohanian

Eric Ohanian

Eric Ohanian, structural project engineer at Tighe & Bond Inc., was named a 2020 Young Professional of the Year by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA). This award recognizes the accomplishments of young engineers by highlighting their interesting and unique work, and the resulting impact on society. Ohanian has been a key contributor to the successful rise of Tighe & Bond’s bridge-design and assessment practice over the last few years. His extensive experience and knowledge of engineering design have greatly contributed to the service the firm provides to municipal and DOT clients, including assisting numerous towns with applications for more than $3 million in grant funding for bridges. Beyond bridge design, his work includes business development, project management, marketing, mentoring, and engineering. His hard work was recognized early in his career with Tighe & Bond when he was selected to join the first year-long Aspiring Leaders Program. This provided an opportunity to work directly with senior leadership and solve upcoming challenges. His contributions to the program resulted in the development of a new internal quality management committee, of which he is an active member. Ohanian will be honored by ACEC/MA alongside other award recipients at its 2021 awards gala.

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Belt Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of custom metal belt conveyer solutions and conveyor systems, announced that Timothy Condry has joined the team in the role of materials coordinator. A seasoned professional, he will coordinate logistics for the busy manufacturer. Condry holds business degrees from Manchester Community College and Eastern Connecticut State University. Prior to joining Belt Technologies, he was a production planner for 15 years, responsible for forecasting and purchasing materials, providing customer support, and production control.

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PeoplesBank recently announced nine promotions. Christina Bordeau has been promoted to assistant vice president, banking center manager for the High Street, Holyoke location. She has more than 24 years of financial-services and banking experience, having served in various retail banking roles. Michael Gay has been promoted to vice president, banking center manager for the Amherst location. He has more than 20 years of retail and banking experience. Jacquelyn Guzie has been promoted to vice president and regional manager. She has more than 20 years of financial-services and banking experience, having served in various retail banking roles, including managing the Suffield Banking Center. Clare Ladue was promoted to vice president and regional manager for the Holyoke region. She has more than 25 years of financial-services and banking experience, having served in banking center management, administration, and commercial lending. She previously served as banking center manager for the Hadley Banking Center and was promoted to assistant vice president, regional manager, in 2019. Aneta Lombardi was promoted to finance officer. She has more than 15 years of financial-services and banking experience, including serving in various positions in the finance division, most recently as financial analyst. Nicole Nelson was promoted to banking center manager at the Windsor Locks location. She has more than eight years of banking experience, including serving as assistant manager of both the East Longmeadow and Windsor Locks banking centers. Steve Parastatidis was promoted to first vice president, commercial banking. He has 16 years of banking experience. Brenda Rodriguez was promoted to assistant vice president, banking center manager of the Chicopee location. She has more than 14 years of financial-services and banking experience, having served in various retail banking roles, including most recently as banking center manager for the St. James Avenue, Springfield location. Danielle Rosario was promoted to vice president, banking center manager, for the Chicopee location. She has more than 17 years of banking experience.

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Bill Jackson

Bill Jackson

Restoration specialist Bill Jackson has joined the business-development team at Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding Inc. He will work to expand partnerships and provide assistance throughout the New England condominium industry, particularly for members of the Community Associations Institute (CAI). His experience in the condominium industry will give property managers a go-to source for renovations that may include roofing, siding, windows, decks, and all-inclusive envelope projects. He will also work closely with clients to solve any issues. Jackson was a member of the CAI-CT board of directors, covering the Connecticut region, for six years. He also served on the association’s full fun committee and conference committee, and is a certified educated business partner. He worked for several years at two restoration companies. Jackson met Quenneville at a CAI conference in Connecticut, and is now hoping to meet property managers from all over New England to offer consultation and advice on upcoming projects and to solve any issues they might have. Jackson expects a busy spring because many projects have been put on hold during the pandemic.

 

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Monson Savings Bank Promotes Rob Chateauneuf

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MONSON — Monson Savings Bank announced the recent promotion of Rob Chateauneuf to senior vice president and senior commercial loan officer.

“Rob has more than proven his value over the years through his hard work and dedication to Monson Savings Bank’s customers and his team members. We are so pleased to recognize his commitment with this well-deserved promotion,” Monson Savings Bank President Dan Moriarty said. “Rob puts his heart into his work. His in-depth understanding of commercial lending, his welcoming disposition, and his enthusiasm to help commercial borrowers make him an asset to our team and our customers.”

In his new role, Chateauneuf will be responsible for leading the bank’s Commercial Lending team as they continue to serve local businesses of all sizes. He is skilled in commercial real-estate lending, C&I lending, construction lending, and SBA lending.

At Monson Savings Bank, he most recently served as first vice president of Commercial Lending and has been the bank since 2012. With more than 20 years of banking experience, including commercial lending, residential lending, and retail branch management, he has a comprehensive understanding of the needs and challenges of commercial businesses.

Chateauneuf earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Springfield Regional Chamber’s Leadership Institute at Western New England University and the American Bankers Assoc. Stonier Graduate School of Banking – Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2014, he was recognized as one of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty.

He served on the board of directors at Hawthorn Services from 2006 to 2010, serving as president and chair from 2008 to 2010. When Hawthorn Services merged with the Center for Human Development (CHD), he was asked to join the CHD board, which he served as chair of the program committee and a member the board of directors from 2010 to 2020. He also served on the board of directors of the South Hadley Chamber of Commerce from 2004 to 2013. He has also been involved in myriad other charitable organizations and volunteer events throughout the years, including those benefiting Habitat for Humanity, the Westfield Boys & Girls Club, the United Way, and the towns of Agawam and South Hadley.

“I am excited to be a part of Monson Savings Bank, a community bank that focuses on the true needs of our local businesses,” Chateauneuf said. “Monson Savings Bank supports the local economy by providing businesses with capital to grow, resulting in more local jobs and vibrant communities.”

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CFWM Distributes $4.3M in Mass COVID-19 Relief Fund Grants

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SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Mass. (CFWM) has announced that it has distributed $4.3 million in grants from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund. These grants are a part of the $6.4 million overall awarded through the CFWM COVID-19 Response Fund to support Western Mass. nonprofits serving the most vulnerable populations in the midst of the pandemic.

In addition to the resources from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund, more than 700 donors, including individuals, foundations, and businesses have contributed to CFWM’s COVID-19 Response Fund. To date, $8.2 million has been contributed to the CFWM Fund.

 

The Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund supports those across the state most impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis, focusing on essential frontline workers and vulnerable populations, including the homeless, immigrant populations, people with disabilities and those facing food insecurity. The Fund works in concert with regional community foundations and nonprofit leaders who partner with local leaders to understand the response and relief landscape, strategically filling in where gaps are pronounced.

CFWM has also announced a new round of grants from the COVID-19 Response Fund to 37 local nonprofit organizations totaling $925K, addressing immediate needs during the pandemic: They are:

Arise, Bayanihan Association of America, Bethlehem House, Caring Health Center, Cutchins Programs for Children & Families, Dakin Valley Humane Society, Ellie Fund, Enlace de Familias de Holyoke/Holyoke Family Network, Family Outreach of Amherst, a program of CHD, Friends of Chicopee Senior Citizens, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, and Greenfield Community College Foundation.

Also, Hilltown Community Health Centers, Holyoke Community College Foundation, Home City Development, Lovin’ Spoonfuls, Make-It Springfield, Manna Soup Kitchen, New England Farm Workers’ Council, a program of Partners for Community, New England Learning Center for Women in Transition, New North Citizens’ Council, Nuestras Raices, People’s Medicine Project, a program of Western MA Training Consortium, Revitalize Community Development Corporation, South End Community Center, Springfield Rescue Mission, and Springfield Technical Community College Foundation.

Also, Stone Soup Café, a program of All Souls Church Unitarian Universalist, The Performance Project, the Salvation Army – Holyoke Corps, the Salvation Army – Springfield Corps, Treehouse Foundation, United Way of Pioneer Valley, Urban League of Springfield, Way Finders, Valley Radio Reading Service dba Valley Eye Radio, and YWCA of Western Massachusetts.

 

“We are grateful for the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund, the statewide collaboration established to help our most vulnerable fellow citizens and the front-line nonprofit organizations that are responding to their needs in this time of crisis,” said Katie Allan Zobel, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. “Thanks to this funding, we have reached many more individuals and families in our region.”

 

The COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley was established to provide grants to community nonprofit organizations serving the needs of the most vulnerable populations affected by the pandemic in Western Massachusetts.

 

The Community Foundation welcomes additional donations to the COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley. 100% of donations go to community needs. Gifts can be made online at: www.communityfoundation.org/covid19.

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Community Foundation Gives $341,000 Through Innovation Grant Program

SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts’ (CFWM) Innovation Grant Program has awarded a total of $341,000 to three change-making nonprofit organizations to continue creating innovative solutions around critical issues facing the region. CFWM’s Innovation Grant Program was launched in 2016 to encourage nonprofits to develop and execute novel ideas in partnership with other entities, as well as allow organizations to construct inventive solutions with measurable impact. In January 2018, CFWM awarded first-year funding to Five Colleges Inc., the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity to implement innovative projects that were refined and tested during a planning period in 2017. Now entering their third year of funding, these grantees are seeing the tangible impact of their work. Twenty paraprofessionals of color are making their way toward receiving their licensure to become a full-fledged teachers, food-insecure patients are being identified and referred to healthy-food opportunities, and small homes have been built and are being occupied by first-time homebuyers. Five Colleges Inc. will continue to develop its “Paradigm Shift” initiative and bring in new partners. This initiative is focused on creating a more diverse teacher workforce in Western Mass. by helping para-educators of color overcome obstacles to obtaining licensure to become teachers in area schools. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts will spend its third year expanding and analyzing the impact of its Food Insecurity Screening and Referral Initiative that conducts and tracks food insecurity screening and social-service referrals at the Holyoke Health Center and its Chicopee location. Additionally, it will partner with WestMass ElderCare and Springfield Senior Services to address the food needs of patients who screen positive for food insecurity and have a specific medical condition. Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity will continue with a third year of its “Big Enough: the Small Home Revolution in Western Mass.” initiative, which aims to launch more individuals and families into the middle class by empowering them to become first-time owners of small, simple, affordable, energy-efficient homes.

MBK Donates $10,000 to MHA for Crisis-intervention Training

SPRINGFIELD — Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., (MBK) recently made a $10,000 donation to the Mental Health Assoc. Inc. (MHA) to fund non-violent crisis-intervention training for MHA’s direct-care staff. “To train in non-violent crisis intervention is an important professional-development opportunity for MHA staff,” said Cheryl Fasano, president and CEO of MHA Inc. “MHA does not use physical restraint in any form, so our staff members need skills to safely de-escalate and manage challenging behaviors in a non-violent manner. Our training curriculum from the Crisis Prevention Institute goes further by also helping better equip our staff to prevent difficult situations from escalating.” The Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) is an international training organization committed to best practices and safe behavior-management methods that focus on prevention. Since 1980, more than 10 million professionals around the world have participated in CPI training programs.

HCC Extends Scholarship Application Deadline

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) has extended by two weeks the deadline to apply for scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year. The new application deadline is Wednesday, April 8. Students must be currently enrolled at HCC or have been accepted for the upcoming academic year to be eligible for scholarships, which are awarded through the HCC Foundation, HCC’s nonprofit fundraising corporation. Awards totaling more than $200,000 are available for incoming, continuing, and transferring HCC students. Applicants need only to fill out a single online form to be automatically matched with the scholarships they are most qualified to receive. There are scholarships for new students, current students and students transferring to other institutions, scholarships based on financial need, scholarships for students in specific majors, scholarships for residents of certain communities, and scholarships that recognize academic achievement. For the 2019-20 academic year, the HCC Foundation awarded $223,000 in scholarships to 231 students. To begin the application process, visit www.hcc.edu/scholarships. Questions should be directed to the HCC Foundation office at (413) 552-2182 or Donahue 170 on the HCC campus, 303 Homestead Ave.

PTK Honor Society Presents ACC with Awards During Virtual Ceremony

ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College’s Alpha Lambda Zeta Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society was recognized as being the Most Distinguished Chapter for the New England Region during a virtual awards ceremony held last weekend. The chapter and its members were awarded other honors during its first-ever virtual ceremony. These awards included Distinguished College Project Award and Distinguished Honors in Action Project Award. The chapter elected to do its Honors in Action project within a Politics of Identity theme. Working with various departments at the college, as well as outside agencies, including the Jordan Porco Foundation, the students concentrated on the issue of mental-health awareness. They also established an interactive exhibit on mental-health issues at Asnuntuck, with a digitized version, titled “Art|Mind,” available for those who could not make it to campus. The college project focused on getting information into the hands of students through campus brochures and during the college’s orientation. Asnuntuck student Victoria Orifice was awarded first-place honors for being the Distinguished Chapter Officer.

Beta Gamma Sigma at WNEU Earns Highest Chapter Recognition

SPRINGFIELD — For the third consecutive year, the Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) Chapter at Western New England University earned the “highest honors” designation for its campus engagement and programming for the 2018-19 academic year. According to Beta Gamma Sigma CEO Chris Carosella, earning highest honors “is indicative of a campus where academic excellence is highly valued and where the faculty and chapter leaders work diligently to enhance Beta Gamma Sigma’s stature on campus.” One indicator of this engagement is participation at the annual Global Leadership Summit (GLS), which chapter President Tessa Wood and Secretary Kathryn Wells attended last year. The GLS enables delegates to participate in professional-development workshops and share best practices with student leaders from other BGS chapters worldwide.

Junior Achievement of Western Mass. Receives Five Star Award

SPRINGFIELD — Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts has been awarded one of Junior Achievement USA’s highest honors: the Five Star Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize staff and boards of JA areas that meet Junior Achievement’s national standards in operational efficiency and through strong representation of the JA brand. Recipients must demonstrate growth in student impact and superior fiscal performance. Achievement against these criteria is certified through JA USA and audited financial statements. Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, which serves more than 13,000 students throughout Western Mass. and Vermont, will be presented with the award in July at Junior Achievement USA’s National Leadership Conference in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Robinson Donovan Moves to Expanded Northampton Location

NORTHAMPTON — Robinson Donovan, P.C., a full-service law firm, announced it has moved from its previous Northampton office to a more expansive location at 351 Pleasant St. The firm’s phone number, (413) 732-2301, remains the same. “We wanted to make things as convenient as possible for our growing list of clients in Hampshire County,” Partner Michael Simolo said. “We can now meet with them more comfortably. The response from clients has been very positive.” Partner Jeffrey Trapani, added that “our new office in Northampton has plenty of meeting space, free parking, and easier access. Quite a few of our attorneys live in Hampshire County, so having an expanded office in Northampton makes sense for us operationally as well and helps us better serve our clients throughout the Pioneer Valley.”

Behavioral Health Network Receives $15,000 Grant from Country Bank

SPRINGFIELD — Behavioral Health Network Inc. (BHN) has been awarded a $15,000 grant from Country Bank, which will fund direct services for BHN’s domestic-violence programs in Ware. Country Bank’s grant to BHN will be used for innovative support and advocacy services for domestic-violence survivors, which includes partnering with Country Bank employees in offering the economic-freedom initiative known as Money School. BHN’s Money School program is an award-winning, trauma-informed financial-independence initiative designed to create long-term safety and economic security for survivors of domestic violence. The grant will also be used to provide prevention-education work in local schools, and for interruption and prevention services for perpetrators of domestic violence.

Springfield WORKS Programs to Benefit from State Grant

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield WORKS leads local employers, educators, community leaders, and job seekers in developing innovative solutions to meet the economic needs of area residents and local businesses. A founding member in the Springfield WORKS collaboration, Springfield Partners for Community Action, recently received a second $50,000 award from the Baker-Polito Community Services Block Grant Special Projects Fund to support Springfield WORKS financial-wellness strategies. This award comes on the heels of a recent $100,000 Baker-Polito Urban Agenda Grant to Springfield WORKS and the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. The funds will enable families to achieve economic stability as they navigate workforce-development training into a career pathway.

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Community Foundation Gives $341,000 to Date Through Innovation Grant Program

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SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts’ (CFWM) Innovation Grant Program has awarded a total of $341,000 to three change-making nonprofit organizations to continue creating innovative solutions around critical issues facing the region. CFWM’s Innovation Grant Program was launched in 2016 to encourage nonprofits to develop and execute novel ideas in partnership with other entities, as well as allow organizations to construct inventive solutions with measurable impact.

In January 2018, CFWM awarded first-year funding to Five Colleges Inc., the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity to implement innovative projects that were refined and tested during a planning period in 2017. Now entering their third year of funding, these grantees are seeing the tangible impact of their work. Twenty paraprofessionals of color are making their way toward receiving their licensure to become a full-fledged teachers, food-insecure patients are being identified and referred to healthy-food opportunities, and small homes have been built and are being occupied by first-time homebuyers.

Five Colleges Inc. will continue to develop its “Paradigm Shift” initiative and bring in new partners. This initiative is focused on creating a more diverse teacher workforce in Western Mass. by helping para-educators of color overcome obstacles to obtaining licensure to become teachers in area schools. More than 25 member organizations that make up the Paradigm Shift Coalition have laid the groundwork for breaking down barriers that para-educators face, including identifying the steps involved in obtaining licensure and the types of individualized support participants need, helping enroll para-educators in courses in local colleges, and providing mentoring and tutoring for MTEL tests. The coalition has also been able to offset costs associated with these steps to help make it affordable through its partnership with local colleges.

A key success in 2019 was Paradigm Shift’s convening of 113 district and school administrators from Holyoke and Springfield for a day-long professional-development opportunity to gain knowledge and skills for building a diverse teacher workforce, such as recruitment and hiring practices. Paradigm Shift currently has 33 participants enrolled in the program, and it is on target for graduating at least 20 by the end of 2020, and the remaining 13 in 2021.

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts will spend its third year expanding and analyzing the impact of its Food Insecurity Screening and Referral Initiative that conducts and tracks food insecurity screening and social-service referrals at the Holyoke Health Center and its Chicopee location. Additionally, it will partner with WestMass ElderCare and Springfield Senior Services to address the food needs of patients who screen positive for food insecurity and have a specific medical condition.

With a simple in-person questionnaire, the initiative screens for food insecurity at adult and pediatric practices, and then connects patients with food-assistance resources — and, equally important, referrals to additional resources that patients may need, such as housing, employment, and education. These referrals are tracked in a database which allows for follow-up with patients to identify any changes in behavior and additional needs.

Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity will continue with a third year of its “Big Enough: the Small Home Revolution in Western Mass.” initiative, which aims to launch more individuals and families into the middle class by empowering them to become first-time owners of small, simple, affordable, energy-efficient homes. The organization’s work brings together partners such as local banks to conceive creative financing, cities to implement new zoning regulations, and builders to design small, innovative, energy-efficient housing concepts, as well as to pilot modular construction and alternative land use models.

The first two years of funding allowed for three low-income families to become homeowners in Hampshire County, a dream that likely wouldn’t have been possible within the current housing market. Over this third year, two more sites will be developed in Northampton and Pelham, and Habitat will share what it has learned so other areas can look at adopting these innovative strategies.

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Bay Path University Names Sandra Doran Its Sixth President

Sandra Doran

LONGMEADOW — The Bay Path University board of trustees announced today that Sandra Doran has been selected by unanimous vote to become the sixth president of Bay Path effective June 30. She will succeed Carol Leary, who retires in June following her 25-year presidency of Bay Path. Doran’s appointment is the culmination of a comprehensive, 10-month, national search process. “Sandy Doran is a charismatic leader who cares deeply about women’s education and is passionate about access to education and student success,” said Jonathan Besse, board chair. “She has an impressive and broad background in a variety of complex organizations, all of which flourished greatly under her leadership.” Doran is currently president of Salem Academy and College in Winston-Salem, N.C. As president, she led an inclusive and aggressive strategic planning process that resulted in a transformation of the college as evidenced by unprecedented growth in enrollment and fundraising. “I am humbled by the trust the board has placed in me to continue the spirit of innovation here at Bay Path,” Doran said. “The visionary nature of President Leary is inspiring and unprecedented in higher education, and I look forward to working with the Bay Path faculty and staff to build on her legacy. Serving our students, and providing them with a superior learning experience, gives us all great joy. I look forward to engaging with all members of our community, students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and our business and philanthropic partners.” Doran holds a juris doctor degree from the Syracuse University College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern Methodist University. Before serving at Salem, Doran was CEO at Castle Point Learning Systems (CPLS), a company that develops innovative teaching and learning technologies incorporating artificial intelligence and adaptive learning algorithms to provide better student outcomes in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Prior to her position at CPLS, she was president of the American College of Education in Indianapolis, where she grew the organization into the fifth-largest graduate school of education in the country, serving more than 5,000 adult and non-traditional students. Her professional experience also includes positions at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey as an entrepreneur-in-residence, as well as at the New England Board of Higher Education as national policy director. Early in her legal career, she transitioned into higher education, joining Lesley University in Cambridge in 2004 as chief of staff, vice president, and general counsel. Doran currently serves as chair of the board for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation and on the board of the Online Learning Consortium. She was named the Triad Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO, and Power Player of 2019.

AIC to Offer Graduate Program in Cannabis Science and Commerce

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) will offer a master of science program in cannabis science and commerce beginning in the fall of 2020, the first of its kind in this region. The 30-credit, hybrid graduate program is designed for individuals interested in a career in the cannabis industry and will provide students with an understanding of the science, business, and legal issues associated with the cannabis industry. The program offers education in the areas of basic science, including chemistry, horticulture, cultivation, uses, and delivery systems; business management, marketing, and operations; and federal and state laws and policies. According to a March 2020 jobs report issued by Leafly, the world’s largest cannabis website, over the past four years, legal cannabis has supported nearly a quarter of a million jobs. That equates to a 15% annual uptick in employment. For more information regarding the AIC’s master of science program in cannabis science and commerce, visit www.aic.edu/cannabis.

MGM Springfield Revenues Rebound in January

SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts Gaming Commission reported that gross gaming revenue (GGR) at MGM Springfield totaled $20.6 million in January, up from $18.9 million in December, which was its worst-ever full month. Meanwhile, the Encore Boston Harbor casino recorded $48.6 million in GGR in January, down from $54 million in December, while Plainridge Park Casino posted $11.1 million in January, an almost $900,000 increase from December and its first monthly uptick since last spring. MGM Springfield’s January GGR totaled included $14.9 million from slot machines and $5.7 million from from table games. The facility named a new president and chief operating officer following December’s poor numbers, replacing Michael Mathis with Chris Kelley.

Country Bank Donates More Than $900,000 in 2019

WARE — Country Bank reported its donations to area nonprofits totaled $905,049 last year. Throughout 2019, more than 500 organizations in the communities the bank serves received donations, including the Children’s Trust, Ludlow Community Center Boys and Girls Club, Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Project Bread, and the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, among many others. Recognizing the importance and overwhelming need to help organizations that address hunger, Country Bank provided monetary donations exceeding $100,000 to food programs throughout the region. The recipients of these funds included Friends of the Homeless, Springfield Rescue Mission, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, as well as many local food pantries. In addition, Country Bank’s employee charitable giving program raised more than $30,000 in 2019 through events such as jeans days, bake sales, and raffles, and employees volunteered more than 1,000 hours of personal time at various events within the bank’s communities.

Bank of America Entrusts More Than $22 Million to Community Foundation

SPRINGFIELD — After collaborating with the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) for 29 years, the Bank of America in May transferred three trusts totaling more than $22 million to the Valley-wide grant funder. The move brings CFWM’s total earned assets from roughly $153 million to $175 million and bolsters its role as an enduring philanthropic leader in the Pioneer Valley. Founded in 1990, CFWM administers a charitable endowment consisting of more than 600 separately identified funds totaling approximately $175 million. Some of these charitable assets are unrestricted and used to meet emerging and changing needs in the region. Others support named nonprofit organizations or provide financial support to college-bound students. Still others are donor-advised, offering flexibility to donors in timing, amount, and beneficiary of their giving. Last year, CFWM awarded $7.3 million in grants to nonprofits and $2.2 million in scholarships and interest-free loans to more than 770 area students. The Bank of America funds will continue to support a wide variety of organizations for generations to come, from grassroots community food pantries to region-spanning arts programs — and will preserve the original donors’ wishes to support their communities in perpetuity. The three trusts transferred from the bank to the foundation are the Eugene A. Dexter Charitable Fund, established in 1944; the Nan and Matilda Heydt Fund, established in 1960; and the Valley Charitable Trust Fund, established in 1960. All three were originally created to support and serve charitable organizations and interests with a focus on Springfield and Hampden County.

Eversource Earns Award for Using Smart Technology to Reduce Peak Energy Usage

BOSTON — An Eversource program that pays customers to use less electricity during high-demand periods has received an award for Outstanding Achievement in Residential Program Design & Implementation by the Assoc. of Energy Services Professionals. The award recognizes the company’s ConnectedSolutions demand-response program, which leverages customer-owned devices, such as wireless thermostats, battery storage, and electric-vehicle chargers, to reduce electric use during peak periods, when the cost and greenhouse-gas emissions of electricity in New England are at their highest. More than 9,000 customers have enrolled in the volunteer demand-response program in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Customers allow their devices to automatically communicate with Eversource during regional peak energy periods, resulting in a short reduction of power or, in the case of batteries, a reduction of the stored energy. Residential customers with eligible connected wireless thermostats, battery storage, or electric-vehicle chargers can participate and earn incentives ranging from $20 to more than $1,000 a year. The energy company anticipates that, at full enrollment, the collective ability to call on these customers during high-demand periods could have the environmental equivalent effect of taking 20,000 homes off the grid.

EforAll Holyoke Seeks Mentors for Summer Business Accelerator

HOLYOKE — EforAll Holyoke is actively seeking both English- and Spanish-speaking volunteers to participate as mentors in the summer 2020 business accelerator program. Accelerator mentors come from a variety of backgrounds and use their business and leadership experience to guide new entrepreneurs through the process of turning their idea into a growing business. Mentors work in teams of three and are matched with an entrepreneur based on schedule availability and the desire to work together. The team meets as a group to help reaffirm topics and themes raised during classes, while also strategizing with the entrepreneur on how to reach their specific goals during the program. This is a high-touch, year-long commitment. Mentor teams have 90-minute, in-person meetings for three months and then meet once a month for the following nine months. Anyone interested can e-mail [email protected] for more information.

People on the Move

People on the Move

By

Narayan Sampath

Holyoke Community College (HCC) recently welcomed Narayan Sampath as its vice president of Administration and Finance. He will serve as the college’s chief fiscal officer, managing the college budget and supervising the Business Office, Human Resources, Campus Police, Facilities, and Dining Services. He started Jan. 2. Among his previous roles, Sampath was administrative director of the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) at UMass Amherst, where he managed all day-to-day operations, including administrative, human resource, and fiscal affairs. He was also responsible for the execution of the $95 million capital grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center that led to the creation of IALS, now home to three centers with more than 250 college faculty members. From 2013 to 2015, he managed the Center for Emergent Behavior of Integrated Cellular Systems at MIT, funded by the National Science Foundation, and before that served as MIT’s financial administrator. From 2009 to 2011, he worked as grants administrator at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Originally from India, Sampath holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai. He earned an MBA from the International Business School at Brandeis University in Waltham. He has lived and worked in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Nigeria, and Kenya.

•••••

Katherine Wilson

Steven Winn

Katherine Wilson, longtime president and CEO of Behavioral Health Network (BHN), announced she will retire on June 30. George Marion, BHN board chair, said the organization has named Steven Winn, BHN’s current chief operating officer, as Wilson’s successor. Wilson was instrumental in the formation of Behavioral Health Network in 1992 when four nonprofit mental-health organizations — the Child Guidance Clinic, the Agawam Counseling Center, Community Care Mental Health Center, and the Hampden District Mental Health Clinic — formed the new entity and appointed Wilson CEO. Since BHN’s founding, Wilson has built the organization from a $1 million annual enterprise into a leading behavioral-health agency in the region. Under her leadership, BHN has grown dramatically and now serves more than 40,000 individuals in the four Western Mass. counties, employs over 2,300 people, and has an annual budget of more than $115 million. Most recently, she was named a Healthcare Hero for Lifetime Achievement by HCN and BusinessWest and was celebrated in the book Power of Women published by the Republican. Under Wilson’s direction, BHN transformed an abandoned factory complex on Liberty Street in Springfield into a sprawling campus that includes BHN’s corporate headquarters, the innovative Living Room drop-in center, Cole’s Place recovery program for men, the 24/7 Crisis Center, an adult outpatient clinic, and its care coordination and outreach services. She also implemented the acquisitions of the Carson Center in Westfield and its affiliate, Valley Human Services in Ware. Winn joined BHN in 1995 as vice president and director of the Child Guidance Clinic. He was later promoted to senior vice president and since 2017 has served BHN as chief operating officer. He has extensive experience in the behavioral-health field and received a master’s degree in developmental psychology and a Ph.D. in clinical and developmental psychology, both from UMass Amherst. He went on to complete his fellowship at Yale University’s Child Study Center. After Yale, he became a staff psychologist at the University of New Mexico Children’s Psychiatric Hospital, where he also taught in the Department of Psychiatry as an assistant professor of Psychiatry. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in Massachusetts.

•••••

John Heaps Jr

Florence Bank announced that President and CEO John Heaps Jr. will retire on May 1, 25 years to the day after he took the top job, making him the bank’s longest-serving CEO. Heaps has grown the bank in terms of staff, the number of branches, the geographic regions it serves, and capital and assets. Florence Bank is a top-performing bank in the industry in the state, with record results over the past five years, according to both the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Depositors Insurance Fund. Heaps will be succeeded from within as president and CEO by Kevin Day, Florence Bank’s executive vice president. Day joined the bank 11 years ago as its chief financial officer. During Heaps’ tenure, Florence Bank’s capital has grown from $24 million to $161 million, and assets have grown from $283 million to $1.4 billion. The bank grew from four branches in 1995 to 11 now — and soon to be 12. The staff has doubled from 112 full-time employees to 221 now. Heaps grew up in Springfield and began his banking career in 1971 in marketing at Valley Bank, later Bay Bank, in Springfield. In 1987, he was first named a bank president for Bank of Boston, also in Springfield. In addition to serving on many nonprofit boards, he has also sat on many boards in the banking industry, including the Connecticut On-Line Computer Center Inc. (COCC), which provides core data processing to banks, including Florence Bank.

•••••

Christina Royal

Holyoke Community College President Christina Royal has been selected for a national fellowship for first-time college presidents administered by Washington, D.C.-based Aspen Institute. The Aspen New Presidents Fellowship is a new initiative designed to support community-college presidents in the early years of their tenure to accelerate transformational change on behalf of students. Royal and Luis Pedraja, president of Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, were the only two community-college presidents chosen from Massachusetts. They are part of the inaugural group of 25 Aspen fellows selected from more than 100 applicants nationwide. The leaders, all of whom are in their first five years as a college president, will engage in a seven-month fellowship beginning in June 2020. The fellows were selected for their commitment to student success and equity, willingness to take risks to improve outcomes, understanding of the importance of community partnerships, and ability to lead change. JPMorgan Chase is funding the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship as part of New Skills at Work, a five-year, $350 million investment to support community colleges and other pathways to careers and economic mobility.

•••••

Jamina Scippio-McFadden, a senior program manager at UMass Center at Springfield, has been named director of the center by UMass Amherst. She has served as interim director for the past year. Scippio-McFadden’s wide-ranging community involvement includes serving on the executive committee of the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts board of directors and the board of directors for the Hampden County Community Impact Foundation and Community Enrichment Inc. She is a member of the Springfield Museums African Hall Subcommittee and an organizing and charter member of the Western Mass. chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc. She joined the UMass Center in 2014 as the director of Marketing and Community Relations, Student Services, and Academic Support. She was appointed program manager for business and community development in the center’s Office of Economic Development in August 2018. She was named interim director of the center in January 2019. Previously, Scippio-McFadden taught communications at American International College and served as a college administrator and faculty member at institutions in Florida and Georgia. She has 20 years of experience in the media industry, including television news, radio, newspapers, and public relations. She received her bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethune-Cookman College, where she graduated magna cum laude. She earned a master’s degree in communications from the University of Florida and is currently a doctoral candidate in education at UMass Amherst.

•••••

Bay Path University announced three new members of its faculty across the undergraduate and graduate divisions. Xiaoxia Liu, director, Applied Data Science, is a seasoned data scientist with years of experience across different industries, including healthcare, business solutions, and insurance. She has extensive experience in handling various data problems through teaching, statistical collaboration research, and advanced analytic/predictive modeling. Liu has authored more than 35 peer-reviewed journal articles, which have appeared in JAMA, Pain, Circulation, and other leading medical journals. She holds a master’s degree in mathematics and statistics from Georgia State University and a master’s degree in communication from SUNY Albany. Joshua Hamilton, program director and professor, is a fellow of the American Assoc. of Nurse Practitioners and is in private practice in Las Vegas, Nev. He has held a variety of faculty and administrative positions in the U.S. and abroad, and is an internationally recognized speaker at conferences and professional meetings. He holds a doctor of nursing practice degree from Rush University and is in the process of completing his juris doctor through Northwestern California University. Nisé Guzmán Nekheba, coordinator and associate professor, Legal Studies and Paralegal Studies, comes to Bay Path with more than 30 years of experience in both professional and academic settings. As a published author and a seasoned presenter, Nekheba is highly experienced in the areas of real property, family law, race and the law, immigration, Native Americans and the law, and law and religion. She is an award-winning academic professional and a member of the American Bar Assoc., the Assoc. of American Law Schools, and the Assoc. for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora. Nekheba simultaneously completed her juris doctor and master of divinity degrees at Harvard University, where she was the recipient of the Harvard University Baccalaureate Speaker Award.

•••••

Andrea Momnie O’Connor, a principal with the law firm Hendel, Collins & O’Connor, P.C., has been appointed to the panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the District of Connecticut by the U.S. Trustee Program. O’Connor previously clerked for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts. She graduated magna cum laude from Western New England University Law School, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Western New England Law Review, and cum laude from the University of Connecticut. She is an adjunct professor at Elms College, where she teaches legal research and writing. She was named a 2019 Rising Star in the area of bankruptcy law by Super Lawyers. Her practice focuses on bankruptcy, insolvency, and financial restructuring for business and consumer clients.

•••••

As part of its planned expansion of commercial banking talent and resources across the Northeast, KeyBank announced that Matthew Hummel has joined the bank in the newly created position of Commercial Banking team leader, reporting to market president James Barger. In his new role, Hummel will lead and expand the team of commercial bankers serving middle-market clients in Connecticut and Western Mass. and help drive KeyBank’s commercial business growth throughout the market. Hummel brings more than 30 years of commercial-banking experience to KeyBank, primarily from Bank of America’s Global Commercial Banking group, where he strategically aligned banking resources to the needs of middle-market companies requiring complex debt, capital markets, currency, treasury, and other financial solutions. He holds an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Hartford, and a bachelor’s degree from Colby College. He has strong ties to the local community and has volunteered at a number of nonprofit organizations, including Smilow Cancer Center’s Closer to Free bike tour, Literacy Volunteers of America, and Habitat for Humanity. He has served as a Glastonbury Basketball Assoc. board member and boys travel basketball commissioner since 2005.

•••••

Christopher Smith

Comcast announced the appointment of Christopher Smith as vice president of Human Resources for the company’s Western New England region, which includes more than 300 communities in Connecticut, Western Mass., Western New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. In this role, Smith and his team will support more than 1,600 employees and oversee all of the region’s human-resources functions, including talent management, recruiting, payroll, benefits, and training through Comcast University, the company’s internal training and leadership-development program. Prior to joining Comcast, Smith served for the past decade as HR vice president of NiSource, an 8,000-employee utility company based in Indiana that provides natural-gas and electric power to 4 million customers in seven states. Before that, he spent four years with the Pepsi Bottling Group, first as HR manager in Las Vegas and later as HR director in Newport News, Va., where he was responsible for 1,500 employees in 13 locations. In addition, he held various human-resources roles over the course of four years for Mead Johnson Nutritionals, a former division of the pharmaceutical manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Indiana University and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business, where he recently served as an adjunct professor of Strategic Human Resources.

•••••

Dodie Carpentier

Dodie Carpentier, vice president of Human Resources at Monson Savings Bank, was recently elected president-elect of River East School to Career (RESTC). Carpentier joined RESTC as a board member in 2014, has previously held positions as clerk and treasurer, and is a member of the scholarship committee for this local nonprofit organization. Working under the umbrella of MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board, RESTC promotes K-16 career education and assists in preparing youth for the demands of the 21st-century workplace. In addition to volunteering for RESTC, Carpentier also serves as chairperson for the Monson Substance Abuse Community Partnership, is a member of the steering committee for Rays of Hope, is a read-aloud volunteer for Link to Libraries, and is a guitarist and vocalist for the Folk Group at St. Thomas Church in Palmer. She has worked at Monson Savings Bank since 2006 and has earned certificates in human resources management and supervision from the Center for Financial Training.

•••••

Allison Vorderstrasse, a faculty member and Ph.D. program director at New York University, has been named the dean of the College of Nursing at UMass Amherst. She will begin her appointment on July 1. Vorderstrasse currently serves as a faculty member and director of the Florence S. Downs Ph.D. Program in Nursing Research and Theory Development at New York University (NYU) Rory Meyers College of Nursing. An adult nurse practitioner with clinical experience, Vorderstrasse received her doctorate and master’s degrees in nursing at the Yale University School of Nursing, with specialties in chronic illness self-management research and diabetes. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y. Prior to joining the faculty at NYU, she was an associate professor of Nursing and faculty lead for Precision Health Research at the Duke University School of Nursing. She taught at Duke University School of Nursing from 2009 to 2014. In 2014, she received the Duke University School of Nursing Distinguished Teaching Award. She was inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2015, and in 2017 received the International Society of Nurses in Genetics Founders Award for Excellence in Genomic Nursing Research.

•••••

Kiyota Garcia

Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) announced the appointment of Kiyota Garcia as coordinator of the Academic Advising and Transfer Center, effective Jan. 27. In 2010, Garcia started working in the Academic Advising and Transfer Center, which provides continuous support to strengthen, nurture, empower, and educate students in making informed decisions that will guide their educational experience. Garcia holds a doctorate of education in educational psychology from American International College, a master’s degree in clinical psychology from American International College, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bay Path University. She will continue to work on advising initiatives that support the success of STCC students with a focus on retention and completion.

•••••

Angel Coriano

Homework House announced the hire of Angel Coriano as its new director of Programs. He will be responsible for the supervision of day-to-day program operations, including the tutoring and learning process, and will also work closely with local schools, student assessment and evaluation, along with curriculum development. Coriano is a lifelong resident of Holyoke and a graduate of Holyoke Public Schools. An alumnus of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, he has spent the last 10-plus years in the field of education.

Daily News

Country Bank Donates More Than $900,000 to Nonprofits in 2019

By

WARE — Country Bank reported its donations to area nonprofits totaled $905,049 last year. Throughout 2019, more than 500 organizations in the communities the bank serves received donations, including the Children’s Trust, Ludlow Community Center Boys and Girls Club, Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Project Bread, and the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, among many others.

Recognizing the importance and overwhelming need to help organizations that address hunger, Country Bank provided monetary donations exceeding $100,000 to food programs throughout the region. The recipients of these funds included Friends of the Homeless, Springfield Rescue Mission, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, as well as many local food pantries.

“Our desire to support and enrich our communities is not only a part of our mission, it’s truly who we are,” said Paul Scully, president, and CEO of Country Bank. “Team members embody our standards of professional excellence every day by applying the bank’s iSTEP core values of integrity, service, teamwork, excellence, and prosperity. These values continue to guide our mission, especially through our community-involvement efforts.”

In addition, Country Bank’s employee charitable giving program raised more than $30,000 in 2019 through events such as jeans days, bake sales, and raffles.

“Our team volunteered more than 1,000 hours of personal time at various events within our communities,” said Jodie Gerulaitis, vice president of Community Relations. “These volunteer hours speak directly to our culture and our belief in helping others. Serving meals, filling backpacks for the homeless, and building beds for children in need are just a few of the ways we gave back to our communities.”

Daily News

KeyBank Appoints Matthew Hummel Commercial Banking Team Leader

By

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — As part of its planned expansion of commercial banking talent and resources across the Northeast, KeyBank announced that Matthew Hummel has joined the bank in the newly created position of Commercial Banking team leader, reporting to market president James Barger. In his new role, Hummel will lead and expand the team of commercial bankers serving middle-market clients in Connecticut and Western Mass. and help drive KeyBank’s commercial business growth throughout the market.

Hummel brings more than 30 years of commercial-banking experience to KeyBank, primarily from Bank of America’s Global Commercial Banking group, where he strategically aligned banking resources to the needs of middle-market companies requiring complex debt, capital markets, currency, treasury, and other financial solutions. He has consistently ranked as one of the highest-performing client managers in the region, with in-depth market knowledge, customer-focused service, and strong portfolio-management expertise.

“Matt’s winning track record as a senior commercial banker and reputation as an exceptional relationship builder are qualities that I was looking for to ensure we have the right leadership talent stacked against this market’s large opportunity,” Barger said. “He will be pivotal to our successful growth in the market.”

Hummel holds an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Hartford, and a bachelor’s degree from Colby College. He has strong ties to the local community and has volunteered at a number of nonprofit organizations, including Smilow Cancer Center’s Closer to Free bike tour, Literacy Volunteers of America, and Habitat for Humanity. He has served as a Glastonbury Basketball Assoc. board member and boys travel basketball commissioner since 2005.

Real Estate

Real Estate Transactions

By

The 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

60 Merrifield Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Veaceslav Falceanu
Seller: Arno L. Skalski
Date: 12/17/19

COLRAIN

4 High St.
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: David W. Adams
Seller: Carole Adams
Date: 12/11/19

CONWAY

13 West Parsons Dr.
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Hendrik VanDen-Broek
Seller: Dkma Consulting LLC
Date: 12/13/19

DEERFIELD

47 Graves St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Barbara B. Galli
Seller: Adele B. Dowell
Date: 12/16/19

2 Park St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $1,250,000
Buyer: J2K Realty LLC
Seller: Joseph W. Gorey
Date: 12/11/19

54 South Mill River Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Kirstin L. Miner
Seller: Karkut 2013 RET
Date: 12/16/19

ERVING

16 Flagg Hill
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Jacob M. Earl
Seller: Curtiss R. Brunelle
Date: 12/11/19

36 High St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Alex Colon
Seller: Christine H. Costa
Date: 12/05/19

54 River Road
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Tyler J. Young
Seller: Wojtkowski FT
Date: 12/05/19

GREENFIELD

98 Burnham Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Judith Roberge
Seller: Linda Freeman TR
Date: 12/16/19

176 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Christopher Lewis
Seller: William J. Doyle
Date: 12/06/19

258 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: David Stratford
Seller: Michael K. Perreault
Date: 12/04/19

109 Cottage St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $170,400
Buyer: Erik K. Hurley
Seller: Blake E. Wilson
Date: 12/06/19

7 James St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $363,750
Buyer: Douglas E. Andrew
Seller: John R. Mason
Date: 12/16/19

7 Newell Pond Place
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Alyssa Bobe
Seller: Robert Mugar Yacubian RET
Date: 12/06/19

75 Shattuck St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Renee J. Kampfe-Leacher
Seller: Paul E. McDonald
Date: 12/04/19

139 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Kaylie A. Love
Seller: Susan Antico
Date: 12/16/19

MONTAGUE

Old Sunderland Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Joan M. Deignan
Seller: Justin D. Killeen
Date: 12/10/19

20 Turner St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Jessica Dimitriou
Seller: John Castorino
Date: 12/13/19

25 Turners Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Samantha Myburgh
Seller: Megan A. Atherton
Date: 12/10/19

70 Turnpike Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $158,400
Buyer: Norwich Commercial Group
Seller: Jacob Stafford
Date: 12/10/19

NEW SALEM

520 Daniel Shays Hwy.
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Joshua H. Mason
Seller: Jamie Beauchesne
Date: 12/16/19
.
842 Daniel Shays Hwy.
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Heidi M. Bohn
Seller: Warren H. Farnham
Date: 12/12/19

NORTHFIELD

211 Birnam Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $347,000
Buyer: Katherine A. Clark
Seller: Jeanne B. Grubman TR
Date: 12/16/19

178 Old Vernon Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Randy W. Brown
Seller: Dale S. Whitney
Date: 12/17/19

ORANGE

10 Eddy St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $165,900
Buyer: Gary B. Willard
Seller: Emma G. Ellsworth
Date: 12/05/19

23-25 Howe St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Crystopher D. Clarke
Seller: Thomas Cleveland
Date: 12/13/19

81 Memory Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Catherine Breckenridge
Seller: Theresa Feehan
Date: 12/09/19

78-80 New Athol Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Frances Bates
Seller: Ingrid Willard
Date: 12/11/19

10 Nina Pierce Circle
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Rosario Dimartino
Seller: Vytis LLC
Date: 12/09/19

7 Nina Pierce Circle
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Rosario Dimartino
Seller: Litvak LLC
Date: 12/09/19

86 Packard Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Leslie V. Thompson
Seller: Chris A. Soucie
Date: 12/12/19

174 Pleasant St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Olivia A. Kimball
Seller: Jacob M. Earl
Date: 12/11/19

16-36 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Karmacan LLC
Seller: New Home Orange LLC
Date: 12/09/19

58 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Karmacan LLC
Seller: New Home Orange LLC
Date: 12/09/19

65 Summit St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $145,900
Buyer: Antonio J. Woodland
Seller: Justin M. Basque
Date: 12/06/19

SHELBURNE

106 Shelburne Center Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Benjamin B. Russell
Seller: Frances M. Pheeny
Date: 12/06/19

SHUTESBURY

14 Ladyslipper Lane
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Carole A. Demetre
Seller: Donald A. Perreault
Date: 12/05/19

WENDELL

15 West St.
Wendell, MA 01380
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Louis N. Rapp
Seller: Byron J. Ricketts
Date: 12/04/19

WHATELY

11 Grey Oak Lane
Whately, MA 01373
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Demado
Seller: Hamelin Framing Inc.
Date: 12/12/19

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

54 Charles St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Barbara Brizzolari
Seller: Andrea M. Davis
Date: 12/10/19

120 Clover Hill Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $281,500
Buyer: Joshua X. Tower
Seller: Nicholas Beaudette
Date: 12/05/19

244 Colemore St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $287,500
Buyer: George L. Vershon
Seller: Kenneth A. Labonte
Date: 12/17/19

89 Granger Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Adam D. Schmaelzle
Seller: Charles F. Kehoe
Date: 12/13/19

26 Hall St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Shannon Dion
Seller: Keith J. Camyre
Date: 12/16/19

33 High St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $233,888
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Jonathan N. Towle
Date: 12/06/19

51 Howard St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Gheorghe G. Munteanu
Seller: Jean C. Ceccarini
Date: 12/05/19

45 Kirkland St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Alanna A. Tidwell
Seller: Michael J. Donovan
Date: 12/12/19

22 Lakeview Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $332,910
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: Timothy Murphy
Date: 12/11/19

167 Lancaster Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Kevin Atkin
Seller: Justine Craven-Goetz
Date: 12/13/19

959 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Adam M. Debarge
Seller: Stuart B. Gordon
Date: 12/10/19

85 North Alhambra Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Michael Lapointe
Seller: Jonathon Mach
Date: 12/06/19

173 North West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Daniel C. Normandeau
Seller: Douglas B. Cesan
Date: 12/13/19

45 Oak Hill Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: Michael Ritchie
Seller: Laurence J. Outhuse
Date: 12/12/19

491 South West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Ana Kaletina
Seller: Hatzipetro, Barbara A., (Estate)
Date: 12/13/19

BLANDFORD

1-R Beagle Club Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $314,000
Buyer: Liza M. Farrelly
Seller: Neil J. Geary
Date: 12/12/19

BRIMFIELD

1477 Dunhamtown Brimfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $143,094
Buyer: US Bbank
Seller: Nickolas J. Digregorio
Date: 12/05/19

39 Prospect Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Michael E. Siegel
Seller: Michael J. Gelinas
Date: 12/04/19

CHESTER

430 East River Road
Chester, MA 01050
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Allison M. Mills
Seller: Eric D. Braaten
Date: 12/06/19

CHICOPEE

50 Archie St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Jose I. Aponte
Seller: Wayne A. Laflamme
Date: 12/06/19

144 Blanan Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Darryl Bress
Seller: Casimir J. Storozuk
Date: 12/05/19

1307 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Frederick T. Szlosek
Seller: Masztal, Edward W., (Estate)
Date: 12/06/19

572 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Degaulle N. Litoma
Seller: Providencia Melendez
Date: 12/12/19

475 Dale St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Revampit LLC
Seller: William Stocker
Date: 12/09/19

36 Daley St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Nicole A. Drobnak
Seller: Elaine J. Labbe
Date: 12/16/19

160 Edgewood Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Nicholas O’Connor
Seller: Nancy R. Helwig
Date: 12/10/19

150 Empire St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Mark Kristev
Seller: Timofey Sychev
Date: 12/16/19

255 Frontenac St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Chandler T. Boutin
Seller: Daniel Whalen
Date: 12/12/19

316 Hampden St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Daniel T. McMahon
Seller: Michelle Aucoin
Date: 12/06/19

28 Henshaw St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $264,900
Buyer: Western Mass. Training Consortium
Seller: Stephan W. Zaremba
Date: 12/04/19

160 Jacob St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Stephen G. Young
Seller: Terri A. Major
Date: 12/06/19

62 Jamrog Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Devan M. Stamborski
Seller: Daniel Stamborski
Date: 12/13/19

20 Johnson Road
Chicopee, MA 01022
Amount: $8,085,000
Buyer: RM Acre Chicopee Hampden
Seller: Education Capital Solutions
Date: 12/06/19

30 Larchmont St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $326,500
Buyer: Ahmed Jebur
Seller: Viktor Savonin
Date: 12/06/19

57 Larchmont St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $298,000
Buyer: Camilo Pascual
Seller: Natalya Arbuzov
Date: 12/06/19

70 Larchmont St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,500
Buyer: Dawn L. Holland
Seller: Joseph Roda
Date: 12/12/19

205 Loomis Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Travis Odiorne
Seller: William M. Keating
Date: 12/16/19

143 Lukasik St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Tracy A. Wehr
Seller: Thaddeus R. Caisse
Date: 12/06/19

34 Maple St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Celestino Montes
Seller: Maple Ledge Associates
Date: 12/04/19

46 Maple St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Cheri Pitt Team LLC
Seller: Jean Grondin
Date: 12/16/19

48-50 Maple St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Cheri Pitt Team LLC
Seller: Jean Grondin
Date: 12/16/19

91 Marcelle St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Sarah Jasinski-Wodecki
Seller: Paul T. Sullivan
Date: 12/16/19

79 Park St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Andre Perez
Seller: Urszula R. Stetson
Date: 12/10/19

31 Pleasant St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $277,500
Buyer: RM Blerman LLC
Seller: Lachenauer LLC
Date: 12/12/19

64 Pondview Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jason Orne
Seller: Adam M. Debarge
Date: 12/04/19

798 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Samantha L. Langevin
Seller: Robert P. Langevin
Date: 12/17/19

85 Simonich St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Carolyn A. Blajda
Seller: Gladys M. Stokowski
Date: 12/10/19

541 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Miroslav Nesterchuk
Seller: 541-543 Springfield St NT
Date: 12/13/19

223 Summit Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Bryan Doctolero
Seller: DCL General Construction
Date: 12/16/19

50 Westport Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Joseph Menard
Seller: Callahan, Kathleen A., (Estate)
Date: 12/06/19

EAST LONGMEADOW

43 Gerrard Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Sean R. Agustynowicz
Seller: John F. Mahan
Date: 12/16/19

32 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: KRM Real Estate LLC
Seller: Ryan J. Callan
Date: 12/10/19

2 Ridge Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $316,000
Buyer: Michael E. Vona
Seller: Natasha T. Drane
Date: 12/13/19

10 Senator Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Joseph C. Zguro
Seller: Randy Sample
Date: 12/06/19

31 Thompson St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Connor M. Corsi
Seller: Vanvalkenburg, Jane M., (Estate)
Date: 12/13/19

90 Wood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $212,150
Buyer: Sean Bechard
Seller: Revampit LLC
Date: 12/13/19

GRANVILLE

75 Blandford Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Nathan Testerman
Seller: Johanna C. Wolff
Date: 12/12/19

164 Reagan Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Nicholas Hultine
Seller: Austin J. Prokop
Date: 12/17/19

HAMPDEN

34 Burleigh Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Jared Lewis
Seller: Michael S. O’Rourke
Date: 12/13/19

84 Chapin Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Victor A. Deangelo
Seller: Pamela Outhuse
Date: 12/13/19

32 Dresden St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Makenson Petit-Frere
Seller: Home Staging & Realty LLC
Date: 12/13/19

212 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Brian Stamm
Seller: Kevin J. Czaplicki
Date: 12/12/19

73 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $267,500
Buyer: Robert Martucci
Seller: Deborah L. Loyd
Date: 12/16/19

147 Mill Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $340,500
Buyer: Stephen K. Atwater
Seller: David Markham
Date: 12/16/19

354 North Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Justin M. Simmons
Seller: Thomas L. Jarvis
Date: 12/06/19

88 Oak Knoll Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Douglas L. Leclair
Seller: Clifford E. Bombard
Date: 12/16/19

140 Rock A. Dundee Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $585,000
Buyer: Meredith A. Sample
Seller: Michelle W. Neveah
Date: 12/06/19

131 Stony Hill Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $326,000
Buyer: Wayne Whitlock
Seller: Dana R. Gahres
Date: 12/12/19

HOLLAND

181 Brimfield Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: John A. Kroell
Seller: Robert W. Sutton
Date: 12/10/19

75 Dug Hill Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: David B. Crane
Seller: Hunt, Alice H., (Estate)
Date: 12/05/19

14 Maiden Lane
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Robert L. Williams
Seller: Roberta T. Bennett
Date: 12/13/19

6 Park Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Joshua M. Johnson
Seller: Richard G. Johnson
Date: 12/16/19

HOLYOKE

199 Bemis Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Andrew S. Lafrennie
Seller: Kenneth J. Lafrennie
Date: 12/16/19

193-195 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $120,340
Buyer: Richard Santos
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 12/13/19

Chmura Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Anniversary Hill Development LLC
Seller: Joseph Chapdelaine & Sons
Date: 12/06/19

233 Easthampton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Arment & Vanzandt Realty
Seller: Wyckoff Associates LLC
Date: 12/13/19

2 Elliot St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Sophia L. Chambers
Seller: David R. Garfinkel
Date: 12/10/19

142 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Luis Robles
Seller: Coakley Corp.
Date: 12/13/19

783 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: Brian T. Matlock
Seller: Lauren M. Magri
Date: 12/06/19

73 Martin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Stephen P. Peregrin
Seller: Amanda M. Rogers
Date: 12/13/19

36 Merrick Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Thomas H. Werbiskis
Seller: Joanne C. Bligh
Date: 12/17/19

1070 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Adam Gosselin
Seller: Dakota J. Hebert
Date: 12/17/19

224 Pine St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $149,459
Buyer: Lakeview Loan Servicing
Seller: Charles J. Berard
Date: 12/11/19

270-272 Pine St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Ibrahim Raphael
Seller: Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity
Date: 12/06/19

28 Portland St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: William P. McHugh
Seller: L. Elizabeth Crowley
Date: 12/17/19

300 Rock Valley Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $181,500
Buyer: William H. Sullivan
Seller: Maureen Sullivan
Date: 12/06/19

2 Ross Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Susan Calderon
Seller: Albert J. Knybel
Date: 12/06/19

12-16 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $5,930,000
Buyer: SC Hamilton Apartments
Seller: South Canal LP
Date: 12/09/19

Scott Hollow Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Anniversary Hill Development LLC
Seller: Joseph Chapdelaine & Sons
Date: 12/06/19

12 West Glen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Stephen Akalis
Seller: John J. Munro
Date: 12/12/19

70 West Glen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Dave Ouellette
Seller: David J. Hearn
Date: 12/13/19

LONGMEADOW

87 Birchwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $165,001
Buyer: CIG 4 LLC
Seller: Jane W. Lawson
Date: 12/17/19

206 Burbank Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $289,000
Buyer: Dylan A. McDonald
Seller: Cole A. Nikodemus
Date: 12/12/19

147 Greenacre Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Ashley A. Nyman
Seller: Brian W. Phillips
Date: 12/06/19

68 Hazardville Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Paul Cangialosi
Seller: Adam Salerno
Date: 12/13/19

167 Hazardville Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Franny Krushinsky
Seller: Gary W. Holmquist
Date: 12/12/19

104 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Yinle Wu
Seller: Bernard T. Davidow
Date: 12/05/19

856 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $289,000
Buyer: Talita Mirena
Seller: William A. Townsend
Date: 12/06/19

101 South Park Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ryan J. Callan
Seller: KRM Real Estate LLC
Date: 12/10/19

129 Tanglewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $640,000
Buyer: Jonathan Hastings
Seller: Dwight G. Ebeling
Date: 12/06/19

225 Tanglewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Prasanth Potluri
Seller: John M. Zeroogian
Date: 12/16/19

217 Williams St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Cleland D. Cochrane
Seller: Neda Dulaimy
Date: 12/17/19

30 Wyndward Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: David B. Hart
Seller: Muhammed H. Warasat
Date: 12/05/19

LUDLOW

19 Allison Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $337,000
Buyer: Jessica J. Brown
Seller: Hoffmann, Guenther H., (Estate)
Date: 12/05/19

Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $423,000
Buyer: William J. Decker
Seller: Yvette C. Archambault TR
Date: 12/11/19

214 Church St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Bradford J. Trahan
Seller: Travis Odiorne
Date: 12/13/19

113 Colonial Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $296,000
Buyer: Nathan L. Carvalho
Seller: Wieslaw Krol
Date: 12/16/19

546 Fuller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $334,900
Buyer: Leslie Marshall
Seller: Jessica L. Janes
Date: 12/06/19

701 Fuller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Jan Kochman
Seller: Peggy A. Bowles
Date: 12/04/19

58 Georgetown Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: John R. Norden
Seller: Heidi Morace
Date: 12/09/19

63 Green St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Richard Dzierwinski
Seller: Laurie Kareta
Date: 12/04/19

106 Pine Cone Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $345,500
Buyer: Eric J. Watson
Seller: Richard J. Corsi
Date: 12/11/19

68 Ray St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Alan S. Kirkland
Seller: Nicole L. Longtin
Date: 12/06/19

MONSON

Cote Road #G
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Peter D. Martins
Seller: Jack G. Carter
Date: 12/06/19

36 Country Club Heights
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Steven Giguere
Seller: Jessy R. Sirois
Date: 12/12/19

118 Peck Brothers Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $176,500
Buyer: Stephen R. Chiacchia
Seller: Nicole Hamel
Date: 12/13/19

PALMER

1084 Overlook Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Sarah A. Thompson
Seller: Healy, Helen M., (Estate)
Date: 12/16/19

RUSSELL

385 Blandford Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: William F. Barry
Seller: Reuben M. Leinbach
Date: 12/12/19

387 Blandford Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: William F. Barry
Seller: Reuben M. Leinbach
Date: 12/12/19

48 Pine Hill Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Paula M. Tennyson
Seller: Brian D. Kibbe
Date: 12/17/19

SPRINGFIELD

114 2nd St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Geraldo Rodriguez
Seller: Joseph P. Latif
Date: 12/13/19

88 Agnes St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Katie A. Verrochi
Seller: Bradford J. Trahan
Date: 12/13/19

555-557 Armory St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Kelnate Realty LLC
Seller: Emtay Inc.
Date: 12/13/19

145 Barber St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: Aimee Chofay
Seller: Michelle Stewart
Date: 12/13/19

224 Birchland Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: James T. Lawson
Seller: Benjamin Elliston
Date: 12/09/19

83 Bowdoin St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Tammy Reed
Seller: Nikolaos Panteleakis
Date: 12/13/19

959 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $126,700
Buyer: Old Green Acres LLC
Seller: O’Connor, Ruth Joan, (Estate)
Date: 12/10/19

189 Brookdale Dr.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $1,080,000
Buyer: You & Me Investment LLC
Seller: Shawinigan Drive LLC
Date: 12/13/19

14 Brunswick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Carlos K. Osorio
Seller: Oscar Gonzalez
Date: 12/10/19

46 BurnsideTerrace
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Stephanie M. Hurley
Seller: Daniel S. Triggs
Date: 12/13/19

1640 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Rosemary B. Rosado
Seller: Lynne M. Goda
Date: 12/06/19

94 Catharine St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Samuel Roman
Seller: Yubelkis Rijo
Date: 12/04/19

113 Cedar St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Robert A. Monegro
Seller: Golden Gates Realty Assocs.
Date: 12/16/19

246 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Swami Dickinson LLC
Seller: Epsilon Property Mgmt. Inc.
Date: 12/16/19

44 Duryea St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Cecilia Z. Bonilla
Seller: Bachir M. Saleh
Date: 12/06/19

14-16 Esther St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Yeslin B. Gonzalez-Perez
Seller: Lisa Kern
Date: 12/11/19

30 Fallston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Jason Johnson
Seller: Charles H. Heimann
Date: 12/10/19

76 Ferncliff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Nancy J. Pride
Seller: Juan J. Irizarry
Date: 12/13/19

11-13 Flagg St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Hector M. Martinez
Seller: Ben M. Garfield
Date: 12/06/19

116 Fort Pleasant Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: 116 Fort Pleasant LLC
Seller: Youngs Realty Management
Date: 12/06/19

116 Gillette Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Rafael Irizarry-Fields
Seller: Arlene Rodriguez
Date: 12/13/19

53 Hall St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Round 2 LLC
Seller: Valley Castle Holdings
Date: 12/13/19

255 Hartwick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Mueller
Seller: John E. Pike
Date: 12/12/19

33 Holy Cross St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Charles Lattanzio
Seller: Andre P. Tessier
Date: 12/05/19

210 Keddy St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Patrick K. Russell
Seller: Anthony S. Gregory
Date: 12/06/19

67-69 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Round 2 LLC
Seller: Valley Castle Holdings
Date: 12/13/19

68 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Round 2 LLC
Seller: Valley Castle Holdings
Date: 12/13/19

95-97 Kent Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jarelis E. Rodriguez
Seller: Anthony M. Santaniello
Date: 12/16/19

38 Kingoke Lane
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Multi-Cultural Community
Seller: Richard C. White
Date: 12/05/19

49 Kirk Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $119,367
Buyer: Kirk Drive TR
Seller: Pamela L. Bongiovanni
Date: 12/09/19

116 Lakevilla Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Justin X. McMillian
Seller: Scott J. Rogers
Date: 12/12/19

110 Lehigh St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Jorge Perez
Seller: Jorge Perez
Date: 12/11/19

64 Lyndale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jennifer Diaz
Seller: Mike Nguyen
Date: 12/06/19

5 Mandalay Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Steven Hoang
Seller: Dil M. Gurung
Date: 12/09/19

70-72 Manhattan St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Darinel Marte-Diaz
Seller: RM Blerman LLC
Date: 12/05/19

96 Manhattan St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $291,900
Buyer: Kiara Correa
Seller: Tehran Lewis
Date: 12/09/19

41 Merrimac Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Tascon Homes LLC
Seller: US Bank
Date: 12/06/19

74 Monmouth St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $253,500
Buyer: Orlando C. Harvey
Seller: Patriot Living LLC
Date: 12/13/19

36 Montrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: JJJ 17 LLC
Seller: JJJ 17 LLC
Date: 12/16/19

73-75 Narragansett St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Jacqueline Merced
Seller: Anthony Alvaro
Date: 12/11/19

605 Newbury St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Joseph Vazquez-Rivera
Seller: Linda Perlman
Date: 12/16/19

140 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Lisa M. Fotiathis
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 12/05/19

80 Oklahoma St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Juan A. Colon
Seller: Casey J. Placek
Date: 12/06/19

1093 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Luz Quintana
Seller: Jamie J. Agen
Date: 12/04/19

11 Perkins St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Felix Decesare
Seller: Susanne M. Fahringer
Date: 12/05/19

59 Pheasant Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Nicola S. Williams
Seller: Jeffrey T. Perrin
Date: 12/04/19

7 Plumtree Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Ricky T. Mack
Seller: Catherine V. Santaniello
Date: 12/13/19

1570 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Chelsea M. Blake
Seller: Jovanna A. Soto
Date: 12/17/19

120-122 Powell Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Chad VanWingerden
Seller: Michael E. Larose
Date: 12/06/19

235 Prentice St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Karla E. Garcia-Arroyo
Seller: Lynn A. Laplante
Date: 12/12/19

106 Revere St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Wilbert Weche
Seller: Global Homes Properties
Date: 12/11/19

39 Rimmon Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Jasmine Santana
Seller: Jacek J. Klosowski
Date: 12/12/19

79 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $194,500
Buyer: Shawn D. Cruzado
Seller: David Borkosky
Date: 12/13/19

227 Roy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jose Zavala
Seller: Anthony Santaniello
Date: 12/16/19

50 Scarsdale Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Marie McCormack
Seller: Rita M. Panasian
Date: 12/13/19

55 South Tallyho Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Kenneth D. Taylor
Seller: Adam Robbins
Date: 12/11/19

95-97 Suffolk St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Round 2 LLC
Seller: Jeffrey VonDauber
Date: 12/13/19

24-26 Sullivan St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $143,500
Buyer: Teresa Quiles
Seller: Maria D. Farina
Date: 12/12/19

285 SunriseTerrace
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $155,500
Buyer: Jonathan Dimo
Seller: Kara A. Petrie
Date: 12/06/19

111 Upton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Taylor N. Holland
Seller: Michelle Stuart
Date: 12/11/19

32 West Alvord St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Kelnate Realty LLC
Seller: Emtay Inc.
Date: 12/16/19

348-350 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Nancy A. Urena-Pena
Seller: Benjamin J. Brunese
Date: 12/10/19

2004 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Cynthia McCarthy
Seller: John Rosado
Date: 12/09/19

SOUTHWICK

15 Ferrin Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $542,000
Buyer: Vicki L. Lacapria
Seller: Jeremy D. Leap
Date: 12/04/19

14 Hunters Ridge Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $388,000
Buyer: Nicholas A. Beaudette
Seller: Deborah Melita
Date: 12/11/19

15 Lake Shore Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Richard R. Tumolo
Seller: Maher, Paula J., (Estate)
Date: 12/06/19

19 Laurel Ridge Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: James Montemayor
Seller: David B. Hart
Date: 12/05/19

Noble Steed Xing #22
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Harley J. Dulude
Seller: Jaan Development Corp.
Date: 12/13/19

Noble Steed Xing #23
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Harley J. Dulude
Seller: Jaan Development Corp.
Date: 12/13/19

143 South Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Gregory Hamelin
Seller: Hamelin Framing Inc.
Date: 12/06/19

17 White St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $397,500
Buyer: David S. Bunten
Seller: John Gulbrandsen
Date: 12/10/19

WALES

22 Holland Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Jason Oney
Seller: David W. Foote
Date: 12/16/19

10 Lake Shore Dr.
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Carl L. Erickson
Seller: Ruben Semidey
Date: 12/10/19

73 Main St.
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Barbara L. Lovell
Seller: Theodore W. Siok
Date: 12/06/19

WEST SPRINGFIELD

57 Abigaile Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Christopher T. Connelly
Seller: Michael R. Bogacz
Date: 12/04/19

50 Apple Ridge Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $261,000
Buyer: Henry Tenzar
Seller: Whitehead, Judith, (Estate)
Date: 12/09/19

41 Banks Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Shelley A. Burgeois
Seller: Joshua X. Tower
Date: 12/12/19

229 City View Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Center For Human Development Inc.
Seller: Brightside Inc.
Date: 12/04/19

148 Craiwell Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Brendan R. Cawley
Seller: Thomas Flaherty
Date: 12/06/19

53 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Jjrob Realty LLC
Seller: Kathleen S. Matera
Date: 12/05/19

223 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Carl O. Jalal
Seller: Christopher A. Settle
Date: 12/06/19

151 Labelle St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Sergey Savonin
Seller: Mary A. Parley
Date: 12/13/19

318 Lancaster Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Christopher N. Williamson
Seller: Paul J. Meals
Date: 12/13/19

28 Laurence Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $252,500
Buyer: Robert J. Robinson
Seller: Kevin T. Atkin
Date: 12/13/19

176 Lower Beverly Hills
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: MAA Property LLC
Seller: Falbo, Rosanne C., (Estate)
Date: 12/13/19

1022 Main St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Invast LLC
Seller: West Co. Investments LLC
Date: 12/16/19

2 Primrose St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Deddeh Investment LLC
Seller: Peter J. Asta-Ferrero
Date: 12/10/19

138 Southworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Stephen M. Heald
Seller: Kuber Adhikari
Date: 12/05/19

25 Virginia Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Amy Russell
Seller: Robert F. Pion
Date: 12/17/19

102 Westwood Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Stephanie M. Palange
Seller: Glenn Grabowski
Date: 12/06/19

100 Wolcott Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Tuyen T. Le
Seller: Troy Collins
Date: 12/17/19

WESTFIELD

7 Atwater St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jennifer Balukonis
Seller: Erik B. Quinn
Date: 12/12/19

9 Belden Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Shaelyn N. Bielanski
Seller: Patrick J. Healy
Date: 12/13/19

12 Briarcliff Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Karen D. Hackett
Seller: Robert G. Pouliot
Date: 12/06/19

6 Carriage Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Julie Hall-Case
Seller: Deborah M. Hadley
Date: 12/05/19

7-1/2 Frederick St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Ryan J. Emken
Seller: Denise L. Pumphrey
Date: 12/06/19

145 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Ernest C. Gardner
Seller: Clark, Donald R., (Estate)
Date: 12/05/19

27 Knollwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Stefani Leonczyk
Seller: Tricia L. Ancelli
Date: 12/17/19

8 Lincoln St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Caio H. Veloso-Silva
Seller: Ivan Mokan
Date: 12/11/19

285 Lower Sandyhill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Yves G. Dumonsau
Seller: Couture Partners LLC
Date: 12/04/19

145 Main St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Camile A. Hannoush
Seller: Stratton Renovation LLC
Date: 12/13/19

186 Main St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Terrence J. Welch
Seller: Dustin Taudal
Date: 12/11/19

409 Montgomery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: Daniel H. Bray
Seller: Barbara Dillon-Goodson
Date: 12/06/19

Munger Hill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Megan A. Shibley
Seller: Robert P. Cunningham
Date: 12/16/19

255 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: D. Larochelle-Pumphrey
Seller: Richard S. Leske
Date: 12/06/19

40 Orange St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: James P. Schmidt
Seller: Mark Sears
Date: 12/04/19

101 Pequot Point Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Patrick M. Lalli
Seller: Jenna R. Krzanik
Date: 12/06/19

64 Roosevelt Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $147,927
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: Deborah L. Waterman
Date: 12/09/19

219 Russellville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: CED Westfield Solar LLC
Seller: J. W. Cowles Construction
Date: 12/04/19

124 Saint James Ave.
Westfield, MA 01040
Amount: $337,700
Buyer: Javier Rivera
Seller: Francis Wheeler Construction
Date: 12/09/19

509 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: VAR LLC
Seller: 509 Southwick Road LLC
Date: 12/05/19

47 Zephyr Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Ruth H. Taraska
Date: 12/05/19

WILBRAHAM

3086 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $246,250
Buyer: CIL Realty Of Mass. Inc.
Seller: Peter M. Ferland
Date: 12/17/19

6 Devonshire Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $350,100
Buyer: John D. Sopet
Seller: Maryann Baltazar-Alves
Date: 12/12/19

151 East Longmeadow Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Association Props Group
Seller: Juan C. Rodriguez-Lopez
Date: 12/16/19

4 James Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $306,000
Buyer: James Circle NT
Seller: Vincent M. O’Connell
Date: 12/17/19

1 Sawmill Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Jessy R. Sirois
Seller: Gladys M. Grande
Date: 12/12/19

161 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Elizabeth Damato
Seller: Benjamin C. Hudnall
Date: 12/04/19

21-35 Weston St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: 21-35 Weston Street RT
Seller: Raymond G. Lewis
Date: 12/17/19

22-36 Weston St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: 22-36 Weston Street RT
Seller: Raymond G. Lewis
Date: 12/17/19

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

212 Aubinwood Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Jesus A. Carl-Acosta
Seller: Michael J. Jenkins
Date: 12/12/19

51 ButterfieldTerrace
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: 51 ButterfieldTerrace LLC
Seller: Grethe B. Camp
Date: 12/17/19

64 High Point Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $337,000
Buyer: Karl Knapp
Seller: Lucinda S. Nuthmann
Date: 12/16/19

10 Poets Corner Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Wei Cui
Seller: Nancy A. Keefe
Date: 12/05/19

1427 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: David Merck
Seller: Plumtree Real Estate LLC
Date: 12/05/19

1488 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Mara Niefer
Seller: Maria E. Caputo
Date: 12/06/19

759 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Stephen D. Gillett
Seller: Edward A. McCarthy
Date: 12/06/19

BELCHERTOWN

402 Allen Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Christopher L. Dunn
Seller: Noryn A. Resnick
Date: 12/05/19

480 Chauncey Walker St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $423,000
Buyer: William J. Decker
Seller: Yvette C. Archambault TR
Date: 12/11/19

8 Cloverhill Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $429,900
Buyer: Christian Bourdeau
Seller: Alex N. Gerard
Date: 12/09/19

Front St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $133,334
Buyer: Belchertown Day School
Seller: Belchertown Economic Development
Date: 12/11/19

257 Jabish St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Priscilla B. Mollard
Seller: Rebecca J. Mazuch
Date: 12/06/19

160 Ludlow St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Philip Roncarati
Seller: Joshua N. Weiss
Date: 12/10/19

162 Munsell St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Jonathan Ankiewicz
Seller: Timothy C. Relihan
Date: 12/06/19

40 Oakridge Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: David E. Eyerman
Seller: Allan A. Ruell
Date: 12/06/19

95 Pondview Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Gottfried Schlaug
Seller: Ronald C. Simmons
Date: 12/13/19

480 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Jesus Gonzalez
Seller: Steven Cole
Date: 12/04/19

EASTHAMPTON

30 Bryan Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Cortney Kowalczyk
Seller: Richard V. Yarra
Date: 12/13/19

366 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Sarah-Jane M. Poindexter
Seller: Brian M. Greenwood
Date: 12/13/19

9-11 Exeter St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $195,100
Buyer: Kevin C. Netto Construction Inc.
Seller: 9-11 Exeter Street RT
Date: 12/04/19

33 Groveland St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Rachel Doubleday
Seller: Lauren E. Arcibal
Date: 12/12/19

1 Harvey St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $244,500
Buyer: Krystal M. Oldread
Seller: Frank S. Geryk
Date: 12/09/19

46 Highland Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Joyce C. Gurski
Seller: Hebert FT
Date: 12/16/19

2 Mutter St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $195,352
Buyer: Christopher St.Martin
Seller: Maureen McGuinness
Date: 12/16/19

201 Park St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $222,900
Buyer: Andrew D. Saltarella
Seller: James R. Tunstall
Date: 12/06/19

17 Picard Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Wilson G. Buri
Seller: Kimberly J. English
Date: 12/13/19

12 Sheldon Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $331,000
Buyer: Joy B. Bergman
Seller: Barbara A. Kasper
Date: 12/11/19

17 Stanley St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $334,900
Buyer: Ashley E. Anglin
Seller: James M. King
Date: 12/05/19

14 Water Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $296,000
Buyer: Cory M. O’Brien
Seller: Judith Sector-Ryan
Date: 12/10/19

GRANBY

193 Amherst St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Kaylee A. Quenneville
Seller: Brian S. King
Date: 12/11/19

101 East St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Ann M. Gagnon
Seller: Citimortgage Inc.
Date: 12/04/19

Miller St. #B
Granby, MA 02771
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Oak Ridge Custom Home Builders
Seller: Irene R. Simon
Date: 12/13/19

HADLEY

Rocky Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Huong C. Chow
Seller: Wilga, Joseph J. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 12/06/19

HATFIELD

36 North Hatfield Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $307,000
Buyer: Levin G. Dupree
Seller: Dunn, Ruby Pearl, (Estate)
Date: 12/12/19

HUNTINGTON

46 Basket St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $219,259
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Steven C. King
Date: 12/06/19

NORTHAMPTON

18 Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Konstantin Vatrenko
Seller: Rita M. Douville
Date: 12/13/19

13 Drewsen Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Rachel M. Goodman
Seller: Francis W. Hogan
Date: 12/10/19

137 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Mary E. Just
Seller: Emerson Way LLC
Date: 12/11/19

2 Florence St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $423,000
Buyer: Rachel Keller
Seller: Rosemary R. Black
Date: 12/06/19

269 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Edward J. Callahan
Seller: David E. Foucher
Date: 12/13/19

486 Haydenville Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $367,500
Buyer: Gabriel R. Deangelis
Seller: EDC Real Estate LLC
Date: 12/16/19

178 Island Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Sofia Szamosi
Seller: Jeffrey T. Remillard
Date: 12/05/19

163 Kennedy Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $686,000
Buyer: Malcolm White
Seller: Sharron V. Chiulli
Date: 12/06/19

11 Landy Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Kathy J. Smith
Seller: Konstantinos Sierros
Date: 12/13/19

2 Laurel Lane
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: William Gertzog
Seller: Rosehill FT
Date: 12/10/19

Northampton Meadows
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Szawlowski Realty Inc.
Seller: David Gizienski
Date: 12/05/19

28 Ridge View Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $570,000
Buyer: Barbara J. McCollough
Seller: James C. Link
Date: 12/09/19

40 Spring St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $185,400
Buyer: Grosz RT
Seller: Douglas E. Andrew
Date: 12/11/19

PELHAM

144 Harkness Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Beverly Haase
Seller: James Burgoff
Date: 12/06/19

SOUTHAMPTON

45 Lead Mine Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Hunter Tinkham-Silva
Seller: Carmelina G. Ortiz
Date: 12/13/19

SOUTH HADLEY

7 Ashton Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Shaina Tramazzo
Seller: David J. Della-Torre
Date: 12/12/19

24 CharonTerrace
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Maria Fahey
Seller: Wilson, Elaine R., (Estate)
Date: 12/13/19

412 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Scott Family Properties
Seller: Janet Doolittle
Date: 12/10/19

24 Leahey Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Carolyn J. Miller-Coulter
Seller: Cathleen A. Foley
Date: 12/06/19

Miller St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Oak Ridge Custom Home Builders
Seller: Irene R. Simon
Date: 12/13/19

209 Mosier St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Katelyn Labrie
Seller: Kenneth J. Corneliusen
Date: 12/05/19

99 Pine St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Gregory Belanger
Seller: Deanna Dixon
Date: 12/10/19

WARE

12 Lovewell St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $186,600
Buyer: Maryam Morrow
Seller: Amy D. Vadnais
Date: 12/12/19

9 Wildflower Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $333,000
Buyer: Theresa Martin
Seller: Yasser Fares
Date: 12/13/19

WILLIAMSBURG

146 Ashfield Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Frank S. Geryk
Seller: Christine M. Andrulis
Date: 12/09/19

WESTHAMPTON

69 Pine Island Lake
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Janice Pegels
Seller: Sheryl Blais
Date: 12/06/19

WORTHINGTON

126 Old North Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $337,500
Buyer: Kenneth P. Kirchner
Seller: Pulley FT
Date: 12/13/19