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UMass Amherst Tops in Campus Dining for Second Straight Year

AMHERST — The food in the UMass Amherst dining halls is so good that the Princeton Review came back for another helping, choosing the school as the national leader in collegiate dining in the U.S. for a second straight year. The announcement further cements UMass Dining’s reputation for serving up healthy, sustainable, and delicious food prepared by award-winning chefs, said Ken Toong, executive director of Auxiliary Enterprises at UMass Amherst. The rankings are based on surveys of 137,000 students at the schools in the guide. UMass Dining is the largest college dining-services operation in the country, serving 45,000 meals daily, or 5.5 million meals per year. Since 1999, overall participation the university’s meal plan has more than doubled from 8,300 participants to more than 19,200. A self-operated program committed to providing a variety of healthy world cuisines using the most sustainable ingredients, UMass Dining incorporates recipes from accomplished chefs and nutritionists as well as principles from the Culinary Institute of America and Harvard School of Public Health to its cycle menu.

Regnaleb Offers Sales Training for Digital Age

WESTHAMPTON — Regnaleb Enterprises, a sales and marketing consulting firm, announced it is offering high-caliber sales-management and growth strategies to small and mid-size companies throughout Western and Central Mass. The organization is led by Art Belanger, an experienced sales and marketing professional with more than 30 years in the industry. The Regnaleb process utilizes the salesQB program to conduct a complete audit of an organization’s current sales and marketing process. The results are used to benchmark performance and identify areas for growth and improvement. Following the audit, business leaders will be taken through an in-depth report that will pinpoint methods for increased efficiency throughout the entire sales process, from lead generation and management tactics to the use of digital technologies like CRM, software programs, and social media. A successful salesforce is empowered, efficient, and informed, Belanger said, adding that Regnaleb Enterprises will offer a custom road map to improve communications, management, customer service, and sales techniques to drive increased performance.

Talbots to Return to Longmeadow Shops

LONGMEADOW — Grove Property Fund and Talbots announced that the women’s-apparel retail store will be returning to Longmeadow Shops this fall. The announcement is the latest from the Longmeadow Shops, which recently expanded its retail footprint by 20%, attracting new tenants Verizon Wireless and J.Crew Mercantile while allowing CVS Pharmacy to move to a larger retail space with a pharmacy drive-thru. Talbots operated at the Longmeadow Shops from 2001 to 2013. The new store will utilize 5,334 square feet of retail space, the majority of the space previously occupied by CVS Pharmacy.

HCC Gateway to College Earns National Honors

HOLYOKE — For the second year in a row, the Gateway to College program at Holyoke Community College has received national recognition for exemplary performance. The Gateway to College National Network, based in Portland, Ore., honored HCC with its 2017 Gateway Program Excellence Award at a conference in Providence, R.I. last month. Gateway is a second-chance, dual-enrollment program for students who have either left high school or are at risk for dropping out. Gateway students take college classes and earn college credits while also working toward their high-school diplomas. The 2017 award recognizes Gateway programs that exceeded all four of the network’s performance benchmarks for the 2015-16 academic year: first-term GPA, one-year persistence, two-year persistence, and three-year graduation rate. Since its founding in 2008, HCC’s Gateway to College program has helped 251 students earn their high-school diplomas while also getting an early start on college. More than half have continued on to college, and so far 30 have earned their associate degrees from HCC, and six have earned bachelor’s degrees.

Austen Riggs Recognized as a ‘Best Hospital’

STOCKBRIDGE — Austen Riggs Center has been recognized as a “Best Hospital” for 2017-18 by U.S. News & World Report, ranking ninth in psychiatry nationwide. Noteworthy among the top group of psychiatry honorees for its small size and integrated approach, Austen Riggs Center is a therapeutic community, open psychiatric hospital, and center for education and research, promoting resilience and self-direction in adults with complex psychiatric problems.

PeoplesBank Among Top Charitable Contributors

HOLYOKE — The Boston Business Journal announced the region’s top corporate charitable contributors, and for the 10th year in a row, PeoplesBank is among the companies included on the list. The region’s top charitable companies, which in many instances include the companies’ corporate foundations, will be honored at the magazine’s 12th annual Corporate Citizenship Awards on Thursday, Sept. 7 at Fenway Park in Boston. The list is composed of companies that gave at least $100,000 to Massachusetts-based charities in 2016.

PV Squared Named Among Top 500 Solar Contractors

GREENFIELD — Solar Power World, the leading publication covering solar technology and development, published its annual Top Solar Contractors list in July. PV Squared, a local solar-installation company and worker-owned cooperative, was listed prominently among other top solar contractors and developers across the country. PV Squared is a local leader in the field of solar design, installation, and maintenance. A worker-owned cooperative, the company has provided renewable-energy solutions to a range of clients, including business owners, commercial property owners, farmers, and homeowners since 2002. PV Squared currently employs 42 people, 19 of whom are co-owners of the business. In 2016, it completed 188 projects in the Pioneer Valley and surrounding areas, installing 2.5 MW of solar power. It is also a certified B Corporation, demonstrating its commitment to a triple-bottom-line business model. It is currently involved in Franklin County’s first Habitat for Humanity project in five years and will be contributing a solar array to the construction of an energy-efficient home in Greenfield. Additionally, it is also exploring opportunities to partner with the Franklin County Technical School to mentor young people through a solar installation process. The donation of this solar array will not only eliminate upfront costs for the future homeowner, but will also help strengthen the local community.

PV Squared Named Among Top 500 Solar Contractors in U.S.

By BusinessWest Staff August 3, 2017

GREENFIELD — Solar Power World, the leading publication covering solar technology and development, published its annual Top Solar Contractors list in July. PV Squared, a local solar-installation company and worker-owned cooperative, was listed prominently among other top solar contractors and developers across the country.

PV Squared is a local leader in the field of solar design, installation, and maintenance. A worker-owned cooperative, the company has provided renewable-energy solutions to a range of clients, including business owners, commercial property owners, farmers, and homeowners since 2002. PV Squared currently employs 42 people, 19 of whom are co-owners of the business. In 2016, it completed 188 projects in the Pioneer Valley and surrounding areas, installing 2.5 MW of solar power. It is also a certified B Corporation, demonstrating its commitment to a triple-bottom-line business model.

“It’s an honor to represent Western Massachusetts as a locally owned business on this list of top solar companies, and to be among a total of 19 companies located in the Commonwealth. We’ve put our hearts into our work for the past 15 years, so to be recognized in this way by a national publication is deeply rewarding,” said PV Squared General Manager Stacy Metzger.

While PV Squared is being recognized nationally, its focus and commitment has remained local. It is currently involved in Franklin County’s first Habitat for Humanity project in five years and will be contributing a solar array to the construction of an energy-efficient home in Greenfield. Additionally, it is also exploring opportunities to partner with the Franklin County Technical School to mentor young people through a solar installation process. The donation of this solar array will not only eliminate upfront costs for the future homeowner, but will also help strengthen the local community.

“This is our community, and it means a lot to us to help create a healthier future,” Metzger said. “Our ongoing partnerships with local organizations, such as Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, allow us to make a greater impact and find more meaning in the work we do.”

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff July 11, 2017

Shannon Rudder

The Providence Ministries for the Needy Inc. (PMN) board of trustees named Shannon Rudder executive director of PMN’s multi-human-services agency. First appointed interim director in May, Rudder previously served as executive director for MotherWoman Inc. in Hadley for four years. Prior to that, she was associate director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal Inc. in Buffalo, N.Y. “Shannon’s leadership, contagious enthusiasm, solid business acumen, strong operational skills, team-building focus, and dedication to building strong community relationships will advance our mission into the bright future ahead,” said Jean Zaleski, board chair. Rudder is currently on Springfield Technical Community College’s Foundation board; Mama’s Voice, a community-based participatory research project with Holyoke Community College; the grant review committee for United Way of Pioneer Valley; and United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council, and is an instructor at Bay Path University and Cambridge College. In addition, she has served as a guest lecturer at Springfield College, Smith College, and UMass School of Regional Planning. BusinessWest included Rudder in its 40 Under Forty class of 2016. “We are thrilled to have Shannon as our new executive director,” said James Wall, chair of PMN’s personnel committee. “She brings a great breadth and depth of experience that will help take Providence Ministries to the next level.” PMN is a member of the Sisters of Providence Ministry Corp. and is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization serving the Holyoke community with programs to feed, clothe, and shelter the poor and marginalized. These include Kate’s Kitchen, foodWorks at Kate’s Kitchen, Broderick House, Loreto House, McCleary Manor, Margaret’s Pantry, and St. Jude’s Clothing Center.

•••••

Anthony Hayes

Following a nationwide search, Anthony Hayes has been selected as the new general manager for public broadcaster WGBY in Springfield. Hayes comes to WGBY with nearly two decades of executive experience in public TV and radio in Connecticut and Washington, D.C. He succeeds Rus Peotter, who retired last fall after leading the station for 15 years. “Anthony is a visionary leader, and his extensive background in strategic development and engaging with audiences will advance WGBY’s mission and vital role in the community and across the region,” said Liz Cheng, Television Stations manager for the WGBH Educational Foundation, which includes WGBY. Hayes will lead the station in its strategic planning, editorial operations, and community engagement, serving its public-media mission of advancing the educational and cultural life of Western New England. “As a highly accomplished media executive, Anthony’s management skills, experience, and style will be a great fit for WGBY. His industry knowledge and community focus will be of tremendous value in leading our public-media initiatives,” said Crist Myers, chair of the WGBY board of tribunes. Most recently, Hayes served as senior vice president for Engagement at Connecticut Public Broadcasting in Hartford, which includes CPTV and WNPR, where he guided fund-raising and sponsorship initiatives to develop new strategic opportunities and growth. Prior to that, he was at WAMU-FM, American University Radio, where he oversaw the sponsorship sales division and designed and implemented integrated fund-raising, communications, and outreach strategies, locally and nationally, that increased stakeholder engagement. Earlier in his career, he was with WETA, public TV and radio in Arlington, Va., where he managed corporate marketing and developed non-traditional revenue initiatives. “I couldn’t be more pleased to have this opportunity to magnify the impact of this exceptional organization,” said Hayes. “I will work collaboratively and strategically to build upon WGBY’s rich history and advance its core mission, focusing on building a stronger community through engagement, learning, and understanding. I believe WGBY is poised to expand its reach throughout Western New England, and I am eager to lead the charge.” Hayes holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the New York Institute of Technology, and a master’s degree in media entrepreneurship from American University. He will join WGBY on July 10.

•••••

Mike Hamel, owner of Summit View Banquet House and Hamel’s Creative Catering, has been named 2017 Business Person of the Year by the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce. Hamel’s Creative Catering was established in 1990, but the Hamel family business roots go back to 1963, when his family owned and operated Hamel’s Market in South Hadley and Edgar’s Market in the Churchill section of Holyoke. “Mike is an exemplary model of a home-grown success story. This is a great story of small business success,” said Kathleen Anderson, president of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce. “It includes a family legacy, following a passion, having a dream, and overcoming obstacles to achieve something significant and lasting. We are very proud of Mike and his family, and congratulate them on this achievement.” The award has been presented annually to an outstanding business person who is community-oriented, is innovative, possesses a high degree of integrity, and for business accomplishments in Greater Holyoke’s business community. Marge Manton, treasurer and CFO of Loomis Communities and chairman of the chamber board of directors, also announced the selection of Harry Montalvo of bankESB to receive the Henry A. Fifield Award for Voluntary Service to the Chamber. The award is named for the late Henry A. Fifield, former Amped executive and civic leader who served in leadership positions with the chamber. Montalvo’s service includes the chamber ambassador committee, the board of trustees of the Chamber Centennial Foundation, and chamber liaison between the two chamber boards. Montalvo has also been a mentor to many of the Chamber Foundation’s SPARK Launch Class graduates. Both award winners will be honored at the Business Person of the Year and Fifield Volunteer Award Dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Delaney House. Information can be found online at holyokechamber.com or by calling the chamber office at (413) 534-3376. Everyone is invited to attend.

•••••

Sarah Jordan

James Kelly, president and CEO of Polish National Credit Union (PNCU), announced that Sarah Jordan has joined the credit union as a marketing specialist. Jordan’s responsibilities include internal and external communications, marketing and public-relations campaigns, community relations, and website management. She comes to PNCU from Westfield Bank/Chicopee Savings Bank, where she served as marketing coordinator. She is a graduate of the University of Hartford with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, and has held marketing and communication assignments with the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, where she is a member of the marketing committee; the Barney School of Business Leadership Council; and the National Society of Leadership and Success – Sigma Alpha Pi. She has also been an active volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, the Spaulding After School Program, and Loaves and Fishes. “We look forward to Sarah’s success in promoting Polish National Credit Union and its products and services to both current and future members,” said Kelly. “We are pleased to welcome her to our team.”

•••••

Grace LaValley

Grace LaValley, who earned her doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree in the inaugural DNP class at Elms College, had a paper accepted to the American Assoc. of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) for a podium presentation at AACVPR’s 32nd annual meeting in October, where it is a candidate for the conference’s Beginner Investigator Award. The paper Lavalley will present at the AACVPR conference was her capstone project in the DNP program at Elms College. Each DNP student is required to complete a scholarly capstone project that contributes to the field of nursing. The project topics are related to the areas of nursing where they currently work or areas in which they have a particular interest. Lavalley’s project earned her the 2017 DNP Capstone Award from Elms College, which honors a DNP student who has developed a distinguished capstone project that demonstrates scholarly rigor, innovation, and outcomes that improve health or health-related outcomes for a specific population, and has the potential to advance nursing science, practice, or policy. The paper is titled “A Telephone Intervention to Improve Patient Return Rates in Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study” and focuses on cardiac rehabilitation, or CR. “Cardiovascular disease accounts for 17.3 million deaths per year, a number projected to reach 23.6 million by 2030,” Lavalley said. CR improves patient outcomes and reduces risk in the earlier post-discharge period, but it remains highly underused, she added. Despite its benefits, many patients are at risk for not following the CR program, for a variety of reasons. She and her colleagues decided to investigate whether a telephone call focused on patient motivation, education, risks, and goal setting would improve return rates among patients identified as at risk for non-adherence to the CR program. “Telephone interventions are known to be an important tool to provide support and help overcome barriers after discharge,” she noted. They studied 100 patients in Baystate Medical Center’s outpatient CR program and found that those who received the telephone call were more likely to attend their second session of CR as scheduled, compared with patients who did not receive this intervention (80% versus 51%). The overall return rate was higher in the intervention group as well. “This straightforward strategy represents an attractive adjunct to current management of outpatient CR patients,” she said. Lavalley’s coauthors are Heidi Szalai, Dr. Quinn Pack, and Andrew Storer, associate professor of Nursing at Elms. Their paper will be published in the September/October 2017 issue of the AACVPR’s Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention. Storer was the capstone chair for Lavalley’s project; he supervised the project from the development stage through implementation and analysis. The project, he said, “has made a positive impact in the quality of care for the patients, institutions, and communities served.” Added Lavalley, “this project may be of great value to other cardiac rehab programs around the nation, particularly in this complex healthcare environment.”

•••••

Paulo Marques

LUSO Federal Credit Union announced that Paulo Marques, senior loan originator, ranked fourth among top loan originators by volume for credit unions in Western Mass., with loan volume of $23.4 million. He also ranked fourth for top loan originators by number of loans for credit unions in Western Mass., with 156 loans. These results were reported by the Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman.

•••••

Deborah Jordan of Shamrock Financial in Wilbraham was named 2017 Affiliate of the Year by the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley (RAPV). The announcment was made during the association’s annual awards banquet held June 8 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. As the highest honor given to an affiliate member, the award is bestowed upon the one person who has shown outstanding service and devotion to the organization during the past 17 months in the areas of affiliate-related association activity, community service, and business activity. A member of RAPV for five years, Jordan has served on the affiliate/Realtor, Education Fair & Expo, and community service committees. Her committee involvement includes the annual Benefit Golf Tournament, Playhouse Build for the Boys and Girls Clubs, and blanket and book drives to benefit Shriner’s Hospitals for Children – Springfield. Jordan’s additional community activities include serving as president-elect for the Ludlow Rotary Club, volunteering with Revitalize CDC, and serving on the Buy Springfield Now Committee to promote home ownership.

Sarah Jordan joins PNCU as Marketing Specialist

By BusinessWest Staff June 27, 2017

CHICOPEE — James Kelly, president and CEO of Polish National Credit Union (PNCU), announced that Sarah Jordan has joined the credit union as a marketing specialist.

Jordan’s responsibilities include internal and external communications, marketing and public-relations campaigns, community relations, and website management. She comes to PNCU from Westfield Bank/Chicopee Savings Bank, where she served as marketing coordinator.

She is a graduate of the University of Hartford with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, and has held marketing and communication assignments with the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, where she is a member of the marketing committee; the Barney School of Business Leadership Council; and the National Society of Leadership and Success – Sigma Alpha Pi. She has also been an active volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, the Spaulding After School Program, and Loaves and Fishes.

“We look forward to Sarah’s success in promoting Polish National Credit Union and its products and services to both current and future members,” said Kelly. “We are pleased to welcome her to our team.”

Real Estate Transactions

By BusinessWest Staff June 13, 2017

Departments Real Estate

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

ASHFIELD

1266 Bug Hill Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $302,500
Buyer: Drew N. Pantermehl
Seller: Gilbert & D. Roberts IRT
Date: 05/05/17

CHARLEMONT

48 Main St.
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Berkshire Rafting LLC
Seller: William J. Schaefer
Date: 05/04/17

COLRAIN

Foundry Village Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Hartshorn Family LLC
Seller: Call INT
Date: 05/05/17

295 Jacksonville Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $147,392
Buyer: Greenfield Savings Bank
Seller: Heidi M. Wellman
Date: 05/01/17

York Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Hartshorn Family LLC
Seller: Call INT
Date: 05/05/17

CONWAY

3102 Shelburne Falls Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Jennifer Menendez
Seller: John A. Siano
Date: 05/12/17

DEERFIELD

110 North Main St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Samantha Colarusso
Seller: Sarah A. Lusardi
Date: 05/08/17

40 Thayer St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Erica L. Francks
Seller: Elizabeth Clarke
Date: 05/05/17

GILL

276 Mountain Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Sarah R. Watsky
Seller: Thomas E. Dorsey
Date: 05/05/17

GREENFIELD

53-55 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Heather Greene
Seller: George E. Miller
Date: 05/04/17

23 Graves Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $264,900
Buyer: Scott A. Briere
Seller: Christopher L. Gagnon
Date: 05/05/17

12 Holland Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Lillian H. Winseck
Date: 05/12/17

28-B Old Albany Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Alexander M. Gilbert
Seller: David T. Damery
Date: 05/01/17

65 Shattuck St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Barbara Hadden
Seller: Edmond F. Byrne
Date: 05/08/17

100 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Katherine Buttolph
Seller: Debra J. Dehoyos
Date: 05/01/17

22 Sunrise Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Kristyn E. Bates
Seller: Jay A. Brooks
Date: 05/11/17

LEVERETT

73 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Susan D. Montgomery
Seller: Christian Friedrick
Date: 05/12/17

MONTAGUE

172 Meadow Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Mount Grace Farm LLC
Seller: 172 Meadow Road NT
Date: 05/01/17

184 Meadow Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Mount Grace Farm LLC
Seller: 172 Meadow Road NT
Date: 05/01/17

16 North St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Terry Gaberson
Seller: Judith Ingham
Date: 05/12/17

30 Stevens St.
Montague, MA 01301
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: John T. McGuigan
Seller: Jean G. Donovan
Date: 05/05/17

NORTHFIELD

1 Capt. Beers Plain Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Brian A. Vanguilder
Seller: Jeffrey N. Kratz
Date: 05/05/17

11 Lyman Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Gregory S. Hale
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 05/05/17

109 Main St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Dorothy Koda
Seller: Michael L. Dibari
Date: 05/08/17

882 Old Wendell Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Philip J. Calabria
Seller: Eleanor J. Goodman
Date: 05/02/17

ORANGE

76 Brookside Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $161,500
Buyer: Jason W. Hubbard
Seller: Ryan D. Prentiss
Date: 05/12/17

15 Cloukey Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Scott C. Muth
Date: 05/08/17

SHUTESBURY

58 Old Egypt Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Caleb G. Truesdell
Seller: Adam C. Drollett
Date: 05/01/17

SUNDERLAND

410 Hadley Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Paul B. Stewart
Seller: David J. Cary
Date: 05/05/17

WHATELY

66 Long Plain Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Michael T. Palmer
Seller: Sarah Eddy
Date: 05/08/17

Route 5
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Pre-Cast Properties LLC
Seller: Robert T. Bartlett
Date: 05/09/17

Route 8
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Pre-Cast Properties LLC
Seller: Robert T. Bartlett
Date: 05/09/17

82 State Road
Whately, MA 01373
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Pre-Cast Properties LLC
Seller: Robert T. Bartlett
Date: 05/09/17

State Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Pre-Cast Properties LLC
Seller: Robert T. Bartlett
Date: 05/09/17

52 Webber Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Mary StGermain
Seller: Rachel L. Lawrence IRT
Date: 05/02/17

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

401 Garden St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Hamid Palo
Seller: Ashley M. Graveline
Date: 05/10/17

414 Pine St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Timothy M. Rivers
Seller: Donna Dragan
Date: 05/01/17

37 Porter Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Christine M. Morgan
Seller: Lisa M. Daniels
Date: 05/12/17

BLANDFORD

7 Sunset Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $162,250
Buyer: George N. Cyr
Seller: Janice Cardona
Date: 05/05/17

BLANDFORD

14 Beulah Land Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $371,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Jones
Seller: Frank Z. Wronski
Date: 05/10/17

CHICOPEE

69 Allen St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Anna Daymon
Seller: Cynthia Zack
Date: 05/05/17

233 Blanchard St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: MTGLQ Investors LP
Seller: Dawn M. Sanders
Date: 05/09/17

196 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $145,935
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Marlene Spillane
Date: 05/08/17

63 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: John E. Freeman
Seller: Glen P. Lesiege
Date: 05/01/17

609 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Kash Reddy LLC
Seller: White Birch Garden Apartments
Date: 05/05/17

138 Cochran St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Nelson Vega
Date: 05/02/17

72 Haven Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Rozlyn Sellez
Seller: Fournier, Harvey L., (Estate)
Date: 05/09/17

10 Highland Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: William F. Pauze
Seller: Lisa M. Boutin
Date: 05/11/17

38 Keddy Blvd.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Kelsey K. Davey
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 05/09/17

42 Lemay St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Rafael J. Sierra
Seller: Vladimir Shevchenko
Date: 05/12/17

13 Madison St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Yasir Allami
Seller: Anne Circosta
Date: 05/12/17

609 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Peter J. Martin
Seller: William E. Martin
Date: 05/11/17

440 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $3,900,000
Buyer: Chicopee Hospitality LLC
Seller: Chunida Inc.
Date: 05/02/17

450 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $3,900,000
Buyer: Chicopee Hospitality LLC
Seller: Chunida Inc.
Date: 05/02/17

331 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Radoslaw Bralski
Seller: Michael R. Ostrowski
Date: 05/12/17

32 Morris St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,500
Buyer: Shelby A. Seymour
Seller: Christopher R. Brown
Date: 05/05/17

21 Oliver St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Elizabeth R. Gaspari
Seller: Sara A. Shewchuk
Date: 05/01/17

24 Shaw Park Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Shah MA Realty LLC
Seller: Bernashe Realty Inc.
Date: 05/04/17

95 West St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $1,566,800
Buyer: PMG SLB 1 LLC
Seller: Leonard E. Belcher Inc.
Date: 05/12/17

113 Wheatland Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Roger S. Bouffard
Date: 05/10/17

32 White Birch Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $168,900
Buyer: Koehler FT
Seller: Kyle I. Dieters
Date: 05/09/17

EAST LONGMEADOW

228 Braeburn Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $254,900
Buyer: Daniel Misco
Seller: David Kucharczyk
Date: 05/12/17

223 Hampden Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $268,900
Buyer: Thomas J. Menard
Seller: Richard E. Baker
Date: 05/03/17

190 Mapleshade Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: John Sheehan
Seller: Dennis A. Matulewicz
Date: 05/05/17

12 Marci Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Richard E. Baker
Seller: Adam L. Oliveri
Date: 05/03/17

105 Melwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Janessa M. Torres
Seller: Thomas J. Mazza
Date: 05/01/17

273 Millbrook Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Danielle Fafard
Seller: Anthony F. Desimone
Date: 05/03/17

21 Redstone Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $273,900
Buyer: Vincent S. Pafumi
Seller: AEM Property Investment
Date: 05/05/17

15 Rogers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Robert M. Shoen
Seller: Bickleyhelen, J., (Estate)
Date: 05/05/17

84 South Brook Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Constant Ogutt
Seller: Mohammed I. Ahmed
Date: 05/12/17

Silver Fox Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: John F. Cassidy
Seller: C&M Builders LLC
Date: 05/10/17

197 Tanglewood Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Natalee Shea
Seller: Bryan M. Blair
Date: 05/12/17

44 Worthy Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Nicholas Gioiosi
Seller: Launa Wentworth
Date: 05/10/17

GRANVILLE

10 Crest Lane
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $254,000
Buyer: Matthew A. Bowen
Seller: Brian J. Ingledue
Date: 05/01/17

HAMPDEN

171 Ames Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Frederick A. Warren
Seller: Goodwin, Shirley A., (Estate)
Date: 05/12/17

172 Ames Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Keith L. Pixley
Seller: Dorothy F. Neff
Date: 05/01/17

9 Brookside Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Joseph Lafleur
Seller: PD Developments LLC
Date: 05/03/17

HOLLAND

19 Williams Lane
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Barry Price
Seller: Joan A. Dusoe
Date: 05/08/17

HOLYOKE

133-135 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: 133-135 Beech St. Assocs.
Seller: Brennan Properties LLC
Date: 05/03/17

42 Bray Park Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Property Keys LLC
Seller: CIT Bank
Date: 05/04/17

123-125 Cabot St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Hilda Marina Real Estate
Seller: Louis J. Luchini
Date: 05/01/17

78 Elmwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Erin L. Hederson
Seller: John J. Griffin
Date: 05/02/17

77 Fairmont St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $166,500
Buyer: C. O. Martinez-Santos
Seller: Daniel P. Christian
Date: 05/12/17

143 Jackson St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Maxwell Perez
Seller: Roseleen Dupre
Date: 05/05/17

225 Mountain View Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Murray T. Smith
Seller: Robert K. Berger
Date: 05/08/17

408 Rock Valley Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Gary Godbout
Seller: Cerruti, Jessie, (Estate)
Date: 05/03/17

243-245 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Jennifer E. Adams
Seller: Linda M. Beauregard
Date: 05/08/17

135 Sheehan Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Christopher R. Brown
Seller: Derek R. Martinelli
Date: 05/05/17

496 Whitney Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: K&I Realty LLC
Seller: John Conner
Date: 05/02/17

LONGMEADOW

275 Chestnut St.
Longmeadow, MA 01104
Amount: $1,566,800
Buyer: PMG SLB 1 LLC
Seller: Leonard E. Belcher Inc.
Date: 05/12/17

155 Deepwoods Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Konrad S. Karolczuk
Seller: Gail Peck
Date: 05/12/17

106 Inverness Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Thomas Anthony
Seller: Steven Weiss Bankruptcy TR
Date: 05/05/17

70 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Sianshu Tczin
Seller: Katherine Brush
Date: 05/01/17

455 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Cabot P. Raymond
Seller: Michelle A. Garvey
Date: 05/01/17

58 Meadowbrook Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Bryan R. Picard
Seller: Malina T. Yotova
Date: 05/03/17

227 Shaker Road
Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $1,566,800
Buyer: PMG SLB 1 LLC
Seller: Leonard E. Belcher Inc.
Date: 05/12/17

130 Westmoreland Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Trevor P. Dorian
Seller: Jacqueline E. Seabury
Date: 05/02/17

LUDLOW

251-253 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $302,500
Buyer: Brett M. Merrill
Seller: Meftune Cetin
Date: 05/10/17

27 Elm St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Nerman Hodzic
Seller: Garcez, Alcide Leitao, (Estate)
Date: 05/01/17

69 John St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Michael Lentowski
Seller: Josephine T. Lentowski
Date: 05/01/17

15 Loopley St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Vigneault
Seller: Sorcinelli, Helen A., (Estate)
Date: 05/12/17

109 Pine Knoll Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $252,500
Buyer: Nelson Z. Tereso
Seller: Kelly Smith
Date: 05/11/17

268 Sewall St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Lisa A. Pio
Seller: Cmaro Properties LLC
Date: 05/01/17

MONSON

2 Bethany Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Craig R. Harper
Seller: Brad M. Richardson
Date: 05/01/17

11 Bridge St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Peter Welch
Seller: Henry L. Padden
Date: 05/04/17

24 Butler Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $245,900
Buyer: David S. Bracetti
Seller: Terence G. Lewis
Date: 05/08/17

2 Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Matthew Rourke
Seller: Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity
Date: 05/01/17

PALMER

3005-3007 Hill St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: Kyle North
Seller: JNB Property Investment
Date: 05/08/17

21 Oakland St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $173,784
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Kellie L. Gallo
Date: 05/11/17

180 Thompson St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Warren R. Thompson
Seller: Gordon H. Christiansen
Date: 05/05/17

1040 Wilson St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Carlos R. Furtado
Seller: Deborah K. Smola
Date: 05/05/17

RUSSELL

345 Dickinson Hill Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $265,100
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Zinaida Sidorenko
Date: 05/12/17

81 River St.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Sean P. O’Connell
Seller: Heather Washington
Date: 05/12/17

SOUTHWICK

42 Deer Run
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $437,000
Buyer: Jason M. Pajak
Seller: Mahyar Assadi
Date: 05/10/17

14 Hunters Ridge Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Deborah Malita
Seller: Leaman C. Martin
Date: 05/01/17

3 Nicholson Hill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $329,900
Buyer: Michael B. Desrochers
Seller: Ronald B. Danforth
Date: 05/01/17

137 North Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $337,000
Buyer: Paul Moran
Seller: Jason M. Pajak
Date: 05/10/17

382 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Erica L. Paton
Seller: Meares, Corinne J., (Estate)
Date: 05/12/17

3 South Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Timothy J. Baker
Seller: Mikaela M. Spence
Date: 05/01/17

21 South Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Christopher D. Harris
Seller: Erica L. Burns
Date: 05/05/17

7 Secluded Ridge
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Paul M. Kowal
Seller: Parchinskiy, Andrey, (Estate)
Date: 05/05/17

8 Tree Top Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $319,900
Buyer: Darin E. Burniske
Seller: Christopher J. Pratt
Date: 05/04/17

11 Wood St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: William J. Dougherty
Seller: William G. Dougherty
Date: 05/12/17

SPRINGFIELD

35 Acrebrook Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $131,500
Buyer: Jenna M. McCarthy
Seller: Maria Yacovone
Date: 05/02/17

772 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Seth Dupuis
Seller: Shalisa Keyes
Date: 05/01/17

116 Atherton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Jayne A. Leigh
Date: 05/12/17

65 Bangor St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Ian McCollum
Date: 05/02/17

1487 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $410,451
Buyer: PMG New Jersey 2 LLC
Seller: Leonard E. Belcher Inc.
Date: 05/12/17

938-940 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $410,451
Buyer: PMG New Jersey 2 LLC
Seller: Leonard E. Belcher Inc.
Date: 05/12/17

82-84 Benton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Joshua Rosemond
Seller: Anita Smith-Christopher
Date: 05/12/17

135 Breckwood Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Jalissa Alicea
Seller: Michael P. Pelletier
Date: 05/05/17

91-93 Brunswick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Kenny Nguyen
Seller: Doris F. Peltier
Date: 05/05/17

11 Bushwick Place
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $134,900
Buyer: Nathaniel L. Johnson
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 05/12/17

107 Catalpa Terrace
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Nicolas E. Castano
Seller: Dennis Bertelli
Date: 05/12/17

53 Chauncey Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Carmelinda M. Menas
Seller: Jennifer Baribeau

115 Cherokee Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $132,500
Buyer: North Harlow 4 LLC
Seller: AJN Rentals LLC
Date: 05/04/17

76 Clayton St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $124,900
Buyer: Rosa L. Garcia
Seller: R2R LLC
Date: 05/08/17

118-120 Commonwealth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Melanie Shepard-Skutnik
Seller: R2R LLC
Date: 05/02/17

91 Dewitt St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Luz M. Cotto
Seller: Mary Dillon
Date: 05/11/17

134 Draper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Alexandr Carapunarli
Seller: Paul A. Moran
Date: 05/10/17

244 Draper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $118,089
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: Angel G. Sostre
Date: 05/05/17

73 Emerald Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Alec Bewsee
Seller: Plumtree Associates Inc.
Date: 05/05/17

108 Fenwick St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Albert J. Sanchez
Seller: Clinton R. Stonacek
Date: 05/05/17

463 Gifford St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Elizabeth Mortenson
Seller: Kimberley A. Breil
Date: 05/09/17

67 Grover St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Imus N. Lytle
Seller: Rayan Abdulbaki
Date: 05/04/17

14 Hartwick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Robert N. Sullivan
Seller: Stephanie Cisler
Date: 05/05/17

132 Jasper St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,157
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Lilliam Lopez
Date: 05/05/17

190 Laconia St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Bretta Construction LLC
Seller: Robert Stabach
Date: 05/01/17

19 Madison Ave.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Robert A. Wood
Seller: Naefia Padi
Date: 05/03/17

38 Maebeth St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $119,900
Buyer: Quashawn Branch
Seller: Justin A. Casey
Date: 05/11/17

31 Mazarin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Adam L. Grandchamp
Seller: Kevin S. McNamara
Date: 05/05/17

297 Memorial Ave.
Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $1,637,000
Buyer: Laura Coudrey MDPC
Seller: GF Enterprise 2 LLC
Date: 05/05/17

221 Naismith St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Tommy Son
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 05/08/17

31 Newhall St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,700
Buyer: Jessica C. Williams
Seller: Janet E. Hicks
Date: 05/12/17

79 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jesus M. Roman-Diaz
Seller: Firmino A. Sousa
Date: 05/11/17

105 Old Brook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Richard A. Bruso
Date: 05/12/17

60 Oregon St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $138,561
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: S. G. Meyer-Pistorious
Date: 05/08/17

139 Overlook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Anthony J. McDowell
Seller: James J. Orciari
Date: 05/05/17

72 Parkerview St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Miguel Rodriguez
Seller: McM Capital Partners LLP
Date: 05/04/17

174 Patricia Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Brenda I. Heap
Seller: Lisa A. Pio
Date: 05/01/17

370 Pine St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $3,300,000
Buyer: Friends Veritas Preparatr
Seller: Maraline Development Corp.
Date: 05/03/17

31 Plumtree Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Rebecca A. Silloway
Seller: TRB Properties LLC
Date: 05/05/17

82 Prospect St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Martin Severino
Seller: Maximino Navarro
Date: 05/01/17

1412 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $134,500
Buyer: Vanessa M. Marrero
Seller: DellaRipa Real Estate LLC
Date: 05/12/17

66 Silas St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Patrick D. Moreau
Seller: Daniel Rimondi
Date: 05/02/17

28 Silvia St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Leon L. Edwards
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 05/08/17

32 Stony Brook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Joshua Fuller
Seller: Melinda Montgomery
Date: 05/05/17

25 Stuart St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Geneva L. Santiago
Seller: Donald R. Baillargeon
Date: 05/05/17

34 Tyrone St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Jessenia Perez
Seller: Margaret M. Odea
Date: 05/10/17

18 Wayside St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Alexander O. Berthiaume
Seller: Florence A. Hutchinson
Date: 05/12/17

55 Winthrop St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Peter Lang
Seller: Bacem I. Awkal
Date: 05/11/17

148 Wollaston St. #70
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Deandre S. Haughton
Seller: James Moylan
Date: 05/01/17

178 Wollaston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Bonnie Brooks
Seller: Tony Yousef
Date: 05/09/17

7-9 Woodmont St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Carmen M. Rodriguez
Seller: Hussein Mourad
Date: 05/08/17

28 Wrenwood St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: James H. Brown
Seller: James H. Brown
Date: 05/08/17

WALES

23 Reed Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Karen L. Dematos
Seller: Steven M. Little
Date: 05/12/17

139 Union Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $141,250
Buyer: Tamara E. Gething
Seller: Alan Gamsby
Date: 05/05/17

WEST SPRINGFIELD

672 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Colin S. Ryan
Seller: Mario F. Ronghi
Date: 05/01/17

59 Ashley St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Gianna R. Russo
Seller: Asad Mahmood
Date: 05/04/17

64 Bosworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: CNF Realty LLC
Seller: CGS Realty LLC
Date: 05/01/17

734 Dewey St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Michael J. Mitchell
Seller: Robert A. Olszewski
Date: 05/01/17

135 Garden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $670,000
Buyer: B&B Properties LLC
Seller: Marvin V. Larivee
Date: 05/05/17

518 Memorial Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $6,629,307
Buyer: CH Realty 7&CG Mact Bird
Seller: F. L. Roberts & Co. Inc.
Date: 05/10/17

217-219 New Bridge St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $6,629,307
Buyer: CH Realty 7&CG Mact Bird
Seller: F. L. Roberts & Co. Inc.
Date: 05/10/17

27 Oakland St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Michelle A. Mirti
Seller: Edward E. Shibley
Date: 05/12/17

314 Rogers Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $230,245
Buyer: V. Mortgage REO 2 LLC
Seller: Marcus D. Lynch
Date: 05/02/17

128 Silver St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Kaitlin E. Cote
Seller: Aleksey G. Kamyshin
Date: 05/11/17

148 Van Horn St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Mandy L. Velozo
Seller: Darleen Dubiel
Date: 05/11/17

2610 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,800
Buyer: Daniel P. Taibbi
Seller: Daniel D. Roy
Date: 05/08/17

4 Worthy Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Omar Matrood-Al Juboori
Seller: Sarah A. Ornelas
Date: 05/12/17

WESTFIELD

57 Crane Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Talia Scalise
Seller: Darin E. Burniske
Date: 05/04/17

23 High St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: John A. Devine
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 05/05/17

26 Laflin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Edward J. Forsell
Date: 05/10/17

439 North Elm St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $1,566,800
Buyer: PMG SLB 1 LLC
Seller: Leonard E. Belcher Inc.
Date: 05/12/17

7 Princeton St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Sergio E. Adon
Seller: Adrienne W. Lacey
Date: 05/01/17

6 West Glen Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Joel S. Christofori
Seller: Darlene A. Grady
Date: 05/11/17

6 Wintergreen Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Tyler W. Humphrey
Seller: Patrick S. Sullivan
Date: 05/05/17

117 Yeoman Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Kelly J. Pitoniak
Date: 05/10/17

WILBRAHAM

8 Becker St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Louis Pepe
Seller: James Gianfelice
Date: 05/05/17

46 Monson Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Keith Polci
Seller: Nancy S. Porter
Date: 05/01/17

6 Poplar Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Peter J. Andrusko
Seller: Judy A. Donofrio
Date: 05/05/17

11 Southwood Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: David J. O’Brien
Seller: Francesca Lynch
Date: 05/05/17

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

158 Flat Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $414,000
Buyer: Kristina Stinson
Seller: Jonathan P. Goldman
Date: 05/01/17

94 Flat Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $427,500
Buyer: Robert M. Churchill
Seller: Julia C. Frankel
Date: 05/04/17

45-47 Hallock St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Buyer: Historic Renovations
Seller: William A. Miller
Date: 05/09/17

112 High Point Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $284,000
Buyer: Abdourahmane Sarr
Seller: Ting FT
Date: 05/12/17

111 Logtown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $176,500
Buyer: John B. Gulbrandsen
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 05/04/17

212 North East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Brian J. Berling
Seller: Brenda L. Flanigan
Date: 05/08/17

17 Palley Village Place
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Phillip G. Hu
Seller: Mark C. Prince
Date: 05/03/17

850 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $368,000
Buyer: Jamie Snyder-Fair
Seller: Todd M. Dunford
Date: 05/11/17

368 Shays St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Todd M. Dunford
Seller: Frederick Myers
Date: 05/11/17

40 Sheerman Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $276,000
Buyer: Mingxu You
Seller: Patrick V. Taylor
Date: 05/08/17

BELCHERTOWN

505 Allen Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Stephanie A. Cole
Seller: John B. Gulbrandsen
Date: 05/05/17

80 Bardwell St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: John P. Sullivan
Seller: Gary G. Decoteau
Date: 05/12/17

419 North Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Ronald E. Bernash
Seller: Brian M. Beauchemin
Date: 05/04/17

584 North Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Mark A. Fitzherbert
Seller: Deborah L. Wenzel
Date: 05/02/17

2 Overlook Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $406,500
Buyer: Jacob A. Hulseberg
Seller: Peter A. Roberts
Date: 05/01/17

44 Park St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $357,344
Buyer: Alexander G. Alvarado
Seller: John C. Workman
Date: 05/01/17

10 Pine Brook Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $240,707
Buyer: Luso FCU
Seller: David T. Scott
Date: 05/02/17

251 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Kelly Coxe
Seller: Bruce J. Lawler
Date: 05/01/17

EASTHAMPTON

11 Gula Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $167,440
Buyer: James G. Perrault
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 05/12/17

60-62 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: 60-62 Main Street LLC
Seller: Galaxy Design LLC
Date: 05/02/17

14 Matthew Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Robert C. Fedor
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 05/12/17

60-62 Parsons St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $234,780
Buyer: Joshua A. Staples
Seller: Susan Montgomery
Date: 05/12/17

75 Phelps St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Stephen Croft
Seller: Paul M. Kowal
Date: 05/05/17

Pomeroy St. #6
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: David A. Hardy Contractor
Seller: Cykowski RET
Date: 05/05/17

35 Union St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $282,500
Buyer: HKL FT
Seller: Gary R. Campbell
Date: 05/03/17

76 West St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $218,500
Buyer: Jamie A. Prevedel-Bowen
Seller: Ann E. Favorite-Lynch
Date: 05/12/17

GRANBY

104 Amherst St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Harvey I. Lijek
Seller: Joseph F. McDowell
Date: 05/05/17

HUNTINGTON

127 Pond Brook Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Thomas A. Palavra
Seller: Patricia M. Arel
Date: 05/03/17

MIDDLEFIELD

Ryan Road (SS)
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Nature Conservation Non Profit
Seller: Kushi Management LLC
Date: 05/05/17

NORTHAMPTON

20 Bates St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Alexia Manin
Seller: Henre J. Andosca
Date: 05/03/17

197 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Kerry M. Smith
Seller: Raymond L. Cashman
Date: 05/09/17

53 Clark Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $190,500
Buyer: Nancy Taylor-Roberts
Seller: John W. Nietupski
Date: 05/01/17

155 Grove St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $202,200
Buyer: April L. Cannon
Seller: Gold, William A., (Estate)
Date: 05/10/17

18 Hampden St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $332,500
Buyer: Katharine Arata
Seller: Jean Barr-Stevens
Date: 05/02/17

10 Ladyslipper Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Deborah A. Sherr
Seller: Richard Sherr
Date: 05/04/17

47 Ladyslipper Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Wool
Seller: Phillip S. Kick
Date: 05/10/17

116 North Maple St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Sarah Lusardi
Seller: Donna Morrison
Date: 05/08/17

57 Woodland Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: April M. Igneri
Seller: Noah J. Epstein
Date: 05/08/17

PLAINFIELD

7 Bluff St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $395,675
Buyer: Judith M. Cole
Seller: Robert A. Corash RET
Date: 05/11/17

SOUTH HADLEY

64 Brigham Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Stephen A. Foster
Seller: Wojcik, Stanley J., (Estate)
Date: 05/09/17

15 Carlton St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Scott M. StPierre
Seller: James L. Mytkowicz
Date: 05/08/17

45 Fairview St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Bassett
Seller: Joel C. Bertles
Date: 05/02/17

12 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Ann M. Morin
Seller: Pettengill FT
Date: 05/09/17

11 Valley View Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $489,900
Buyer: Conrad A. Marvin
Seller: Jill A. Mazurowski
Date: 05/05/17

WARE

68 Dugan Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $274,900
Buyer: Lee P. Haywood
Seller: Christine Pilch-Mancini
Date: 05/01/17

216 Greenwich Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Fischer
Seller: Scott Slattery
Date: 05/10/17

5 High St.
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Robert N. Dookhran
Seller: Jonathon J. Becker
Date: 05/12/17

21 Laurel Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: William Munsell
Seller: Leslie L. Wallace
Date: 05/01/17

WILLIAMSBURG

5 Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $342,595
Buyer: Jae J. Casella
Seller: Peter F. Lafogg
Date: 05/12/17

WORTHINGTON

24 Williamsburg Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Laurel F. Bean
Seller: Christina M. Guinasso
Date: 05/10/17

Western Mass Green Consortium Slates Green Night for May 10

By BusinessWest Staff May 3, 2017

Nonprofit Management Sections

NORTHAMPTON — The Western Mass Green Consortium has slated its next Green Night for Wednesday, May 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Platform Sports Bar in Northampton.

Greenfield Community College (GCC) has significantly contributed to Massachusetts’ national prominence in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and its interns are often on the forefront of these fields. Student interns have contributed to such forward-looking developments as manufacturing fuel from recycled vegetable oil, assessing the energy performance of the region’s building stock, increasing outreach to businesses and volunteers for a local low-income housing franchise, and designing and installing solar arrays.

At Green Night, recent and current interns will give a thumbnail sketch of their experiences working for local organizations such as Northeast Biodiesel, Power House Energy Consulting, and Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity. Representatives of host sites will also be on hand to discuss their perspective of the internship process. Teresa Jones, GCC’s Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency (RE/EE) program director; Christine Copeland, GCC’s internship coordinator guru; and Beth Paulson, adjunct faculty for the RE/EE program, will update attendees on GCC’s accomplishments, describe how other businesses can get involved, and introduce the presenters.

GCC’s pioneering Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency degree and certificate programs have been closely aligned with local sustainable businesses since the program began in 2008. It is a leader in not only the state, but the country. It has graduated 29 students in the degree program and 79 students in the intensive, one-year certificate program.

HAPHousing Becomes Way Finders to Reflect Scope of Its Work

By BusinessWest Staff May 2, 2017

Growing Opportunities

Peter Gagliardi says Way Finders’ mission comes down to helping people solve problems, not just getting them into homes.

When the Housing Allowance Project opened its doors in 1973, the idea of providing people with assistance to pay their rent was a novel concept.

“Giving people a housing allowance was a radical concept, but poor people were concentrated in projects and high-rises that had become real problems, especially in large cities,” said Peter Gagliardi, president and chief executive officer of Way Finders in Springfield and Holyoke. “Many were poorly built and filled with children who had no place to play other than the hallways and elevators, so the idea was to stop building projects where the poor were all housed in one place, and give people choices about where they could live.“

HAPHousing, which changed its name to Way Finders on March 31, was one of 10 sites across the country selected to host a three-year experimental federal pilot program to provide this rental assistance. The project led to the creation of Section 8 housing, a federal program that provides vouchers to low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities to help them afford decent, safe places to live in the private market.

When the pilot program morphed into Section 8, HAPHousing was tasked by the state to administer it in Hampden and Hampshire counties. But today, that is only a small part of the scope of its work, which has extended into many arenas.

The organization holds periodic strategic planning sessions, and in 2014 it became clear that its name and narrative did not convey the agency’s purpose and may have led potential clients to believe they couldn’t find the help they needed from their staff.

“Our old name didn’t provide a sense of the magnitude of our work,” Gagliardi said, noting that, although the Section 8 housing program still exists, 28,600 people in Hampden and Hampshire counties and more than 100,000 people across the state are on waiting lists. Since new vouchers are not being issued given today’s turnover rate, the statewide wait equates to 166 years.

“People need better options than vouchers that don’t exist,” he continued, explaining that the agency’s clients have needs ranging from finding jobs to getting an education, improving their credit scores, and other measures that open up opportunities for a better life.

“Getting people into homes is important, but having a roof that is affordable over your head is just the beginning,” Gagliardi noted, as he spoke about difficulties homeless families face and the multi-faceted approach Way Finders takes to connect clients to appropriate resources.

The organization’s history has been marked by many twists and turns as it responded to crises caused by changes in the economy, so choosing an appropriate new name was important to everyone who worked there.

HAP hired TSM Design in Springfield to facilitate the effort. The name Way Finders resulted from a collaborative brainstorming effort by staff members dedicated to ensuring their moniker reflected their mission, coupled with the creativity of TSM Design, which was responsible for suggesting names that matched the passion and commitment of the staff. Every employee participated in a survey that asked them about the most important part of their job, and a committee of 12 was eventually formed to represent the findings and share the thinking of the staff as a whole.

“Our mission came down to finding a way to help people solve problems. It begins by finding them a decent place to live, but we wanted to let the public know that we offer a wide range of programs through collaborations with partners that include finding jobs for people who don’t know where to start,” Gagliardi said, noting that, in the past three and a half years, the agency has helped place 480 people into jobs as an alternative to those non-existent housing vouchers he talked about.

Indeed, the new name is fitting because clients literally need help finding their way to a better life.

“We started out with a staff of about 20, and this year we have 250 employees who are very mindful of our philosophy,” Gagliardi said. “When they go home at the end of a day, they know that someone has a better home or opportunity in life than they did when they arrived.”

Over the past four decades, the organization has grown from an experimental housing-assistance program to an agency that provides rental assistance, housing-support services for homeless families as well as prevention, education about home ownership, foreclosure counseling, real-estate development, property and asset management, and community building and engagement in neighborhoods to improve health and safety.

For this issue and its focus on nonprofits, BusinessWest looks at the storied history of Way Finders and how the agency stepped in to help people and improve the community through the many changes in the economy.

Critical Response

When the Housing Allowance Program morphed into the Section 8 housing program, the state Department of Housing and Community Development hired eight regional agencies to administer it, including HAPHousing.

“For the first time, people in every town and city in the state had an opportunity to live where they wanted,” Gagliardi noted.

During the early ’80s, HAP added a program for first-time homebuyers that included information about how families could strengthen their credit so they would be eligible for bank loans. Some were purchasing multi-family houses, so they also needed to learn how to become a good landlord, and HAP published a manual that contained all of this and more, which has undergone multiple revisions and is sold on Amazon.

By the mid-’80s, homelessness had become a glaring problem, and HAPHousing opened Prospect House in Springfield, which was the first family shelter in Massachusetts funded by the state.

“We started out with nine families and a manager,” Gagliardi said, noting that the shelter is still operating and the program has served thousands of people.

In the ’90s, when the U.S. entered a recession, HAP took action again and focused its efforts on distressed properties on Byers Street in Springfield. Its work led to the creation of the Armory Quadrangle Civic Assoc., which still exists and plays an active role in the neighborhood.

HAPHousing continued to acquire properties and create affordable housing as the years went on, and eventually became involved in the Old Hill neighborhood after a Springfield College study showed it was home to 4,500 people and 150 vacant lots and boarded-up buildings.

“About 10% of the residential properties were blighted, and we worked with the neighborhood, the city, Springfield College, and our housing partners, Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services and Habitat for Humanity, to renovate properties that could be saved and replace housing that couldn’t be repaired. We also filled in some of the vacant lots with new homes,” said Gagliardi, adding that the collaboration between Springfield College, HAPHousing, and Habitat resulted in 50 new or renovated homes.

After the recent recession hit in 2008, HAP again took the lead in helping homeless families. It created a new partnership with the Center for Human Development and New England Farm Workers Council in anticipation of the state’s new HomeBASE program, and when the tornado hit in 2011, representatives from all three groups were able to work with the city and others to help more than 400 displaced families.

“These groups had never joined forces before, and the way everyone worked together was unprecedented. By the time FEMA showed up, we were already getting people into housing,” Gagliardi noted.

After that was accomplished, HAPHousing began implementation of the state’s new HomeBASE program, which offers an alternative to living in a shelter for families at serious risk of becoming homeless. It provides them with time-limited assistance that allows them to find long-term accommodations and get help from stabilization services, which is paid for buy the state.

But this avenue wasn’t new to HAP, because it had pioneered a program in the ’80s that worked with landlords and tenants to negotiate settlements to prevent homelessness. It had attorneys on staff and was able to resolve many situations that would otherwise have resulted in eviction.

Programs to prevent homelessness continue to be offered, although they have changed over the years. Gagliardi said many clients have lost jobs and fallen behind in their rent, missed work due to illness, or been part of a family breakup that led them to get behind in their rent. “These situations can easily spiral out of control if they are not addressed,” he told BusinessWest.

The current program, known as RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition), serves 600 to 700 families a year at an average cost of $2,500, which is a small investment compared to the $3,000 a month it costs the state to house a family in a shelter, especially since the average length of stay is six months.

But HAP has always stepped in when it was needed, and in 2008, it played a significant role in the formation of the Western Mass. Foreclosure Prevention Center.

“The number of people losing their homes was staggering, and we helped families through a partnership with the attorney general’s office that saved their homes or allowed them to make a graceful exit without completely ruining their credit,” Gagliardi said.

He noted that the agency has assisted thousands of property owners over the past eight years, and although the worst of the crisis has passed, over the past year, it helped 85 homeowners. “Thirty-five managed to preserve their homes, 25 were successful loan modifications, eight were able to bring their mortgage current, and two refinanced into more sustainable mortgages,” he continued, adding that another 43 were referred to legal assistance, and only two lost their homes.

Over the years, HAP also became involved in developing affordable housing and managing rental properties. Today, it has its own management company that oversees 700 units in towns and cities including Amherst, Hadley, Southwick, Southampton, Easthampton, Northampton, Charlton, Ware, Wales, Springfield, and Holyoke. It has also built and renovated properties, and has 10 projects underway, including construction of a $19.9 million, four-story, mixed-use building on Pleasant Street in Northampton that will have 2,600 square feet of retail space on its first floor and 27 studio apartments and 43 one-bedroom units in its upper stories.

“We also played a leadership role in creating the Western Mass. Nonprofit Housing Developers Group 20 years ago, and partnered with Nueva Esperanza in Holyoke and another organization to restore a number of four-story apartment buildings in South Holyoke,” Gagliardi said, as he recounted decades of work in Hampden and Hampshire counties.

Growing Enterprise

The mission of Way Finders continues to expand, and Gagliardi said its new name belongs to the next generation of leaders.

“We found that the best way to create affordable housing and revitalize a neighborhood is to collaborate, and in several situations organizations have become our affiliates,” he noted, explaining that news of the name change was accompanied by an announcement that Way Finders is forming strategic partnerships with Common Capital Inc. of Holyoke and MBL Housing and Development LLC of Amherst that will allow the parties to develop and finance projects that will benefit area residents, businesses, and communities.

Common Capital provides small loans to help businesses, while MBL Housing consults with developers interested in building affordable housing. That group was in danger of closing because the owner wanted to retire, but Way Finders found a way to allow it to stay in business.

“We know that no organization can do everything, but we have played a leadership role, and collaboration has always been important to us,” Gagliardi said. “Stable housing is a starting point, not an end point, and we have seen many former voucher holders move into new homes.”

So, although the sign in front of its Springfield office reads “Way Finders Housing Center,” the hope is that this rebranding will attract people in a variety of situations who need help finding a path to a better life.

Agenda

By BusinessWest Staff May 2, 2017

Agenda Departments

Stroke Assoc. Forum for Survivors, Caregivers

May 3: May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and the American Stroke Assoc., a division of the American Heart Assoc., will once again host a forum open to stroke survivors and their caregivers. The 2017 Pioneer Valley Stroke Survivors and Caregivers Forum, “The Future Belongs to Those Who Dream,” will take place at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the day will include exhibitors, local healthcare providers, and stroke survivors who will educate and share information. The forum will once again be hosted by Boston comedian and American Stroke Assoc. supporter Chris Tabb, whose family has been personally touched by stroke. The Pioneer Valley Stroke Forum is open to the public, and admission is $5, which will include a light breakfast and heart-healthy lunch. For tickets, call the American Heart Assoc. local office at (203) 303-3373.

Kentucky Derby Fund-raiser for Square One

May 6: The Colony Club in Springfield will the setting for hats, horses and hors d’oeuvres to celebrate the 143nd annual Kentucky Derby. Presented by the Gaudreau Group and Northeast IT, with sponsorship support from Nuvo Bank, American International College (AIC), the Colony Club and others, the event, starting at 4:30 p.m., will raise much-needed funds for Square One’s programs and services. Tickets cost $45 in advance and $50 at the door. The event will include big-screen monitors to enjoy the race, hearty hors d’oeuvres, and a complimentary mint julep. Prizes will be awarded for the best Derby attire. Tickets may be purchased via Eventbrite or by calling Heather at Inspired Marketing at (413) 303-0101.

Women Build Week

May 6-14: Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) and future Habitat homeowners will work alongside Lowe’s volunteers and all-female construction crews for Habitat for Humanity’s 10th annual National Women Build Week. The event invites women to help make a difference and devote at least one day to help build decent and affordable housing in their local communities. More than 17,000 women, including Lowe’s Heroes volunteers, are expected to volunteer at construction sites across the country as part of Habitat’s 2017 National Women Build Week. In the Upper Hill neighborhood of Springfield, volunteers will work to frame the exterior walls on the first floor of the house as well as tackle interior walls and prep to start the second floor. This year, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity will be kicking off its new construction in Springfield as part of National Women Build Week. In support of Women Build Week and Mother’s Day, an annual fund-raising event, Men Can Cook, will be held on May 9, and several men, including local business owners, Habitat board members, and others, will volunteer as chefs and waiters to put on an evening of food and fun to honor the women in their lives.

‘Big Data … Your Strategic Advantage’

May 10: As part of the ongoing BusinessWest and HCN Lecture Series, Comcast Business will host an informative program titled “Big Data … Your Strategic Advantage. The event is part of a series of lectures, panel discussions, and presentations that address timely and important business information. This is an opportunity to meet industry leaders and network with area business professionals. “Big Data … Your Strategic Advantage” will be presented by Dennis Perlot, vice President, Enterprise Architecture at CleanSlate Centers, and former ‘technology evangelist’ at Microsoft and BI specialist master at Deloitte. It will take place at La Quinta Inn & Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield. Perlot will address how other organizations are using their data to provide them with a competitive advantage. Attendees will learn how data can be analyzed for insights that lead to better decisions and strategic business moves. On-site parking is available. Registration is scheduled for 7:15 to 7:30 a.m., followed by breakfast and Perlot’s presentation from 7:30 to 9 p.m. RSVP by Tuesday, May 2 HERE.

Lunch ‘n’ Learn on the ‘Trump Effect’

May 10: Skoler, Abbott & Presser will present a talk on how Trump administration mandates could potentially affect employers at the Springfield Regional Chamber Lunch ‘n’ Learn from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lattitude restaurant, 1338 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Attorney Amelia Holstrom will discuss recent developments and her predictions about what may happen at both the state and federal levels under the new administration and what it could mean for employers. Holstrom will talk about what is happening with the Affordable Care Act and steps Massachusetts may be taking while the issue is sorted out at the federal level, the potential for paid family leave both at the state and federal levels, and her predictions regarding trends in the enforcement of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission requirements, including the new EEO-1 requirements. She will also address what employers should be watching for relative to medical marijuana and what an employer’s current legal rights are, and her predictions for labor-relations developments under the new National Labor Relations Board. Reservations for the Lunch ‘n’ Learn are $25 for members ($30 at the door) and $35 for general admission ($40 at the door). Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or by e-mailing Jessica Hill at [email protected].

Film and Media Exchange

May 12: Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative (BFMC) will partner with Vitec Videocom to bring their nationally touring ‘Roadshow’ to the Sheraton Springfield from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. This will be BFMC’s 4th Film and Media Exchange — a “Day 2 Play” — with workshops and an exhibit hall showcasing the latest in production equipment. The event will focus on cost-effective production techniques designed for anyone in broadcasting, filmmaking, photography, communications, and marketing. The exchange also includes lunch, a keynote speech, and networking opportunities with others in the industry. For more info on programs and tickets, contact BFMC at berkshirefilm.org or (413) 528-4223.

Continued Excellence Award Nomination Deadline

May 12: There’s still time to nominate someone for the Continued Excellence Award, as BusinessWest will accept nominations through Friday, May 12. The winner of the award will be unveiled at the magazine’s 40 Under Forty gala on June 22. Two years ago, BusinessWest inaugurated the award to recognize past 40 Under Forty honorees who had significantly built on their achievements since they were honored. The first two winners were Delcie Bean, president of Paragus Strategic IT, and Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, president of Allergy and Immunology Associates of Western Mass. and chief of Allergy and Immunology at Baystate Medical Center. Candidates must hail from 40 Under Forty classes 2007 to 2016 and will be judged on qualities including outstanding leadership, dedicated community involvement, professional achievement, and ability to inspire. The award’s presenting sponsor is Northwestern Mutual. The nomination form is available HERE. For your convenience, a list of the past nine 40 Under Forty classes may be found HERE.

40 Under Forty

June 22: The 11th annual 40 Under Forty award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, honoring 40 of the region’s rising stars under 40 years old. An independent panel of judges has chosen the winners, and their stories are told in the April 17 issue and at businesswest.com. The event is sponsored by Northwestern Mutual (presenting sponsor), PeoplesBank (presenting sponsor), Moriarty & Primack, Health New England, the Gaudreau Group, the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, Six-Point Creative Works, Renew.Calm, and the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield. Tickets cost $75. A limited number of tables are available, and some individual and standing-room-only tickets are also available, but are expected to sell out quickly. To purchase tickets, call (413) 781-8600.

National Women Build Week Slated

By BusinessWest Staff April 20, 2017

40 Under 40 The Class of 2017

SPRINGFIELD — Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) and future Habitat homeowners will work alongside Lowe’s volunteers and all-female construction crews for Habitat for Humanity’s 10th annual National Women Build Week, May 6-14. Habitat’s National Women Build Week invites women to help make a difference and devote at least one day to help build decent and affordable housing in their local communities.

More than 17,000 women, including Lowe’s Heroes volunteers, are expected to volunteer at construction sites across the country as part of Habitat’s 2017 National Women Build Week.

In the Upper Hill neighborhood of Springfield, volunteers will work to frame the exterior walls on the first floor of the house as well as tackle interior walls and prep to start the second floor. “Unskilled volunteers often arrive feeling timid about stepping onto a construction site and being expected to frame, but with encouragement and a little guidance they end up loving the experience and accomplishing a lot,” said GSHFH Construction Manager Kris McKelvie.

This year, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity will be kicking off its next new construction in Springfield as part of National Women Build Week. In support of Women Build Week and Mother’s Day, the annual fundraising event, Men Can Cook, will be held on May 9, where several men, including local business owners, Habitat board members, and others, volunteer as chefs and waiters to put on an unforgettable evening of food and fun to honor the women in their lives. Mayor Domenic Sarno of Springfield, who has been a local celebrity waiter in the past, will be in attendance again this year to celebrate National Women Build Week as well as State Representative Carlos Gonzales.

Lowe’s helped launch National Women Build Week in 2008 to empower women to advocate for affordable housing and spotlight the homeownership challenges faced by many. Each year, Lowe’s provides the support of their employee volunteers, Lowe’s Heroes, and conducts how-to clinics at stores to teach volunteers construction skills so they can feel equipped to take part in the builds. Lowe’s Heroes will be among more than 70 volunteers joining to help build decent, affordable housing in the Springfield area as part of National Women Build Week.

“Through our partnership with Habitat and support of National Women Build Week, Lowe’s empowers women to get involved in their communities, learn construction skills and make a meaningful impact,” said James Frison, Lowe’s director of community relations. “We’re grateful to all the women in the Springfield area who will volunteer this week to help build and repair decent and affordable housing.”

Lowe’s donated nearly $2 million to this year’s National Women Build Week, including a $5,000 store gift card to Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity. Since 2003, Lowe’s has committed more than $63 million to Habitat’s mission and helped more than 6,500 families improve their living conditions.

Habitat’s first Women Build event was held in 1998. Since then, all-women construction crews have helped build more than 2,500 homes in partnership with families.

For more information on Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program and to learn about Women Build events in communities across the U.S. year-round, visit Habitat.org/wb.

Michelle Chase

By BusinessWest Staff April 17, 2017

Assistant Vice President, PeoplesBank; Age 39

Michelle Chase

Michelle Chase says she has a simple, yet quite poignant outlook on her career, parenting, and … every facet of her life, really.

“With whatever I’m doing, whether its running, with the kids, at work … I’m always trying to think of a way where I can leave my mark, or I can leave my legacy,” she explained, adding that she believes she’s been quite successful in those efforts to date.

As she elaborated, she started with a reference to a quarterly coffee hour she spearheaded at PeoplesBank, where she has been employed since 2011, currently serving as assistant vice president and manager of the branch in Westfield.

“A member of senior management speaks at that coffee hour about their career development and how they got to where they are — the career path they took, the mistakes they made, the things they did well,” she said of the gatherings, staged at the institution’s headquarters in Holyoke. “And it has spread like wildfire at the bank; we’ve run out of room for the people who want to attend. I left my mark — that event will continue long after I leave the bank.”

Chase is also leaving a mark, her mark, in the community through contributions to groups and causes ranging from the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield (where she volunteers with everything from the CEO luncheons to dodgeball) to the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce; from Habitat for Humanity to the Springfield Boys & Girls Club.

She brought this passion to serve and help others together with another recently developed passion — running — to help in the fight against breast cancer. Indeed, soon after her best friend was diagnosed with that disease, she organized a 5k race called the Breast Run Ever.

And she believes she’s making her mark as a parent through … well, all of the above, by setting a solid example for her children, daughter Emma Daunais, 14, and son Chase Daunais, 11.

“One of the reasons why I do the things I do within the community is to lead by example and hope that these are things that they pick up and they want to do themselves someday,” she explained. “I’d love it if they’d say, ‘my mom did these things, and I want to follow that lead.’”

As she said, she likes to leave her mark, and it’s a mark of excellence and commitment to the community.

—George O’Brien

Jack Toner

By BusinessWest Staff April 17, 2017

40 Under 40 The Class of 2017

Principal, Customer Relationship Development, Sumner & Toner Insurance Agency Inc.; Age 36

Jack Toner

Jack Toner is a third-generation business owner who you might say is going the distance. He’s an insurance agent by trade, and a marathoner for fun.

“The insurance business is always evolving and changing; on any given day you might come across a new risk that you need to manage,” he explained. “Running is a mental and physical recharge for me.”

He’s also on the run for his clients, some who’ve been with Sumner & Toner for more than 40 years.

Toner said the insurance industry is all about partnerships, bringing agents and customers together to tailor policies to meet each of their specific needs. “I like meeting people and figuring out not only how to help them prepare for the unexpected, but also make a positive difference in their lives.”

He got a jump start on changing lives for the better two years out of Georgetown University, when he taught English as a second language in China. “I was working in D.C. and decided I wanted to see the world and do something different,” Toner said. “It was amazing to experience their culture, and share ours.”

When he returned, he worked as a leasing agent for just over a year. He decided to come home to work at his family’s agency because it was an opportunity to not only carry on a family legacy, but build on a solid foundation of success.

“In 1967, our family became involved in a local independent insurance agency that was founded in 1933 in Springfield,” he noted. “The agency took its present form in 1998, when my father, Bill, and Warren Sumner III merged their two agencies. Today, Warren’s son Bud is my partner in the agency.”

Toner, who lives with wife, Elizabeth, in Longmeadow, is also involved in the community, serving as a leader for the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, Habitat for Humanity, and the Springfield Rotary Club. He also serves on St. Mary’s Parish Council in Longmeadow, and is a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus.

“I truly believe in the Rotary’s mission, ‘service above self,’ and serving humanity, whether it’s in our own backyard or across the world,” he said.

He added that he’s blessed to have loving parents who taught him that the world was bigger than him. “They told me to be patient, humble, and considerate, and that would lead to success.”

—Alta Stark

Competitive Innovation Grants Awarded to Seven Area Nonprofits

By BusinessWest Staff February 16, 2017

SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) announced its first competitive Innovation Grant award recipients this week. Seven organizations from throughout the Pioneer Valley received grants totaling $300,000. Individual grant awards range from $35,000 to $50,000.

The awardees and innovation projects these initiatives target include:

• Clinical & Support Options: Building Resilience by Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools, Franklin County;

• Five Colleges Inc.: the Diverse Teacher Workforce Coalition, Hampden and Hampshire counties;

• The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts: Achieving Hunger Free Communities, Hampden and Franklin counties;

• Just Roots Inc.: Healthy Farms, Healthy Communities: Expanding the Community Sustainable Agriculture Model as a Health Intervention, Franklin County;

• Nuestras Raices: the Holyoke Food and Agriculture Innovation Center, Hampden County;

• Pioneer Valley Habitat For Humanity: Big Enough: Pioneering the Small Home Revolution in the Pioneer Valley, Hampshire County; and

• Wellspring Cooperative Corp.: Springfield Worker Cooperative, Hampden County.

These are the first awards of the CFWM’s new competitive Innovation Grant program. The program is designed to promote focused, creative problem-solving, taking advantage of the expertise within nonprofits to address pressing concerns in the region. Awardee organizations are 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the Pioneer Valley.

Semifinalists were invited to participate in a meetup at which they presented their proposals to small groups of volunteer reviewers in a speed-round format. Springfield-based Valley Venture Mentors provided coaching to presenters on making an effective pitch and co-hosted the event with the CFWM.

“We’re inspired by the promise of this new program,” said CFWM Vice President for Programs & Strategy Janet Daisley. “As we’d hoped, it brought to our attention potential new ways of looking at challenges. We asked applicants to think big and collaborate with other organizations to develop their ideas, and we’re thrilled to support the work it takes to turn those ideas into action.”

She added that the meetup was a new approach to gather community input to assess the merits of proposals. “It was a dynamic event that reflects our commitment to community philanthropy. It convened people from around the region, gave applicants the chance to hear feedback, and volunteers the opportunity to probe deeper about the region’s needs and the outstanding organizations seeking solutions to these challenges. The Community Foundation is thrilled to help get these ideas off the ground and see where the planning leads.”

Each grant funds the planning stage, supporting the work involved in exploring the innovative idea and designing a project that, once implemented, can respond to the need. These planning-grant recipients will be eligible to apply for implementation grants through the CFWM’s Innovation Grant program later this year.

CFWM awards approximately $9 million each year in grants and scholarships to organizations and individuals throughout the Pioneer Valley. Mission Grants and scholarship applications are both available online at communityfoundation.org.

Real Estate Transactions

By BusinessWest Staff December 27, 2016

Departments Real Estate

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

Spruce Corner Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Thomas S. Kaye
Seller: Mountain Stream LLC
Date: 11/22/16

62 West Branch Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Karl J. Koenigsbauer
Seller: John L. Parker Funding TR
Date: 11/18/16

BERNARDSTON

7 Eden Trail
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Adam M. Dery
Seller: Grover, Janice E., (Estate)
Date: 11/16/16

369 West Mountain Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Kimberly Hamilton-Bobrow
Seller: Roger G. Rulewich
Date: 11/15/16

DEERFIELD

40 Hawks Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Walter H. Kleeberg
Seller: Timothy S. Murphy
Date: 11/15/16

165 Lower Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $292,500
Buyer: Ameer A. Whitmyer
Seller: Terry J. Kimball
Date: 11/15/16

22 Meadow Wood Dr.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $296,600
Buyer: Max P. Sherrill
Seller: Sandra L. Lamb
Date: 11/18/16

ERVING

30 Wheelock St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: John P. Doleva
Seller: John W. Griffiths
Date: 11/14/16

GILL

181 Main Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Joann Stafford
Seller: Roger H. Bolio
Date: 11/23/16

626 Main Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Sherry Heldt
Seller: Drew Gillett
Date: 11/22/16

GREENFIELD

27 Beech St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Gregory A. Larouche
Seller: David A. Masaitis
Date: 11/18/16

48 Cypress St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Aaron D. Frentzos
Seller: George R. Marchacos
Date: 11/16/16

19 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Brenda J. Pratt
Seller: Justin Gendron
Date: 11/15/16

17 George St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Mark A. Abraham
Seller: Alexandra Stein
Date: 11/17/16

104 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Heather L. Tencza
Seller: Nancy E. Apple-Fratoni
Date: 11/15/16

156 Meridian St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Jennifer A. Pond
Seller: Mushovic, Anton M. 2nd, (Estate)
Date: 11/18/16

538 Shelburne Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Gregg Jenczyk
Seller: Pamela J. Fournier
Date: 11/18/16

3 Village Green
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jonathan Souza
Seller: Matthew C. White
Date: 11/14/16

11 Westwood Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Samuel D. Kaeppel
Seller: Martha J. Hadley
Date: 11/18/16

169 Wisdom Way
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Shawn F. Fortin
Seller: Walter H. Kleeberg
Date: 11/15/16

LEVERETT

132 Cave Hill Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $571,000
Buyer: Robin Mandel
Seller: Michael C. Sanders
Date: 11/23/16

MONTAGUE

53 Main St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Freedom Legacy LLC
Seller: Greenfield Pilgrim 3 LLC
Date: 11/22/16

16 Norman Circle
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Paul L. Parda
Seller: Brenda J. Pratt
Date: 11/15/16

22 Park St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Ann M. Canavan
Seller: Reilly, Patricia A., (Estate)
Date: 11/22/16

9 Wrightson Ave.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $167,500
Buyer: Stanborn M. James
Seller: Ronald M. Rancourt
Date: 11/23/16

NEW SALEM

351 Petersham Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: John E. Lake
Seller: Safi Khan
Date: 11/21/16

NORTHFIELD

20 Parker Ave.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Joanne Flagg
Seller: Alden D. Booth
Date: 11/22/16

ORANGE

143 Memorial Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Darlene Nutter-Truehart
Seller: Donna M. Bunnell
Date: 11/15/16

200 West Orange Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Rodolfo Gonzalez-Galvez
Seller: Chester T. Randolph
Date: 11/17/16

ORANGE

53 Oak Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Brandon Coy
Seller: Andrei Agapov
Date: 11/23/16

SHELBURNE

94 Patten Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Hitor LLC
Seller: Robert A. Dean
Date: 11/18/16

304 Patten Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Daniel D. Reid
Seller: Nora M. Roche
Date: 11/22/16

Reynolds Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Hitor LLC
Seller: Robert A. Dean
Date: 11/18/16

8 South Maple St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Susan J. Barry
Seller: Soaring Investment Properties
Date: 11/18/16

SUNDERLAND

82 South Plain Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Jason Viadero
Seller: Valley Building Co. Inc.
Date: 11/14/16

WHATELY

95 Haydenville Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: Vanessa C. Anspaugh
Seller: Mary K. Klippel
Date: 11/16/16

13 State Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Steven R. Keyes
Seller: Barbara E. Smith
Date: 11/18/16

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

40 Allison Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Tirone Development Corp.
Seller: Rosemarie E. Kieffer
Date: 11/21/16

48 Carmen Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Seller: Barbara Nutbrown
Date: 11/18/16

52 Cesan St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Deborah A. Blackak
Seller: Richard R. Corriveau
Date: 11/18/16

76 Dutchmaster Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $411,000
Buyer: Joseph M. McDonald
Seller: Frank S. Cardaropoli
Date: 11/16/16

204 Elm St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $369,500
Buyer: Fyodor Grechka
Seller: Citimortgage Inc.
Date: 11/18/16

65 Hampden Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Joshua P. Costa
Seller: Americo M. Costa
Date: 11/16/16

84 Horsham Place
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Karen A. Barron
Seller: Cory W. Flowers
Date: 11/15/16

212 Line St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Jason Stasiowski
Seller: Brian J. Sullivan
Date: 11/15/16

26-28 Mark Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Benoit L. Dion
Seller: Langone Realty Corp.
Date: 11/18/16

755 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Ronald Clifford
Seller: Deborah Conte
Date: 11/22/16

970 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Yvon G. Blais
Seller: Eric J. Sealander
Date: 11/23/16

442 Silver St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Susan Dore
Seller: Carl C. Dore
Date: 11/22/16

BRIMFIELD

1023 Dunhamtown Brimfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $211,500
Buyer: John J. Kalliavas
Seller: Virginia A. Irvine
Date: 11/23/16

CHESTER

404 Route 20
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: 404 Huntington Road Land TR
Seller: Marie L. Morrissey
Date: 11/16/16

506 Skyline Trail
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: MTGLQ Investors LP
Seller: Cynthia C. Archer
Date: 11/14/16

CHICOPEE

16 Bernard St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Tracy E. Reynolds
Seller: Virginia P. Ainsworth
Date: 11/18/16

276 Bostwick Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Johnathan Alvarado
Seller: FNMA
Date: 11/17/16

74 Bray St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Cantwell
Seller: Robert L. Durant
Date: 11/17/16

13 Charpentier Blvd.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Yuriy Kopytyuk
Seller: Bank New York Mellon
Date: 11/14/16

54 Deslauriers St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $172,500
Buyer: Todd M. Davis
Seller: Carol A. Szulc
Date: 11/22/16

64 Felix St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: David A. Bodman
Seller: Hector R. Quiles
Date: 11/18/16

34 Hearthstone Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Michael J. Poirier
Seller: Michael A. Kibbie
Date: 11/18/16

35 Henry Harris St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Lorraine Fortes
Seller: Ibrahim M. Mustafa
Date: 11/22/16

47 Irene St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Dilmarie M. Torres
Seller: Susan Nizinski
Date: 11/22/16

42 Macek Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Melissa C. Bak
Seller: Joanne T. Burke
Date: 11/18/16

143 Mandalay Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Ryan P. Spring
Seller: Wolfendon, Agnes K., (Estate)
Date: 11/18/16

18 Maple St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Jody E. Germann
Seller: Nancy R. Keenan
Date: 11/23/16

20 Miller St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Luis A. Lopez
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 11/14/16

130 Oakridge St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Miguel A. Rivera
Seller: Vitaliy Korobkov
Date: 11/16/16

72 Ross Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Joseph L. Desroches
Seller: Ralph A. Guilbeau
Date: 11/21/16

567 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: J5 Properties LLC
Seller: Thomas G. Kerner
Date: 11/23/16

EAST LONGMEADOW

8 Brook St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Lynsey M. Cantalini
Seller: Daniel K. Paquette
Date: 11/23/16

27 Dewey Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Hector Irizarry
Seller: Richard H. Augherton
Date: 11/18/16

41 Franconia Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Mark S. Vaniderstine
Seller: Richard D. Gastone
Date: 11/21/16

20 Lynwood Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Tyler W. Simmons
Seller: Andre J. Sample
Date: 11/14/16

141 Orchard Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $366,000
Buyer: Thomas R. Ellerbrook
Seller: John R. Adamo
Date: 11/22/16

309 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $193,920
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Lynndia Roncarati
Date: 11/16/16

42 Pease Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Edward J. Linehan
Seller: Laura A. Stevens
Date: 11/23/16

101 Ridge Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Amy L. Harris
Seller: Thomas R. Ellerbrook
Date: 11/22/16

18 Shelby Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: C&M Builders LLC
Seller: Bradley V. Sulewski
Date: 11/22/16

484 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $164,500
Buyer: William T. Raleigh
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 11/23/16

141 South Brook Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Fredrick O. Odhiambo
Seller: Harish S. Patel
Date: 11/14/16

GRANVILLE

35 Sodom St.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jeremy J. Santos
Seller: Karen A. Robtoy
Date: 11/25/16

Water St.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $115,800
Buyer: John C. Stevenson
Seller: Elizabeth S. English
Date: 11/23/16

HAMPDEN

17 Baldwin Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Christopher P. Lizotte
Seller: Eric R. Devine
Date: 11/18/16

36 Issac Bradway Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $233,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Sharon A. Lauer
Date: 11/17/16

HOLLAND

5 Pine Tree Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $298,900
Buyer: William F. Ahern
Seller: Thomas J. Jendrysik
Date: 11/22/16

HOLYOKE

353 Bennett Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Joseph Efantis
Seller: Marjorie S. Crogan
Date: 11/21/16

66 Brookline Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Keri L. Dejong
Seller: Julien S. Rosskam
Date: 11/18/16

50 Francis Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Daniel C. Shaw
Seller: Elizabeth A. Rist
Date: 11/21/16

30 Franks Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Christopher Larose
Seller: Hampson, Anna, (Estate)
Date: 11/18/16

9 Mohawk Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Barbara J. Williamson
Date: 11/23/16

126 Oxford Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Noah P. Menard
Seller: Marianne Katz
Date: 11/16/16

429 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Samantha L. Hostetler
Date: 11/17/16

17 Princeton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Katherine Kahn
Seller: Donna M. Fobare
Date: 11/15/16

77 Queen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Rachel A. Ellis
Seller: Gary D. Zyra
Date: 11/16/16

33 Raymond Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Erin K. Fleming
Seller: Sean C. Mangano
Date: 11/14/16

128 South Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Marzluft
Seller: Richard A. Riga
Date: 11/21/16

190-192 West Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $175,500
Buyer: Linda M. Capen
Seller: J. E. Sergeiko-Marcotte
Date: 11/15/16

LONGMEADOW

51 Colony Acres Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $348,000
Buyer: Charmaine Stephens
Seller: Joan E. Semel
Date: 11/18/16

107 King Philip Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: Jeffrey R. Madsen
Seller: Bronwyn M. Monahan
Date: 11/18/16

52 Wilkin Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $366,064
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Joseph R. Hannigan
Date: 11/16/16

LUDLOW

631 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Patricia H. Walter
Date: 11/17/16

21 Erin Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Kemalettin Ibas
Seller: Carl A. Antonucci
Date: 11/16/16

45 Fox Hill Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Scott J. Ray
Seller: Richard L. Hoffman
Date: 11/21/16

163 Highland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: Anna S. Rodrigo
Seller: Manuel F. Nogueira
Date: 11/22/16

Miller St. #A
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Alicinio Martins
Seller: Alan J. Siok
Date: 11/25/16

539 Miller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Seth Dinuovo
Seller: Joseph H. McDaneld
Date: 11/18/16

280 Moody St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: MNL Management LLC
Seller: Charles K. Abro
Date: 11/21/16

141 Pondview Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Jasen Zak
Seller: Granger, Janet M., (Estate)
Date: 11/14/16

280 Moody St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: MNL Management LLC
Seller: Charles K. Abro
Date: 11/21/16

36 Posner Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Robert S. Lincoln
Seller: Nicklaus Kalish
Date: 11/23/16

29 Victor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $184,900
Buyer: Katarzyna A. Kopacz
Seller: Douglas M. Jaciow
Date: 11/16/16

37 White St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Joshua S. Leone
Seller: Nickolas Linna
Date: 11/18/16

MONSON

103-R Main St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $167,250
Buyer: Garry A. Ferency
Seller: Matthew Dill
Date: 11/14/16

12 Munn Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Luc Hardyn
Seller: George C. Pigeon
Date: 11/22/16

285 Silver St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Nathan G. Jones
Seller: Delskey, Andrew J., (Estate)
Date: 11/16/16

PALMER

2141 Baptist Hill Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Bradley V. Sulewski
Seller: Richard D. Carey
Date: 11/22/16

3053 Palmer St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Andre J. Sample
Seller: Jeremy J. Wizeman
Date: 11/14/16

RUSSELL

Dickinson Hill Road #B
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $183,850
Buyer: Frederick J. Wojick
Seller: Brenton Keefe
Date: 11/14/16

SOUTHWICK

132 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $362,500
Buyer: Edward H. Moszynski
Seller: Mehmet Mizanoglu
Date: 11/16/16

14 Bungalow St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Douglas W. Bradshaw
Seller: Jennifer Nolasco
Date: 11/17/16

32 Fred Jackson Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $319,749
Buyer: Brian A. Ardizoni
Seller: Lisa L. Scarnici
Date: 11/22/16

97 Klaus Anderson Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Evan R. Jellison
Seller: Paul V. Poole
Date: 11/15/16

3 Mayflower Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $417,500
Buyer: Eric J. Sealander
Seller: Pamela F. Spear
Date: 11/23/16

50 Vining Hill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Paul V. Poole
Seller: Rheta F. Hamberg
Date: 11/21/16

SPRINGFIELD

Albany St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $1,905,000
Buyer: Buckeye Terminals LLC
Seller: Exxonmobil Oil Corp.
Date: 11/16/16

99 Alden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Maria D. Maldonado
Seller: Salim N. Abdoo
Date: 11/18/16

59 Alwin Place
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Anthony Caputo
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 11/18/16

515 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,900
Buyer: Ronnie T. Salas
Seller: Douglas C. Coombs
Date: 11/16/16

993 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Enrique J. Olivo
Seller: Jessica Lopez
Date: 11/23/16

50-52 Biddle St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Stony Hill Properties LLC
Seller: Armindo Goncalves
Date: 11/22/16

786 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: William L. Gerow
Seller: Geoffrey Parenteau
Date: 11/14/16

1629 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: Jessica Garces-Ramirez
Seller: Hedge Hog Industries Corp.
Date: 11/14/16

285 Cortland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Jose Delgado
Seller: Mark R. Pafumi
Date: 11/22/16

100-102 Darling St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $268,846
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Tiffany Hall
Date: 11/14/16

33 Fellsmere St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Pedro Negron
Seller: Lindsay N. Ferzoco
Date: 11/17/16

79 Fenway Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Kevin W. Greene
Seller: Susan E. O’Donnell
Date: 11/15/16

36 Gatewood Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Melissa Figueroa
Date: 11/17/16

173 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $156,900
Buyer: Patricia C. Parent
Seller: Kevon Isa
Date: 11/16/16

19 Gunn Square
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: Yamila G. Torres
Seller: Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity
Date: 11/17/16

20-22 Hampden St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Jonathan J. Falcetti
Seller: Sergey Savonin
Date: 11/18/16

59 Harrow Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jessica Lopez
Seller: Mabel D. Madsen
Date: 11/18/16

111 Ingersoll Grove
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $134,401
Buyer: Thomas Hodge
Seller: Arnold J. Lizana
Date: 11/18/16

47 Irvington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Ruben Ruemmele
Seller: William Raleigh
Date: 11/17/16

210 Jamaica St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: PHH Mortgage Corp.
Seller: Erin L. Lahart
Date: 11/16/16

108 Jerilis Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $124,800
Buyer: Sunny Kim
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 11/21/16

34 Jonquil Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Emiliana Rivas
Seller: John Lewis
Date: 11/18/16

74 Jordan St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Luis H. Moreno
Seller: Juan Cruzado
Date: 11/16/16

131 Kerry Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Juana Martinez-Dejesus
Seller: Calkins, John H. Sr, (Estate)
Date: 11/18/16

283-285 Lexington St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Sultan Abdelghani
Seller: Chester J. Wasileski
Date: 11/14/16

45 Linden St.
Springfield, MA 01020
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Peter Mancuso
Seller: Heather Campbell
Date: 11/15/16

928 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: NSP Residential LLC
Seller: FHLM
Date: 11/23/16

55 Linnell St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Edward A. Millner
Seller: Yuk Chang
Date: 11/14/16

35-37 Loring St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $118,080
Buyer: Citimortgage Inc.
Seller: Richard McCarthy
Date: 11/15/16

39 Ludlow Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Barbara J. Vanasse
Date: 11/22/16

18 Michigan St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $139,097
Buyer: Laymaris Ortiz
Seller: Karen P. Kulakowski
Date: 11/17/16

90-92 Newfield Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Juan Robles
Date: 11/17/16

21-23 Norfolk St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $232,900
Buyer: Dolores I. Cardona
Seller: Lance Watson
Date: 11/17/16

187-189 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Nicole S. Brunson
Seller: Solange J. Remillard
Date: 11/14/16

74 Oklahoma St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Tyrone Miranda
Seller: Craig Kefalas
Date: 11/23/16

162 Parkerview St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Christopher Brown
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 11/18/16

332 Parkerview St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Brendaliz Vallejo
Seller: Michael C. Dorval
Date: 11/15/16

1 Pasco Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Manuel A. Menendez
Seller: Giang Nguyen
Date: 11/17/16

20 Pinta Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Eduardo Colon
Seller: Henry G. Landry
Date: 11/23/16

37 Pondview Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Daniel M. Auclair
Seller: Kelley A. Mickiewicz
Date: 11/14/16

8 Rhinebeck Ave.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Christian R. Encarnacion
Seller: Gilberto Jimenez
Date: 11/23/16

159 Shefford St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Zaban Salem
Seller: Stacey Dipalma
Date: 11/16/16

1678 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $176,500
Buyer: Marjorie Silveira-Crogan
Seller: Glenn A. Mellis
Date: 11/21/16

151 Springfield St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Gilberto Jimenez
Seller: Michele A. Vanhal
Date: 11/25/16

9 Stockbridge St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: 7 Stockbridge LLC
Seller: William J. O’Neil
Date: 11/18/16

172 Talmadge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Kwame A. Amoako
Seller: George Lackman
Date: 11/15/16

531 Tiffany St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Eduardo Navarro
Seller: Nu-Way Homes Inc.
Date: 11/18/16

170 Treetop Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Michael J. Krukowski
Seller: Hector R. Quiles
Date: 11/17/16

145 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: DF Main Street LLC
Seller: Mental Health Association
Date: 11/21/16

137 Vincent St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Edward R. Brunelle
Seller: Michael A. Godbout
Date: 11/17/16

20-22 Waterford Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Anthony C. Fowler
Seller: Joseph A. Colaccino
Date: 11/18/16

12 Wells St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Donald Wiswall 12 Wells TR
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 11/21/16

103 West Crystal Brook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $162,900
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Thomas F. Miller
Date: 11/21/16

15-17 Windemere St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jose Lopez
Seller: Robert Taddia
Date: 11/14/16

49 Wing St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Abigail Velez
Seller: Jessica Lopez
Date: 11/18/16

186 Winterset Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Christopher D. Wiltey
Seller: Jamie L. Litchfield
Date: 11/14/16

108 Wolcott St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Francis K. Okyere
Seller: Joyce Doyle
Date: 11/16/16

23 Wood End Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: High Ridge Real Estate LLC
Seller: Lapoint, Barbara A., (Estate)
Date: 11/21/16

59 Wrenwood St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Francheska Deleon
Seller: Macarthur Starks
Date: 11/22/16

TOLLAND

119 Lands End Dr.
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: David Dirico
Seller: Mierzejewski, Jean A., (Estate)
Date: 11/15/16

WESTFIELD

184 Birch Bluffs Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $117,670
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Roy Williams
Date: 11/22/16

346 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Arlene Rivie
Seller: Helen E. Nagorka
Date: 11/22/16

1928 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $141,500
Buyer: Andrey Gnidenko
Seller: Kevin G. McClain
Date: 11/15/16

350 Elm St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Enrique O. Olivarez
Seller: David Maciver
Date: 11/15/16

70 Forest Glen Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $227,900
Buyer: Tracey L. Tristany
Seller: Nancy Schulte
Date: 11/18/16

26 Hassler St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Heather Erwin
Seller: Sophie Tolstow
Date: 11/18/16

55 Hawks Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $309,900
Buyer: Michael J. Saltmarsh
Seller: Stephen A. Jaikissoon
Date: 11/22/16

178 Highland Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Chelsea Thresher
Seller: Greany, Lorraine M., (Estate)
Date: 11/15/16

99 Hillcrest Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: MA Home Buyers LLC
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 11/23/16

36 Ingersoll Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Alyssa Maldonado
Seller: Alan J. Shular
Date: 11/18/16

63 King St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Charles H. Darling
Seller: Matthew E. Collins
Date: 11/18/16

23 Leonard Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Michael J. Urbanski
Seller: Hope Mongeau
Date: 11/23/16

63 Pequot Point Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: William Hannifan
Seller: Roy B. Seipel
Date: 11/23/16

107 Pequot Point Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Downey FT
Seller: Sally A. Girouard
Date: 11/14/16

50 Ridgecrest Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Greg E. Smith
Seller: Kristen Cragg
Date: 11/18/16

138 Sackett Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Kenneth F. Heiden
Seller: Evan R. Jellison
Date: 11/15/16

115 Sunset Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Ricky E. Wills
Seller: Pighetti, Rose M., (Estate)
Date: 11/21/16

Sy Pierres Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $429,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Dunlop
Seller: Kimberly A. Christenson
Date: 11/18/16

16 Yankee Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Cristina M. Culcea
Seller: Diane Igel
Date: 11/15/16

WEST SPRINGFIELD

107 Althea St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Rick Gene-Most
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 11/15/16

66 Beech Hill Road #66
West Springfield, MA 01030
Amount: $284,585
Buyer: Michael P. Finnie
Seller: Beech Hill Construction
Date: 11/22/16

788 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $192,900
Buyer: Gary A. North
Seller: Edward H. Fillion
Date: 11/18/16

23 Bluebird Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Jean Altis
Seller: Timothy J. Caney
Date: 11/15/16

76 Chester St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Suraj Gurung
Seller: Chester M. Clark
Date: 11/18/16

43 Chestnut St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: David Fogg
Seller: Peter J. Pashko
Date: 11/22/16

190 Chilson Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Christopher Bliss
Seller: Michael A. Beiermeister
Date: 11/22/16

314 Edgewood Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Jeremy Wizeman
Seller: Bradford S. Cabral
Date: 11/14/16

244 Ely Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Usha R. Sharma
Seller: Richard J. Samberg
Date: 11/21/16

11 Healy St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Hang Lin
Seller: Santiago Hipolita, (Estate)
Date: 11/16/16

85 Jensen Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $145,100
Buyer: Reshat Arifi
Seller: Bank Of New York Mellon
Date: 11/18/16

180 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Nilson Agostinho-Desa
Seller: Luce, Paul R., (Estate)
Date: 11/14/16

106 Lincoln St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Kristen L. Parker
Seller: Kandc Associates LLC
Date: 11/18/16

38 Monterey Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $1,562,000
Buyer: 84 Properties LLC
Seller: Spirit SPE Portfolio 2007
Date: 11/14/16

67 Oakland St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Margaret L. Ross
Seller: Katherine Ross
Date: 11/16/16

913 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Brenton R. Beaumier
Seller: Jonah, Aaron K., (Estate)
Date: 11/18/16

824 Prospect Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $296,400
Buyer: Eric M. Eastham
Seller: Charles R. Hassler
Date: 11/21/16

145 Quarry Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Fuentes
Seller: Teddi I. Bachawaty
Date: 11/23/16

112 Southworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Cam M. Alamed
Seller: Kevin M. Fitzgerald
Date: 11/18/16

WILBRAHAM

111 Bartlett Ave.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $211,800
Buyer: Kyle B. Bourgoin
Seller: Kevin W. Miller
Date: 11/18/16

8 Becker St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $152,900
Buyer: James Gianfelice
Seller: Paul E. Perrigo
Date: 11/15/16

26 Eastwood Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Jamie L. Litchfield
Seller: Marilyn L. Heiney
Date: 11/14/16

2 Hawthorne Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Amber C. Leary
Seller: David M. Money
Date: 11/18/16

9 Hunting Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Otto F. Welker
Seller: Kevin T. Burke
Date: 11/16/16

4 Memory Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $135,100
Buyer: William Laporte
Seller: Bank New York Mellon
Date: 11/18/16

15 Merrill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Jessika J. Pecoy
Seller: John R. Stabilo
Date: 11/16/16

1-A Old Orchard Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Michael A. Godbout
Seller: Joan L. Dahlen
Date: 11/22/16

1315 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Kevin T. Burke
Seller: Nancy E. Apple
Date: 11/16/16

11 Tracy Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Philip H. Richardson
Seller: Brick Road Properties LLC
Date: 11/21/16

11 Woodsley Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Peter A. Staffier
Seller: Elissa M. Langevin
Date: 11/16/16

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

87 Aubinwood Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Zac Early
Seller: Carrie L. McGee
Date: 11/22/16

79 Hulst Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Colin J. Hill
Seller: Paul J. Page
Date: 11/15/16

671 North East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Soyeon Choi
Seller: June I. Guild
Date: 11/15/16

94 Rambling Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Judith A. Barter
Seller: David H. Refermat
Date: 11/16/16

916 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $518,000
Buyer: Muhammad Shakeel-Awaisi
Seller: Richard T. Slobody
Date: 11/21/16

1260 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $321,250
Buyer: Eugene D. Herman
Seller: Lisa M. Hastings
Date: 11/17/16

BELCHERTOWN

267 Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Trudy C. Oppenheimer
Seller: Howard I. Mann
Date: 11/14/16

14 Lexington Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $382,500
Buyer: Neil M. Seelan
Seller: Sharon Riley
Date: 11/18/16

172 Ludlow St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $147,055
Buyer: Emerald City Rentals LLC
Seller: Joshua P. Vermette
Date: 11/21/16

19 Mountain View Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $362,250
Buyer: Zachary A. Grzelak
Seller: Cynthia M. Downey
Date: 11/17/16

30 North St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Alex C. Lanstein
Seller: Jeri Baker
Date: 11/14/16

CHESTERFIELD

10 Bisbee Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Drew Morse
Seller: William H. Nugent
Date: 11/14/16

6 South St.
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: 6 South Street RT
Seller: Thomas E. Dawson-Greene
Date: 11/22/16

EASTHAMPTON

28 Campbell Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $201,075
Buyer: Carol Salois
Seller: Janice R. Wohl
Date: 11/18/16

88 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $145,300
Buyer: Matthew P. Hurteau
Seller: FNMA
Date: 11/22/16

395 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Andrew D. Sweigart
Seller: Frank Pietrasiuk
Date: 11/17/16

54 O’Neil St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Jebi Holdings LLC
Seller: Peter J. Tobin
Date: 11/22/16

20 Picard Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Christopher G. Coffelt
Seller: Jose O. Cruz
Date: 11/15/16

GRANBY

54-56 West State St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: TGYF Realty LLC
Seller: Eugene F. Marion
Date: 11/15/16

HADLEY

6 Edgewood Terrace
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Kasey J. Nagle
Seller: Susan L. Cohen
Date: 11/17/16

HATFIELD

161 Depot Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Ileana Vasu
Seller: Stacy R. Ashton
Date: 11/15/16

31 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $429,000
Buyer: Charles M. Wojewoda
Seller: Northeast ENT Realty Partners
Date: 11/22/16

67 Old Stage Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Edi Franceschini
Seller: Michael T. Helems
Date: 11/16/16

HUNTINGTON

16 Blandford Hill Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $118,500
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: William C. Deveno
Date: 11/21/16

137 Norwich Lake
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $177,500
Buyer: Todd P. McCoy
Seller: Christine J. Cook
Date: 11/14/16

MIDDLEFIELD

134 Arthur Pease Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: AnnCaroline Chubb
Seller: ATM NT
Date: 11/16/16

NORTHAMPTON

41 Chestnut Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $401,000
Buyer: Ray G. Sylvester
Seller: Nira Harper-Elkins
Date: 11/14/16

23 Dunphy Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $251,500
Buyer: Heather A. Labonte
Seller: Jacqueline Tobin-Griffin
Date: 11/14/16

120 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Donna M. Sugrue
Seller: Hampshire Property Mgmt.
Date: 11/18/16

25 Harrison Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $690,000
Buyer: Travis M. Johnson
Seller: Barry D. Sarvet
Date: 11/18/16

423 Haydenville Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Paul Serio
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 11/15/16

121 Hinckley St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: New Harmony Properties
Seller: Thomas H. Friedman
Date: 11/17/16

81 Laurel Park
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Michael L. Boyce
Seller: Joanne B. Hoyt
Date: 11/18/16

PELHAM

339 Amherst Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $282,500
Buyer: Michael P. Vilcans
Seller: Catherine Ulitsky
Date: 11/22/16

SOUTH HADLEY

83 Alvord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $228,900
Buyer: Douglas T. Scanlon
Seller: Ryan K. Johnson
Date: 11/18/16

2 Apple Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $379,000
Buyer: Michael A. Morrow
Seller: Adam & Eve Construction LLC
Date: 11/18/16

26 Canal St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Wayne Davidson
Seller: Linda J. Leblond
Date: 11/18/16

161 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Gail A. Olesiak
Seller: Home Improvement Assocs.
Date: 11/22/16

27 Kimberly Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $343,000
Buyer: Thomas E. Kelly
Seller: Kenn M. Tirrell
Date: 11/23/16

195 Lathrop St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Zofia Lysik
Seller: Douglas T. Scanlon
Date: 11/18/16

16 McKinley Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Robert F. Moos
Seller: Shawn T. Hall
Date: 11/16/16

25 Queen Circle
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: Alice E. Stalker
Seller: Vision Investment Props.
Date: 11/23/16

6 Victoria Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Nicholls
Seller: Judith A. Pedigo
Date: 11/16/16

SOUTHAMPTON

8 Buchanan Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Strojny
Seller: Janet E. Roy
Date: 11/14/16

50 Coleman Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Clark
Seller: John J. Marcyoniak
Date: 11/23/16

139 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $250,100
Buyer: Martin J. Kane
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 11/18/16

74 Pleasant St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Ronald W. Korza
Seller: James F. Boyle
Date: 11/15/16

33 Rattle Hill Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Edward A. Ackley
Seller: John W. Cummings
Date: 11/18/16

16 Riverdale Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $319,000
Buyer: Johanna L. Truswell
Seller: Kenneth L. Lambrich
Date: 11/21/16

WARE

54 Marjorie St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Karen L. Lackman
Seller: Catherine A. Rhodes
Date: 11/15/16

9 Old Gilbertville Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Monique M. Messier
Seller: Quigley FT
Date: 11/14/16

WESTHAMPTON

76 Main Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Philip E. Gould
Seller: Frances M. Thompson
Date: 11/22/16

12 North Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Jeremy R. Durrin
Seller: David C. Braastad
Date: 11/18/16

112 Reservoir Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Susan A. Scott
Seller: Geraldine A. Pothier
Date: 11/16/16

75 Stage Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Gloria A. Gagnon
Seller: Bruce W. & F. A. Partridge NT
Date: 11/18/16

WILLIAMSBURG

13 Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Scott A. Leonard
Seller: Angela S. Waskiewicz
Date: 11/17/16

6 Hyde Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Keith H. Snow
Seller: Dawn L. White
Date: 11/22/16

WORTHINGTON

328 Ridge Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $340,266
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Richard D. Flynn
Date: 11/17/16

bankESB Promotes Meridith Salois, Sandra Brakey

By BusinessWest Staff December 7, 2016

Banking and Financial Services Sections

EASTHAMPTON — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced the promotion of two employees at the bank’s recent quarterly meeting. Meridith Salois was promoted to assistant vice president, credit analyst, and Sandra Brakey to officer, senior commercial loan assistant.

Salois joined bankESB in 2001 as a loan servicer and progressed over time to collections assistant, credit analyst, and senior credit analyst before being elected officer in 2015. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business executive management from Bay Path College, and has a number of CFT certificates and diplomas in financial services, lending, and credit analysis. She is active in the community, volunteering for Stop Hunger Now, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, and serving as a board member for Westfield Youth Football & Cheerleading.

Brakey began her career at bankESB in 2010 as commercial loan administrative assistant and was promoted to supervisor, senior commercial loan assistant in 2015. She had more than 20 years of legal documentation experience before joining the bank.

Country Bank Expands Its Presence in More Ways Than One

By BusinessWest Staff November 1, 2016

Lending Support

Country Bank President Paul Scully

Country Bank’s sheer scope in Eastern and Central Mass. — it now boasts 15 branches, almost $1.4 billion in assets, and a loan portfolio approaching $1 billion — positions it among the larger banks in its footprint. But even during a time of financial growth, President Paul Scully is equally committed to growing the bank’s community ties, through an ever-evolving series of initiatives that engage employees, customers, and area residents alike. After all, a bank’s success, he believes, shouldn’t be reflected simply on the bottom line.

Paul Scully is gratified that Country Bank is wrapping up a particularly strong year for both commercial loans and retail business. But the bottom line isn’t all the bank is building.

For instance, employees at the bank’s newest branch, in Worcester, recently teamed with Habitat for Humanity to build a playhouse for children of veterans. “Staff members spent the day building the playhouse in the parking lot,” said Scully, the bank’s president. “They loved it.”

More significantly, Scully recently returned from Haiti, where a team of 14 built two houses over five days before being chased out by the quick-moving Hurricane Matthew. Last year, he accompanied a team of management-level employees on a similar home-building mission in the beleaguered Caribbean nation, and this year, he opened it up to all staff members.

“Thirty-three people said they’d like to go, so we had a lottery,” he explained. “It’s a tremendous feeling giving back in the most impoverished country in the western hemisphere. They realized, if they didn’t before, how amazingly fortunate everyone here is.”

The home-building project was also an exercise in team building, he added. “We got to know people for who they are — not just the role they play Monday through Friday.”

That sense of community — both within the Country Bank family and in service to the cities and towns where its 15 branches operate — has increasingly become a hallmark of the Ware-based institution’s identity, Scully said.

Country Bank employees in Worcester celebrate the construction of a playhouse for children of veterans, a project conducted alongside Habitat for Humanity.

“When it comes to giving and community involvement, we believe that’s the role of a community bank, and most community banks feel similarly,” he told BusinessWest, noting that the bank’s support of area food banks, senior centers, and Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, among other entities — in all, totaling some $600,000 annually.

“Donations are geared toward all aspects of the community to improve quality of life for residents,” he said. “We’re a staunch supporter of our local hospital because we believe healthy communities must have access to good healthcare, and people want to stay and live and perhaps move into our communities to access quality healthcare.”

To further focus its community involvement, in 2015, the bank launched its Country Bank Cares community volunteer program, offering volunteer opportunities at various events throughout the year to Country Bank staff. Each volunteer hour is logged, and at the end of the year, staff members who volunteered 10 hours or more are awarded a grant to a charity of their choice for $100; 25 hours earns $250.

Thirty-three people said they’d like to go, so we had a lottery. It’s a tremendous feeling giving back in the most impoverished country in the western hemisphere. They realized, if they didn’t before, how amazingly fortunate everyone here is.”

“They have a stake in where the money goes,” said Shelly Regin, the bank’s marketing director, noting that employees donate about 700 hours of service per year. “They’re really engaged in it and honored to take part in it.”

The spirit of giving even incorporates a dress-down day on Fridays, when employees pay to wear jeans, and the bank matches all donations. At the end of each month, a committee of staff members decides which local nonprofits get the money — to the tune of about $2,500 a month. “That’s a lot of jeans,” Scully said. Meanwhile, a recent event called Be Bald, Be Bold had employees donning bald caps to draw attention to cancer research and raise money for the Baystate Mary Lane Walk of Champions.

“This is something that existed here long before Shelly or me,” he went on, explaining the motivation behind Country Bank Cares and other initiatives. “It’s the idea that Country Bank is engaged in the community and people’s quality of life, and we want our 220 staff members to experience another dimension of giving back.”

Country and City

With assets of $1.39 billion at the end of 2015 and a loan portfolio of more than $978 million, Country Bank is, of course, deeply ingrained in its communities in the traditional banking sense as well. And 2016 has seen further financial growth.

“We’ve had a very robust year in commercial loan originations, really centered in our existing footprint but also throughout New England,” Scully said. “We’ve had a tremendous year in both loan growth and deposit growth. I think that’s attributable, in part, to improvements we’re seeing in the economy and more robust product offerings.”

He noted that the evolution of e-banking solutions increasingly allows banks to develop relationships with customers outside their branch footprint. “That’s opening up the market dramatically. Folks can open up accounts with us online, can do anything they want online.”

Still, physical branches remain important, and the move to Worcester last year made sense on multiple levels, he explained.

Go HERE for a list of Banks in Western Mass.

“We’ve been lending in Worcester for more than 50 years,” he noted, adding that the city boasts a larger population and more diverse demographic than most Country branches, both of which equate into more business opportunity. And without a branch, it was difficult to move commercial customers into other products, such as retail accounts.

“From a cultural perspective, we have not changed the culture to adapt to the city — we’ve just brought the same level of service and quality to Worcester as our other marketplaces.”

Shelly Regin says employees are gratified to have opportunities for volunteerism and a say in where the bank’s charitable dollars go.

However, Country remains focused on growing its e-banking platforms as well, reaching a generation that prefers the convenience of doing business on their devices rather than visit a branch. But the community-bank world has long moved past the days of thinking branches will eventually be obsolete.

“They said years ago that ATMs are going to replace branches,” Scully said. “What happens is, every time there’s an advancement, people believe it’s going to replace something, but it doesn’t replace it — it just complements it. In this case, it allows customers to enjoy many different ways to do their banking. Has the foot traffic slowed down? Yes, a little bit, but people still want to know it’s there if they need it for any reason.”

Mortgage applications are one area where the change in customer behavior has been stark. When Country launched an online application option 10 years ago, customers were slow to embrace it, preferring to meet with a loan officer in person. Online applications were filed mostly by customers with poor credit who were targeting multiple banks at once, hoping someone would accept them. Today, 80% of the bank’s mortgage applications originate online, simply because borrowers realize it’s easier.

Brick-and-mortar branches are important for branding as well, but marketing campaigns — through both traditional and social media — remain critical, Regin said, noting that the challenge is to effectively tell a story that’s reflective of the institution and sets it apart.

To that end, with the help of its marketing agency, the bank conducted scores of interviews, not only with customers and employees, but people with no connection at all to Country Bank, asking why they choose to bank or work there, or why they don’t. The overwhelming takeaway, Regin said, is that relationships, and how the bank treats people, are its most important investment. So its current campaign incorporates slogans driving home the importance of priorities like service and even good manners. (One slogan reads, “we think politeness is a higher form of intelligence.”)

“That’s just who we are,” she said, before Scully added that the bank has always conducted business that way, but the campaign simply crystallizes it. Equally important is providing the kind of customer or borrower experience that leads to referrals. “Someone says, ‘I had a great experience with them.’ Another says, ‘OK, maybe I’ll give them a try too.’”

Community Legacy

The Country Bank name is only 35 years old, but the institution has been around since 1850, when it was known as Ware Savings Bank. It took on its current name after a 1981 merger with Palmer Savings Bank; another merger with Leicester Savings Bank 17 years ago further increased the bank’s holdings.

With that long history behind it, the bank understands the importance of helping future generations establish their own financial health, which is why Country conducts financial-literacy programs in 29 elementary schools, conducts a Credit for Life program in area high schools — teaching seniors the importance of prioritizing spending — and expanding that program with seniors at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

“That next step is really geared toward those graduating from college,” Scully said. “They’re the ones who will be experiencing the real workforce soon, so the engagement is greater.”

Also thinking generationally — this time focusing on Millennials — Country has been overhauling its corporate headquarters to reflect modern workforce trends, such as low walls, collaborative spaces, enhanced technology, and even a café.

“We want to be an employer of choice for Millennials and folks who say, ‘this would be a cool place to work,’” he explained. “There’s great stuff happening; we’re creating a different vibe in this building. I say we’re giving it a Google vibe. We want to have the building become a place where people not only want to work, but feel really engaged.”

It’s just one more way Country Bank continues to identify needs and meet them — just as it has for the past 166 years.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Company Notebook October 3, 2016

By BusinessWest Staff October 4, 2016

HCC Awarded $127,741 for EMT Training Program

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) has been awarded a $127,741 Workforce Skills Capital Grant to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for its EMT Training Program. The grant, announced this week by the governor’s office, will allow HCC to expand the number of students served in its non-credit EMT classes and offer new training equipment and materials at the college’s new Center for Health Education, adjacent to the main campus on Jarvis Avenue. HCC was one of seven community colleges, vocational high schools, and educational collaboratives chosen to share in a total funding package worth $2.6 million. “This was a great opportunity for us to get some needed funding to replace outdated materials and equipment, which, because of the cost, is difficult to keep up to date,” said Ken White, dean of HCC Community Services. The grant will allow HCC to expand the number of students served in the non-credit certificate EMT classes, which are geared for firefighters and other emergency workers who need certification or continuing education, individuals interested in beginning careers as EMTs, and nurses or other heath professionals. “Students at all levels will have access to state-of-the-art technologies, including simulators that respond to student actions,” White said. Instructors for the enhanced program will be supplied by Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), White said. Together, HCC and STCC, through Training and Workforce Options, their collaborative workforce program, will work with area employers to provide customized EMT training opportunies at HCC’s Center for Health Education. “The goal of these grants is to expand the capacity of programs that build skills for Massachusetts residents,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. “We already see the impact these grants are having at educational programs around the state, and we know these investments will strengthen the state’s economy for all residents.”

Springfield Museums Named Smithsonian Affiliate

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums have been formally accepted as an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops long-term, high-quality partnerships with museums and educational organizations in order to share collections, exhibitions, learning opportunities, and research expertise. The partnership has been made possible through the support of the MassMutual Foundation, which is providing a three-year, $145,000-plus grant to bring a wealth of resources and programming to Springfield. “For us to continue to develop a culturally rich community, it is important that all of us — especially our children — have access to some of the world’s most treasured art collections, artifacts, and perspectives of the most renowned experts in the country,” said Roger Crandall, chairman, president, and CEO of MassMutual. “The MassMutual Foundation’s support of the partnership between the Springfield Museums and the Smithsonian helps strengthen the cultural fabric of our community, and we are proud to do our share to provide opportunities that inspire people to never stop learning and growing.” Joining Crandall at an announcement ceremony hosted by the museums was Harold Closter, director of Smithsonian Affiliations; Springfield Museums President Kay Simpson; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno; U.S. Rep. Richard Neal; and state Sen. Eric Lesser. The day also included a presentation titled “Driving Around Mars” by planetary scientist John Grant from the National Air and Space Museum. There are currently more than 200 institutions nationwide that have been selected to be Smithsonian affiliates. In identifying possible candidates for affiliation, the Smithsonian seeks out organizations that share a common mission, a commitment to education and public service, and the capability of bringing Smithsonian artifacts, exhibits, and programs to their venues. Candidates are subject to a rigorous application process involving all aspects of their organization, from their leadership and financial structure to a review of their collections-management and programming protocols. Those selected to be affiliates enjoy a range of benefits, from facilitated object and exhibit loans and discounted Smithsonian memberships for their patrons to custom-developed education, performing-arts, and public programs. Staff at the Smithsonian and the Springfield Museums have already commenced discussions of potential collaborative projects for the first three years of the affiliation, including object loans and additional visits from Smithsonian experts.

Johnson & Hill Launches Accounting, Finance Division

SPRINGFIELD — Johnson & Hill Staffing Services Inc. recently enhanced its service offerings to include a specialized Accounting & Finance Division. While Johnson & Hill has always placed accounting and finance professionals, this move signals an increased commitment to this area of expertise. The agency sees a growing demand for this skill set and an opportunity to assist clients more proactively. Tiffany Appleton has been appointed director, Accounting & Finance Division. Boasting more than a decade of recruiting experience in accounting and finance, she will provide direct-hire, contract-to-hire, and contract staffing, assisting clients in filling critical accounting and finance needs within their organizations. Roles range from clerk level up to CFO with a concentration on middle-management positions, including senior accountant, accounting manager, controller, financial analyst, manager of FP&A, internal audit, and public audit and tax. Her staffing experience crosses many industry sectors, spanning manufacturing, technology, nonprofit, professional service, and life science, with companies ranging from startup to publicly traded. Appleton will focus on developing and nurturing long-term relationships with both clients and job seekers, which are built on mutual trust, sincerity, and confidentiality. She is sought after by clients for her progressive ideas on acquiring talent and consistent ability to deliver quality candidates. Job seekers appreciate her willingness to provide career coaching, interview preparation, and résumé assistance. Prior to Johnson & Hill, her professional career included serving as client relations director for a large, regional CPA firm and principal and talent advisor for a boutique staffing firm specializing in accounting and finance placement. Johnson & Hill is an independent, regional, woman-owned staffing service offering temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire employment opportunities, serving Western Mass. and Northern Conn. Johnson & Hill specializes in administrative, accounting, legal, and professional staffing services.

Springfield College Rises Again in U.S. News Rankings

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College has again moved up the list of highest-ranked colleges in U.S. News & World Report’s latest edition of “Best Colleges.” In the 2017 report, Springfield College is ranked 27th in the first tier in the category of Best Regional Universities – North. This marks the sixth consecutive year that Springfield College has moved up in the U.S. News rankings. This year’s ranking of the college is up two spots from 2016 and 40 spots from 2011. “I am extremely proud that Springfield College is being recognized for our outstanding academic offerings and a rich co-curricular life outside of the classroom,” said President Mary-Beth Cooper. “The rise in our ranking over the past six years demonstrates that the value proposition for a school like Springfield College, grounded in the Humanics philosophy, is well-regarded.” The college also ranked 12th in Best Value Schools for Regional Universities – North, the first year it has been listed in the Best Values category, which takes into account a college’s academic quality and net cost of attendance. According to U.S. News, the higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal. Springfield College’s rise in the rankings is spurred by improved graduation rates and improved retention of first-year students. The college’s traditional, undergraduate enrollment for the fall of 2016 remained steady, with 550 first-year students enrolling again this year. The ratings are based on such variables as peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, student selectivity, class size, alumni giving, and student-faculty ratio. The college was ranked in a third category by U.S. News for 2017. It is ranked 14th in the North region in Best Colleges for Veterans.

CARF Accredits West Central Family and Counseling

WEST SPRINGFIELD — CARF International announced that West Central Family and Counseling has been accredited for a period of three years for its Outpatient Treatment: Mental Health (Adults) and Outpatient Treatment: Mental Health (Children and Adolescents) programs. This is the first accreditation CARF has awarded to West Central Family and Counseling. This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a three-year accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer-review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality. West Central Family and Counseling has been providing outpatient mental-health programs in the Greater Springfield area since 2008. CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served.

Berkshire Bank Named One of Top Charitable Contributors

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced it was named by Boston Business Journal as one of Massachusetts’ Most Charitable Companies at the publication’s annual Corporate Citizenship Summit in Boston on Sept. 8. The Boston Business Journal is one of the leading sources for business news, research, and events in the Greater Boston area. Each year it honors a select list of companies for their charitable work in the community. Berkshire Bank ranked 42nd for total financial contributions, with more than $1.27 million donated in Massachusetts alone and more than $2 million donated overall. Massachusetts-based bank employees also donated more than 27,000 hours of volunteer service. Berkshire Bank joined a select list of statewide, national, and international companies honored at the summit. The award recognized Berkshire Bank and Berkshire Bank Foundation’s philanthropic investments in the community through their charitable grants, corporate giving, scholarships, in-kind donations, and employee volunteerism.

Country Bank Participates in Habitat’s Operation Playhouse

WARE — A group of 14 Country Bank employees recently joined forces with Habitat for Humanity Metro West/Greater Worcester in a team-building exercise that ended with a local veteran family receiving a unique gift: a custom playhouse. Habitat’s Operation Playhouse is a program that brings groups together to create a custom playhouse in one day. The opportunity to work together and collaborate on design and construction of the house is wrapped up with the reward of seeing it turned over to a local veteran and their children. “Working with the Habitat staff was seamless, and the day couldn’t have been more rewarding,” said Deb Gagnon, the bank’s Corporate Relations officer. “Completing the playhouse gave us all a sense of accomplishment, and when the family arrived to receive their gift, there wasn’t a dry eye around.”

Area Chambers to Host Table Top Expo Oct. 4

By BusinessWest Staff September 28, 2016

CHICOPEE — The Greater Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Westfield, and Springfield Regional Chambers of Commerce will hold the 19th annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event on Tuesday, Oct. 4 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee.

This event is an opportunity to learn more about the businesses in this area and to meet the people who represent them. For the businesses that participate, it is an opportunity to market their business in a forum that will bring potential customers to them. The business community and the general public are invited to attend. Admission is $5 for anyone pre-registered and $10 at the door.

Platinum sponsors for the event are Holyoke Medical Center and Integrated IT Solutions. Gold sponsors include BusinessWest, People’s United Bank, Westfield Gardens/Birch Gardens, and the Westfield News Group. Silver sponsors include Chicopee Savings Bank, Elms College, First American Insurance Agency Inc., Habitat for Humanity ReStore – Westfield, and the Republican.

Call the chamber at (413) 594-2101 to purchase tickets in advance, or register online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff September 20, 2016

Departments Picture This

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

Operation Playhouse

A group of 14 Country Bank employees recently joined forces with Habitat for Humanity Metro West/Greater Worcester in a team-building exercise that ended with a local veteran family receiving a unique gift: a custom playhouse. Habitat’s Operation Playhouse is a program designed to allow groups to come together to create and complete a custom playhouse in one day. The opportunity to work together and collaborate on design and construction of the house is wrapped up with the reward of seeing it turned over to a local veteran and their children. “Working with the Habitat staff was seamless, and the day couldn’t have been more rewarding,” said Deb Gagnon, Corporate Relations officer, Country Bank. “Completing the playhouse gave us all a sense of accomplishment, and when the family arrived to receive their gift, there wasn’t a dry eye around.”

Community Focus

Eighty-five Massachusetts companies were honored at the Boston Business Journal’s 11th annual Corporate Citizenship Summit on Sept. 8 at the EpiCenter at Artists for Humanity in Boston. For the ninth time, PeoplesBank was among the companies included, this year finishing 48th on the statewide list and third for companies headquartered in Western Mass. Matthew Bannister, vice president, Corporate Responsibility at PeoplesBank (pictured at left, with Thomas Senecal, president and CEO), accepted the award at the summit on behalf of the bank’s associates. “Our mutual charter supports everything we do and why we are succeeding as a community bank,” he said. “Because of our mutual charter and related values, we have a unique ability to help the communities we serve through volunteer efforts and millions of dollars in donations to charitable and civic causes.”

Wheeling for Healing

On Aug. 21, 180 bicyclists, runners, and walkers gathered for the ninth annual Wheeling for Healing ride, walk, and run event in Greenfield to support cancer care and services at Baystate Franklin Medical Center. “Thanks to the wonderful fund-raising efforts from our community and support from our sponsors, we were able to raise over $46,500 this year, bringing our total funds raised for Baystate Franklin Medical Center Oncology to over $286,000,” said Kathy Tobin, director, Annual Giving & Events, Baystate Health Foundation. Proceeds from Wheeling for Healing events are used to purchase medical equipment and comfort items for patients undergoing chemotherapy at Baystate Franklin Medical Center. Proceeds have also assisted patients with extraordinary expenses associated with their illness, including medicines not covered by their insurance.

Celebrating STCC’s Founders

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Springfield Technical Community College kicked off its year-long 50th-anniversary celebration with a Founders Day Convocation on Sept. 9. The event honored the four founders — Edmond Garvey, the school’s first president; then-Springfield Mayor Charlie Ryan; state Rep. Anthony Scibelli; and industrialist Joseph Deliso — and briefly traced the history of the college through today. Ryan and family members representing the other three founders (all deceased) were presented with commemorative plaques in the form of photo montages of their careers and contributions to the college. Top to bottom: from left, retired STCC President Ira Rubenzahl, Mayor Ryan, retired STCC President Andrew Scibelli (Anthony’s nephew), current Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, and current STCC President John Cook; members of the Garvey family, from left, Sandra Garvey, her husband, James Garvey (Edmond’s son), Pauline Kimball (Edmond Garvey’s niece), and her son, Robert Kimball; Andrew Scibelli with the plaque commemorating his uncle’s contributions; and, representing the Deliso family, back row, Clem Deliso (Joe’s son), Jean Deliso (Joe’s granddaughter), right, and Lisa Doherty, and in front, Joe’s great-grandsons, Spence Doherty Deliso, left, and Clement Joseph Doherty Deliso.

DevelopSpringfield Forges Collaborations in Advance of Redevelopment

By BusinessWest Staff August 2, 2016

SPRINGFIELD — DevelopSpringfield acquired a vacant building at the corner of Dwight and Carew streets together with several adjacent parcels to create a large redevelopment site with the aim of bringing new vitality to the area by redeveloping a critically underutilized and vacant site.

The proposed redevelopment concept would rehabilitate the historic Carew Street Baptist Church building’s 11,680 square feet, in a historically sensitive manner, into modern, energy-efficient office space. The surrounding parcels, formerly a brownfields site, would be redeveloped into parking and landscaping. The project represents a more than $3 million investment in this section of Springfield’s North End.

As a part of this redevelopment initiative, DevelopSpringfield forged innovative partnerships with EcoBuilding Bargains (EBB), Roca, and Habitat for Humanity in an effort to reduce waste and recycle as much of the reusable interior furnishings and building materials as possible. In addition, the site is now secured with fencing salvaged from another recent DevelopSpringfield project.

“We appreciate the opportunity to engage with these organizations to help advance our common goals,” said Jay Minkarah, president and CEO of DevelopSpringfield. “Working together, we can really pay it forward.”

A team from Roca, a local organization dedicated to supporting high-risk young men from the community by providing them with mentoring and transitional employment-training assistance, removed salvageable items like church pews, radiators, an organ, and more, to be shared with EBB and Habitat. Roca also assisted in clearing brush and debris from the adjacent lots. No historically significant building features or fixtures were removed.

“It was Roca’s pleasure to participate in this exciting collaboration. Eighty-six percent of the young men we are privileged to serve here at Roca are from the city of Springfield, and it is wonderful to give them the opportunity to give back to their community,” said Chris Judd, director of Roca Springfield. “Young men work hard at Roca to learn new work skills that help them stay out of harm’s way and succeed, and this is exactly the kind of opportunity that help them and our community move forward.”

Both EBB and Habitat’s ReStore have programs to create treasure from salvage in the form of unique resale opportunities of donated household goods which provide each of their organizations with needed resources to support their important programming.

“We’re very excited to be working with DevelopSpringfield to help find new homes for these valuable materials,” said Amy Weber, eco sales specialist at EcoBuilding Bargains. “Our mission is to keep perfectly good materials out of landfills and make these available at bargain prices.”

EcoBuilding Bargains, located at 83 Warwick St. in Springfield, is an enterprise of the nonprofit Center for EcoTechnology. For information about how to donate materials to EcoBuilding Bargains, call Weber at (413) 341-0098.

This redevelopment will be exemplary of sustainable development and smart growth principles. Rehabilitating an existing building, rather than demolishing it and building new, uses less energy and fewer materials, and enhances sustainability by capturing the building’s ‘embodied energy’ — the energy consumed through the processes associated with constructing the building when it was originally built. The project will also result in the redevelopment of a former brownfields site and is located in a densely populated, walkable urban area at a location with excellent transit access.

The rehabilitated building will be energy-efficient, with a new, natural-gas-fired, forced-hot-air system and energy-efficient air conditioning, as well as energy-efficient windows and insulation. The redevelopment will also minimize water use and feature low-impact development with enhanced stormwater management.

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff July 26, 2016

AIC to Make SAT, ACT Scores Optional Next Spring

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) will become one of the first local institutions of higher education to become SAT- and ACT-optional beginning in the spring semester of 2017. This will include all applicants for all majors. A growing trend nationally, more than 850 schools, including big names such as George Washington, Wesleyan, and Fairfield universities, are now test-optional. Thirty-five schools in Massachusetts are on board. In a study conducted by the National Assoc. for College Admission Counseling, college performance was evaluated for more than 100,000 students at 33 test-optional colleges. It was determined that the differences in college performance of those students who submitted SAT scores and those who did not were negligent in terms of grade point averages and graduation rates. The study also found that those students who did not submit SAT scores were more likely to be first-generation-to-college applicants, minority students, women, Pell grant recipients, and students with learning differences. “Moving to test-optional admissions is core to our mission of educational access for first-generation students and students from underserved backgrounds,” said Dean of Undergraduate Admission Jonathan Scully. “We’re invested in our students’ success and recognize that standardized tests don’t typically serve those populations well. There is a direct correlation between test scores and economic resources. Students who have the financial means to afford test preparation will do better than those who don’t. We shouldn’t be basing our admission decisions on test scores. It’s important to look at the whole student.” A multi-year study at AIC determined that high-school success — good grades in rigorous courses — is two to three times more predictive of retention and college success than standardized test scores.

Zweig Group Names Tighe & Bond a ‘Best Firm to Work For’

WESTFIELD — Based on the survey results of its 2016 “Best Firms to Work For” ranking, Zweig Group recently named Tighe & Bond one of the best civil-engineering firms to work for in the nation. This annual awards competition is based on business-practice data collected from numerous participating firms across the country, including feedback solicited through an employee survey. Zweig Group — a provider of management information and expertise to engineering, architecture, and environmental-consulting firms worldwide — sponsors the program that recognizes the top firms leading the way in creating a work place that inspires, motivates, and rewards employees. The competitive ranking that results is based on comprehensive evaluations of factors such as firm culture and workplace practices, employee benefits, career development and growth opportunities, compensation, performance and recognition, as well as recruiting and retention rates. All firms that apply for this prestigious ranking and recognition are evaluated against each other, not a set standard. “Zweig Group has recognized Tighe & Bond several times as one of the best engineering firms to work for in the nation, and it is always a significant honor. It also exemplifies our ongoing commitment to create a working environment where all of our employees feel valued, and where they can see their contribution to the overall mission and success of the firm and our clients,” said Tighe & Bond President and CEO David Pinsky. “Our ability to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented staff is crucial to providing the high-quality, responsive services that our clients have come to expect and deserve.” Zweig Group will recognize Tighe & Bond, along with the other winners, during the 2016 Zweig Group Hot Firm + A/E Industry Awards Conference in September. This is the industry’s largest and most comprehensive business conference for leaders and aspiring leaders of architectural, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S.

Berkshire Bank Foundation Giving Tops $1.1M in 2016

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced that its charitable foundation awarded $1,120,862 in grants from Jan. 1 through June 30 to nonprofit organizations across Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. In addition to supporting organizations within the foundation’s funding focus areas of education, community, and economic-development projects, it also donated to youth, cultural, and human-service organizations that provide vital services to the community. Berkshire Bank Foundation Inc. plans to award more than $1.8 million this year to nonprofit organizations across the bank’s service area. In total, 365 nonprofits received grants from the foundation during the first half of 2016, including Berkshire County organizations 1Berkshire Strategic Alliance Foundation, Berkshire Community Action Council, Berkshire Family YMCA, and Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity; and Pioneer Valley organizations Baystate Health Foundation, Brightside for Families & Children, Chicopee Neighborhood Development Corp., and ReGreen Springfield.

MARX Events Announces Second Annual Dream Wedding Giveaway

EAST LONGMEADOW — For the second straight year, MARX Events, along with dozens of participating vendors, will award a U.S. veteran or active service member a free wedding. The giveaway aims to honor the service and sacrifice of the military and create a special atmosphere for a military couple as they embark on the next chapter of their lives together. The nomination process is now open. Community members may nominate themselves or someone they know by submitting either a written or video story to www.marxdreamwedding.com. This second annual MARX dream wedding includes a free wedding-venue space with food and beverage for 50 participants, complimentary flowers and photography, wedding dress, rehearsal dinner, and full entertainment services provided by MARX alongside many other services and providers. Participating vendors and sponsors include Chez Josef, the Delaney House, Operation: Love My Dress, Formal Affair, Pete’s Sweets, Pop’s Biscotti, Durocher Florist, Deluxe Limo, Mikkie Viereck, CJC Lighting & Events, Tanya Constigan Wedding Planning, Robert Charles Photography, Wedding Day Sourcebook, WMAS, Western Mass News, Smith & Wesson, and With Love Jacquelyn. The wedding ceremony will take place at Chez Josef in Agawam, and the rehearsal dinner will be held at the Log Cabin in Holyoke in April 2017. The top three finalists will be announced on Veterans Day, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 20. “This is our way, each year, to give back to the men and women of our military who give so much for us,” said Mark Ashe, managing partner of MARX Events.

AIC Awarded Nursing Workforce Diversity Grant

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) has received a one-time $347,000 Nursing Workforce Diversity Grant from the Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA) in support of the college’s Nursing Education Achievement Program (NEAP). HRSA is the primary federal agency for improving access to healthcare for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. HRSA programs span across America, providing direct healthcare to 23 million people, particularly those who live in underserved inner cities and rural communities. In addition, HRSA provides scholarships and programs to encourage greater minority participation in the healthcare professions. In partnership with Baystate Medical Center, the Western Mass. chapter of the National Assoc. of Hispanic Nurses, and the Western Mass. Black Nurses Assoc., NEAP will provide professional nurses to mentor participating students along with implementing multiple evidence-based supports that will strengthen the ability of economically and educationally disadvantaged students to pass their courses, graduate, and move into the workforce. “It is an honor for American International College and the Division of Nursing to be awarded this grant, which recognizes AIC’s dedication and success in diversifying our community’s nursing workforce,” said Dean of Health Sciences Cesarina Thompson.

3D Printer Makes Orthopedic Boot for African Penguin

CROMWELL, Conn. — Local organizations banded together to support STEM education in Connecticut while making a positive difference in the community. The ACT Group, Mystic Aquarium, and Mystic Middle School, with assistance from 3D Systems, designed and produced an orthopedic boot for Purps, an African penguin and life-long resident of the aquarium. In 2011, Purps was left with a non-functional flexor tendon following an altercation with another penguin on exhibit. Since then, she has been wearing a traditional hand-casted boot to support her injury. While the traditional boot adequately immobilized, supported, and protected her injury, it posed some concerns for the veterinarian staff at the aquarium. The moldable plastic material it was made of deteriorated quickly, forcing the veterinarian staff to reproduce the boot frequently, a very time-intensive process. The collaboration between local organizations began when Sue Prince, library media specialist at Mystic Middle School, started an innovation lab with the goal of introducing students to 3D technology. She applied for and won a grant from the Stonington Education Fund and used the funds to purchase a 3D printer for the lab. Prince worked in conjunction with Kelly Matis, a member of Stonington Education Fund’s community board and director of Education and Conservation at Mystic Aquarium. Matis, aware of the diverse applications of 3D technology, shared the need for a new orthopedic boot for Purps with Prince. Eager to help and put the 3D printer to use for a great cause, Prince contacted the ACT Group to inquire about assistance with computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D scanning. Nick Gondek, ACT Group’s director of Additive Manufacturing, led his team in demonstrating state-of-the-art 3D technology to Prince and her students. These demonstrations gave the students of Mystic Middle School invaluable hands-on experience using technology from 3D Systems and allowed the ACT Group to provide technical expertise through the course of the project. The ACT Group’s assistance was a crucial part of the successful design of Purps’s boot, ultimately completed by the students of Mystic Middle School.

Berkshire Bank Foundation Giving Tops $1.1M in First Half of 2016

By BusinessWest Staff July 15, 2016

In addition to supporting organizations within the foundation’s funding focus areas of education, community, and economic-development projects, it also donated to youth, cultural, and human-service organizations that provide vital services to the community. Berkshire Bank Foundation Inc. plans to award more than $1.8 million this year to nonprofit organizations across the bank’s service area.

In total, 365 nonprofits received grants from the foundation during the first half of 2016, including Berkshire County organizations 1Berkshire Strategic Alliance Foundation, Berkshire Community Action Council, Berkshire Family YMCA, and Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity; and Pioneer Valley organizations Baystate Health Foundation, Brightside for Families & Children, Chicopee Neighborhood Development Corp., and ReGreen Springfield.

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff June 28, 2016

Delcie Bean Turns Over 40% of Paragus Stock to Employees

HADLEY — After more than two years of strategic planning, in a deal valued at approximately $1.6 million, Paragus IT announced that its employee stock-ownership plan (ESOP), which distributes ownership of 40% of the company to its 40-plus employees, is officially a go. “There has been a lot of celebration around here,” said Paragus CEO Delcie Bean. “While this is an announcement we have all been anticipating for over two years, the time seems to have only contributed to the excitement.” While there have been a few recent high-profile ESOPs, including Harpoon Brewery and Chobani Yogurt, they are still fairly uncommon. What makes the Paragus ESOP especially unique are the reasons behind it. ESOPs are traditionally formed after the company has fully matured and when a major shareholder is looking to exit. For Paragus, it’s about fueling future growth by giving everyone a direct stake and a personal investment in the future of the company. “I knew this was the right decision for myself and for Paragus because Paragus is a company that owes 100% of its success to the hard work of its incredible employees, or partners, as I like to call them,” Bean said. “As the only shareholder, I knew that anything I could do to further that spirit and attract new talent would be a sound investment. That’s why it made sense to give everybody some skin in the game. Now they aren’t just growing a company, they’re growing their company. Which means Paragus is here to stay, and we’re only getting bigger.” Added Dennis Schilling, quality assurance officer, “it’s always been about us at Paragus. It’s never been one person pointing and the rest following. With the ESOP, Delcie has made official what has always been true. It’s a beautiful thing that he has taken his company, his dream, and carved off such a sizable piece of it for all of us.” While Bean has no plans to step down, he has shaken up the management structure a bit. Just before the ESOP became a reality, he appointed former Paragus Operations Manager Jim Young to be president of the company. In his new role, Young is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations and making sure everyone on the leadership team and across the company is working together to realize Paragus’ vision. This allows Bean to focus exclusively on growth, acquisitions, and moving into new markets. “It’s a brand-new set of responsibilities and challenges for me,” Young said. “But these changes will enable each of us to contribute to the greatest extent possible while ensuring decisions are being made quickly by the people best positioned to do so.” Added Bean, “we don’t believe in growth for growth’s sake. Our growth is fueled by one singular objective that is bordering on an obsession — we are all completely committed to being the absolute best at what we do while simultaneously being the best place to work. Ask anyone here, and they will all tell you that nothing is going to stand in our way when it comes to our relentless pursuit of being the best.”

Elms, WNEU Establish Law School Agreement

CHICOPEE — Elms College and Western New England University School of Law executed a ‘3+3’ agreement this month that allows students to apply for admission to the law school and begin their legal education during their senior year at Elms College. This could shorten the time for students to earn both their bachelor’s and juris doctor degrees from seven years to six years. This agreement is not limited to criminal justice or legal studies majors — any undergraduate student, regardless of major, can earn credits toward law school under this program. “This is a significant opportunity for students in all majors who are interested in attending law school,” said Assistant Professor Kurt Ward, director of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies and director of ABA Paralegal Education at Elms College.

HCC Gateway to College Program Earns Award

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College’s (HCC) Gateway to College program, which in 2014 was ranked number one among all the Gateway programs in the U.S., is the recipient of the first-ever Gateway Program Excellence Award. The inaugural award from the Gateway to College National Network recognizes HCC’s program for exceeding all four of the network’s benchmarks for success in 2014-15: GPA, one-year persistence, two-year persistence, and graduation rate. “Recognitions like this make us feel more important and shiny,” said coordinator Vivian Ostrowski said at Gateway’s June 1 graduation ceremony in the Leslie Phillips Theater, “but we know, we so know, that these numbers really mean that some kids with complicated and messy lives decided time and time again to show up and do their work.” Gateway to College is a dual-enrollment program for students who have either left high school or are at risk for dropping out. Gateway students take classes at HCC, collecting transferable college credits while also earning their high-school diplomas. Since 2008, 204 Gateway students at HCC have graduated from high school, and more than half have continued on to college. Twenty-nine were enrolled at HCC this spring and HCC’s Gateway graduates have so far earned 19 associate degrees and three bachelor’s degrees. Twenty students from six school districts earned their high-school diplomas through HCC’s Gateway program his spring: from Springfield, Korcan Atmaca, Amena Cooke, Melinda Diaz, Deikwon Duke, Ciara Garcia, Jamilee Gomez, Denisse Rivera, Mercedes Robare, Elmer Rodriguez and Jonte Toro; from Belchertown, Casey Beaudry, Christopher Chaffee, Shauna Driscoll, and Summer McLauglin; from Westfield, Emma Cowhey and Jacob Hartley; from Holyoke, Alexander Escalante; from Palmer, Bailey McDowell and Dylan Tallman; and from Agawam, Sarah Wyckoff. Gateway to College was founded in Portland, Ore. in 2000. There are now 41 Gateway programs in 21 states. The spring 2014 report from the national Gateway network listed HCC’s Gateway program number one in both persistence, or fall-to-fall retention (87% compared to a network average of 53%); and graduation rate (80% compared to a 27% network average). “Holyoke’s program is poised to build on its successes and can serve as an example for the rest of our network,” Emily Froimson, president of the Gateway national network, wrote in a congratulatory letter to Ostrowski. “You have not simply made a difference for students in Holyoke, Massachusetts; the work that your school district and college partnership has accomplished is a model for how we solve these persistent problems as a nation.” Ostrowski will collect the award on behalf of HCC at the Gateway to College National Network Peer Learning Conference in Minneapolis on June 28.

Berkshire Bank Employees Volunteer More Than 4,500 Hours on June 7

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank completed its Xtraordinary Day on June 7. This event marked the first year the entire bank participated in community-service events concurrently from 1 to 4 p.m., closing the entire financial institution as a united effort for community involvement. During Xtraordinary Day, 95% of the Berkshire Bank team, 1,161 employees, completed 56 projects. From painting of elementary schools and cleanups of local parks to financial-literacy lessons, they contributed more than 4,500 hours of service, a value of $128,000. The projects helped 54 different nonprofit organizations and directly impacted more than 100,000 individuals across the bank’s footprint. Berkshire Bank’s goal with Xtraordinary Day was to affect the communities that support it every day in a significant way, by being active and immersed in projects that would have a meaningful and lasting impact on these communities. “Berkshire Bank’s Xtraordinary Day was intended to create a sense of unity through all of our employees and within our communities,” said Tami Gunsch, the bank’s executive vice president, noting that the day’s projects benefited nonprofit organizations and communities in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. In Berkshire County, projects included painting at Stearns Elementary School, Egremont Elementary School, and Boys & Girls Club Camp Russell; downtown guide assembly at Downtown Pittsfield; cleanup of Pittsfield parks, Greenagers Housatonic River Walk, and Berkshire Athenaeum; a home build with Northern Berkshire Habitat For Humanity; tree measuring with Trustees of Reservations at Bartholomew’s Cobble; and fourth- to sixth-grade literacy at Farmington River Regional School. In the Pioneer Valley, projects included cleanup of Stanley Park, YMCA of Westfield, Southwick Rail Trail, West Springfield YMCA, Amelia Park Children’s Museum, Birthday Wishes, and Girls Inc. of Greenfield; a house build and restore for Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity; a bike build at YMCA of Greater Springfield; administrative duties at Children’s Study Home; tree planting at ReGreen Springfield; and truck unloading at Community Survival Center.

GoodWorks Insurance Profiled in National Magazine

GREAT BARRINGTON — GoodWorks Insurance is booming while giving half of its growing profits to charities in Connecticut and Massachusetts, according to a profile in the May issue of Independent Agent, the national magazine for independent insurance agents. When Chad Yonker, a former minority investor, took over GoodWorks as CEO in 2011, it was struggling financially despite growing sales. He recapitalized the firm. “Since then, the agency has more than tripled in size,” the magazine notes. Based in Glastonbury, Conn., GoodWorks Insurance is an independent agency with additional Connecticut offices in Avon, Columbia, and New Milford, and Massachusetts offices in Great Barrington and Worcester. It’s marking its 10th anniversary this year. GoodWorks’ corporate charter requires that a minimum of 50% of operating earnings be distributed to nonprofits. Its community grants support local nonprofits that work in education, healthcare, public safety, and community development. They include medical clinics, fuel-assistance programs, visiting-nurse associations, special education, the YMCA, and more. GoodWorks’ 2015 sales were about $6 million, and the agency expects up to 50% growth for 2016. Yonker and the other agency owners decline compensation in order to boost the profit pool available for giving, according to the magazine. Its commitment to nonprofits has resulted in many growth opportunities. Besides insuring families and small businesses in general, GoodWorks has special expertise in nonprofits, fuel dealers, aerospace, manufacturers, and surety bonds. The full article can be read online at tinyurl.com/j9hua44.

HCC Expands Presence in Hampshire County

WARE — Calling it a great day for Ware and a great day for the region, business leaders, elected officials, and representatives from Holyoke Community College recently celebrated the opening of a new education and workforce-training center in downtown Ware. The center, called E2E, short for Education to Employment: Quaboag Region Workforce Training and Community College Center, is a collaboration between HCC and the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp. “We are so thrilled to welcome Holyoke Community College to our community,” said Sheila Cuddy, executive director of the Quaboag CDC. “As a CDC, we are here with a focus on business development and to better our economic community. What better way to make that happen than to focus on giving the folks who live here the skills they need to become good employees for our local businesses?” More than 60 people attended the grand opening, ribbon-cutting and reception. HCC president Bill Messner told the crowd he was impressed by the persistence with which representatives from Ware courted the college to establish a presence there. “We’re delighted,” Messner said. “We’re Holyoke Community College, and we take the community very seriously, and you are part of our community, so we’re here. We’re here because of the efforts of a lot of people in this room.” Also speaking at the opening were John Carroll, chairman of the Ware Board of Selectmen; state Sen. Anne Gobi; state Rep. Todd Smola of Warren, a 2005 graduate of HCC; Vincent McCaughey, board chairman of the Quaboag Valley CDC; Paul Scully, president of Country Bank, who donated the space for the E2E center; Tracy Opalinksi of the Ware Business and Civic Assoc.; and Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. The roughly 3,000-square-foot center located at 79 Main St. includes two classrooms, as well as private study areas and office space. Ten computer workstations will be available for community members interested in enrolling in credit classes at HCC as online students. The center is already offering non-credit classes in hospitality and culinary arts. The expectation is that course offerings will expand to include manufacturing and health careers. For some courses, classroom education will be supplemented by hands-on training at Pathfinder Vocational High School in Palmer. HCC will also offer academic-advising and career-counseling services. “This is a great day for Ware and a great day for our region, which has been lacking in sources of education beyond high school for so long,” Cuddy said, “so we could not be more pleased that HCC has shown the willingness to be our partner in this endeavor and to move the project forward.”

Berkshire Bank Employees Volunteer More Than 4,500 Hours on June 7

By BusinessWest Staff June 15, 2016

During Xtraordinary Day, 95% of the Berkshire Bank team, 1,161 employees, completed 56 projects. From painting of elementary schools and cleanups of local parks to financial-literacy lessons, they contributed more than 4,500 hours of service, a value of $128,000. The projects helped 54 different nonprofit organizations and directly impacted more than 100,000 individuals across the bank’s footprint.

Berkshire Bank’s goal with Xtraordinary Day was to affect the communities that support it every day in a significant way, by being active and immersed in projects that would have a meaningful and lasting impact on these communities.

“Berkshire Bank’s Xtraordinary Day was intended to create a sense of unity through all of our employees and within our communities,” said Tami Gunsch, the bank’s executive vice president, noting that the day’s projects benefited nonprofit organizations and communities in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont.

In Berkshire County, projects included painting at Stearns Elementary School, Egremont Elementary School, and Boys & Girls Club Camp Russell; downtown guide assembly at Downtown Pittsfield; cleanup of Pittsfield parks, Greenagers Housatonic River Walk, and Berkshire Athenaeum; a home build with Northern Berkshire Habitat For Humanity; tree measuring with Trustees of Reservations at Bartholomew’s Cobble; and fourth- to sixth-grade literacy at Farmington River Regional School.

In the Pioneer Valley, projects included cleanup of Stanley Park, YMCA of Westfield, Southwick Rail Trail, West Springfield YMCA, Amelia Park Children’s Museum, Birthday Wishes, and Girls Inc. of Greenfield; a house build and restore for Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity; a bike build at YMCA of Greater Springfield; administrative duties at Children’s Study Home; tree planting at ReGreen Springfield; and truck unloading at Community Survival Center.

Briefcase

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Briefcase Departments

FutureCity 2026 Presents Development Strategy

SPRINGFIELD — An executive summary of the FutureCity 2026 economic-development strategy was presented to about 120 business and community leaders and stakeholders at CityStage last week. FutureCity is a joint initiative by DevelopSpringfield, the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the city of Springfield’s Office of Planning and Economic Development. Its purpose is to build on the strategies identified in earlier studies such at the Urban Land Institute study of 2006 and the Rebuild Springfield Plan of 2012 — both of which identified tangible goals that continue to be the focus of public and private economic-development strategy in Springfield. Both plans recommended the importance of developing a long-term strategy for economic growth in the city that would ultimately benefit the entire region. “The goal of this project was to pinpoint and leverage the city’s attributes, including geographic location, infrastructure, workforce, and industries, and align these existing characteristics, assets, and conditions with pillars of realistic current and prospective market opportunities,” said Jeff Fialky, an attorney with Bacon Wilson and co-chair of the FutureCity initiative. “The objective was to develop an approach based upon realistic market opportunities that is obtainable rather than merely aspirational.” The FutureCity strategy was prepared by the nationally recognized real-estate and economic-development consulting firm Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, guided by a steering committee representing a broad spectrum of businesses and organizations over the course of a nine-month period. The consultants were charged with an ambitious scope of work which took place over nine months to include the following: assess existing conditions, analyze target industries, assess logistics and supply-chain capabilities, assess talent-development strategies, develop a list of recruitment opportunities for target industries, and identify strategic initiatives and an implementation plan with measurable deliverables. Newmark conducted over 100 interviews, which included city and state leaders, economic-development agencies, large employers, young professionals, elected officials, nonprofits, workforce-development organizations, real-estate and creative-economy experts, and more, in addition to deep dives into relevant data, peer-city comparisons, and several site visits to Springfield. Major themes emerging from the study include site and space readiness, centralization of small-business resources, development of a multi-generational workforce plan, development of a unified marketing and messaging plan, fostering collaboration and connectivity, strategically unifying economic-development efforts, collaboration, and a focus on Springfield’s unique strengths. “This was a very pragmatic exercise that shows there are many more pros than cons as we continue to market Springfield,” said Mayor Domenic Sarno. “As we have done with the Urban Land Institute and our Rebuild Springfield plans, we will follow through with this one, too. Now is our time. We will continue to capitalize on the synergy of our public and private collaborations and keep the momentum going as the ‘can-do city.’” Added Jay Minkarah, DevelopSpringfield president and CEO and co-chair of the FutureCity initiative, “the FutureCity economic-development strategy is designed to be a guide to action, not simply a plan to sit on a shelf. The plan includes over 170 specific recommendations along with metrics for measuring success, estimated costs, potential impact, and priorities, and identifies the parties responsible for implementation.” Funding was provided by the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, the U.S. Economic Development Agency, the Springfield Regional Chamber, Smith and Wesson, and DevelopSpringfield. A link to the presentation can be found at www.developspringfield.com. Over the next few weeks, an executive summary and detailed report will be made available through DevelopSpringfield, the Springfield Regional Chamber, and the city of Springfield’s Office of Planning and Economic Development.

Springfield, Pittsfield Each Given $475,000 in Working Cities Challenge

BOSTON — The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston announced that Springfield, Pittsfield, Haverhill, Lowell, and Worcester will each receive $475,000 in the second round of the Working Cities Challenge, a competition for smaller cities in New England focused on building collaborative leadership, which is shown to be a critical element in economic growth for struggling post-industrial cities. The five communities put forward initiatives focused on neighborhood revitalization, workforce development, and improving access to economic opportunity. The cities will work on these initiatives over a three-year period, accompanied by technical assistance and a learning community for best-practice sharing. “I want to congratulate the winners of the Working Cities Challenge. Collaborative leadership is at the heart of this competition, and these five cities demonstrated significant capacity to reach across sectors and advance efforts on behalf of low-income residents in their communities,” said Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren. “I look forward to following the progress in the communities in the coming months and years.” Added Gov. Charlie Baker, “together with our partners in the private, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors, we are proud to leverage greater resources to support and prepare communities for success. The Working Cities Challenge elevates local leadership, amplifying solutions from the community level to increase cross-sector collaboration and improve economic outcomes for low-income residents.” Last fall, 10 Massachusetts communities were each awarded $15,000 design grants through the Working Cities Challenge to strengthen their bids to the competition. The five winning cities were selected after a six-month design-grant period, which saw the cities refining proposals and adding partners from across their community. The Springfield Works Initiative will advance the city’s economy by enhancing and strengthening the connectivity between employers who need qualified workers and low- income Springfield residents who need meaningful employment. It aims to achieve this goal through an innovative collaboration between employers, educational institutions, service providers, community leaders, community-based organizations, government, and residents. The Springfield Works Initiative core team includes the Western Mass. Economic Development Council, the Springfield Office of Planning and Economic Development, the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, MGM Springfield, Partners for Community Action, HAPHousing, Springfield Technical Community College, Western MA National Machine and Tooling Assoc., the Community Foundation of Western Mass., Tech Foundry, United Personnel Services, United Way of Pioneer Valley, and DevelopSpringfield. The Pittsfield Bridges: Transformative Movement (PBTM) initiative will support the journey from poverty to sustainability by collaboratively building community resources and removing barriers. The effort’s vision is for all people in Pittsfield to experience a just, thriving, and safe community. The PBTM’s goal is to improve individual, institutional, and social fairness and respect in the community and thus support individuals moving out of poverty. The PBTM’s core team includes Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, the city of Pittsfield, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Berkshire Community College, BerkshireWorks Career Center, Berkshire United Way, Goodwill Industries, Berkshire Children and Families, Berkshire Health Systems, Berkshire Community Action Council, Downtown Pittsfield Inc., Pittsfield public schools, the local NAACP chapter, Pittsfield Community Connection, West Side Neighborhood Initiative, First United Methodist Church, Heart 2 Heart Ministry, Manos Unidas, Brien Center for Mental Health, Multi-Cultural Bridge, and Girls Inc. For more information on the Working Cities Challenge, visit www.bostonfed.org/workingcities.

Celia Grace Wins $50,000 at VVM Accelerator Awards

SPRINGFIELD — Twelve area startups won a total of $252,000 at the Valley Venture Mentors (VVM) Accelerator Awards on May 26, led by Celia Grace, whose founder, Marcelia Muehlke, calls her company a fair-trade, ethical wedding-dress seller that gives back and empowers women around the world. Muehlke, who won $50,000 at the ceremony at the MassMutual Center, launched the company several years ago after searching, fruitlessly, for a maker of fair-trade wedding dresses. Sensing both a need and an opportunity, she set about creating such a company. She traveled to Asia and set up a supply chain that could create high-quality garments that she and her clients could feel good about. She then began working with a group of women in a sewing group in Cambodia, contracted with a designer in New York, and got her business — and her dream — up and running. Today, Celia Grace sells dresses across the country and in Europe. The VVM award is just one in a long line of accolades, including a Grinspoon Entrepreneurial Success Spirit Award in 2011, a finish in the money at the UMass Pitch Competition in 2012, and a second-place finish at Valley Venture Mentors’ pitch contest during the Western Mass. Business Expo in 2012. About 500 people attended the May 26 ceremony. The other 11 winners of VVM Accelerator Awards, and their prize money, include:
• Homebody Holistics ($45,000), a maker of all-natural, hand-crafted, herbal cleaning solutions using no harsh chemicals or additives;
• Scout Curated Wears ($32,000), a designer, curator, and producer of thoughtful women’s accessories;
• DaVinci Arms ($21,000), a designer and manufacturer of firearms suppressors and accessories for mission-critical applications;
• Treaty ($21,000), a nanotechnology company whose flagship product is FogKicker, a biodegradable anti-fog solution made from nanocellulose;
• Prophit Insight ($19,000), a software company that helps healthcare providers identify and acquire unique sources of physician referrals;
• Livingua ($18,000), an app that connects travelers to locals who know the language and culture wherever and whenever they want;
• Name Net Worth ($15,000), a connective platform that leverages trusted relationships to measure and strengthen a user’s personal and professional networks;
• iRollie ($9,000), a niche-market phone-case manufacturer and online retailer featuring the rolling tray phone case;
• Need/Done Inc. ($9,000), instant help for kids at home from people their parents trust;
• Sumu ($7,000), which works with property managers and landlords to post fee-free apartments to help users find their next home; and
• AnyCafé ($6,000), a developer of hot beverage solutions for the future, including the Travel Brewer.

Legislation Filed to Cap Sick-time Accrual

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito recently introduced “An Act to Reform Sick Time,” aimed at limiting sick-time accruals that have led to exorbitant payouts upon retirement from state government. The legislation would cap accrual of sick time for state employees in the Executive Department at no more than 1,000 hours, equivalent to six months of work. The bill grandfathers in approximately 5,800 current state employees who already have more than 1,000 hours accrued. Those employees would be capped at their current earned amount as of the date of enactment. Once the legislation is passed, the policy will take effect immediately. “Sick leave is a benefit designed to offer employees a way to deal with health and family issues, not a retirement bonus,” Baker said. “Bringing the Commonwealth’s sick-leave-accrual policy in line with other private- and public-sector employers just makes sense and is the fiscally responsible thing to do.” Added Polito, “this legislation ensures the use of sick time remains consistent with its intended purpose. Benefits for Executive Department employees will remain competitive while we implement an accrual policy that is fair to Massachusetts taxpayers.” Under current law, employees can accrue a maximum of 15 sick days per year, and those employees who retire are permitted to cash out 20% of unused sick time. In FY 2015, 378 employees had an accrual of more than 1,000 hours upon retirement. While this represents only about one-third the number of retiring employees, the cashouts for these employees accounted for nearly 80% of the total cashout cost. Based on the last three fiscal years, if fully implemented, a 1,000-hour cap on accruals would have saved an average of $3.5 million in cashouts per year. “Sick days serve an important purpose, but they must be used in an appropriate and accountable way for our compensation system to have the integrity and transparency taxpayers deserve,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr. Added House Minority Leader Bradley Jones Jr., “recent media reports highlighting excessive sick-leave payouts in the public higher-education system clearly demonstrate the need to crack down on these types of abuses. The reforms proposed by the Baker-Polito administration will help to provide greater transparency and accountability to the state’s taxpayers.”

Habitat for Humanity Partners with Faith Organizations

SPRINGFIELD — Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) announced an upcoming Circle of Faith build on 479 Allen St. in Springfield. This project is a partnership between GSHFH and 11 local faith communities who have come together to raise the funds for a Habitat home, and who will also contribute volunteers, in-kind materials, and amenities for the project. As an intentionally interfaith project, this build incorporates Christian, Islamic, and Jewish communities. These 11 faith communities include First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, Sinai Temple in Springfield, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in East Longmeadow, St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Longmeadow, the Islamic Society of Western Mass. in West Springfield, Christ the King Lutheran Church in Wilbraham, East Longmeadow United Methodist Church, Mercy Medical Center and the Sisters of Providence Health System in Springfield, St. Cecilia’s Parish in Wilbraham, and Foster Memorial Church in Springfield. Ellen Tougias, the point person for First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, says her church is “proud to be a part of the Circle of Faith Build for Habitat. We have committed to this project as part of our 30th-year celebration. It is one way that we have chosen to give back to our community in honor of this special year.” Mohammad Bajwa of the Islamic Society of Western Mass. referenced a piece of Scripture in relation to the project: “cooperate with one another, for doing good deeds and righteousness … surely God’s mercy is upon the good doers.” To kick off this partnership, the Circle of Faith communities and GSHFH hosted a “House Wrapped in Love” event at the Islamic Society of Western Mass. on June 1. The family-friendly event invited kids to paint what home, family, and love means to them on sheets of plywood that will then be used to build the walls of the new habitat house at 479 Allen St. Following this event will be several days of building on the job site, where the exterior walls of the home will start to take shape.

Unemployment Drops Across State in April

BOSTON — Local unemployment rates dropped in all labor market areas in the state during the month of April, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. All 15 areas added jobs over the month, with the largest gains in the Springfield, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Barnstable, Worcester, and Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford areas. From April 2015 to April 2016, 14 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Taunton-Middleborough-Norton, and Barnstable areas. In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for April is 3.9%, down 0.7% from the March rate. Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% for the month of April. The unemployment rate is down 0.8% over the year. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 13,900-job gain in April and an over-the-year gain of 73,500 jobs. The unadjusted unemployment rates and job estimates for the labor market areas reflect seasonal fluctuations and therefore may show different levels and trends than the statewide seasonally adjusted estimates. The estimates for labor force, unemployment rates, and jobs for Massachusetts are based on different statistical methodology specified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Leadership Pioneer Valley, Women’s Fund Partner on Alumni Discount

SPRINGFIELD — Effective immediately, Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) and the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts will begin offering alumni of their programs a mutual 20% discount — just one part of a new effort between these organizations to strengthen and coordinate learning opportunities for emerging leaders in the region. Both LPV’s core program and the Women’s Fund’s Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI) program seek to empower up-and-coming leaders and, ultimately, strengthen the region as a whole. However, each program has unique content and perspectives that, if taken subsequently, provide a comprehensive leadership experience. Graduates of the LPV program can apply for LIPPI at womensfund.net; graduates of LIPPI can apply for LPV at leadershippv.org. “The Women’s Fund is thrilled to participate in this collaborative effort with Leadership Pioneer Valley,” said Elizabeth Barajas-Román, CEO of the Women’s Fund. “We think this is a natural partnership for our organizations, as we both invest in creating strong communities through leadership development. Together, our participants will become the civic and business leaders of tomorrow who will help the region thrive.” Added Lora Wondolowski, executive director of Leadership Pioneer Valley, “this partnership makes so much sense as we feel our curriculums are complementary. Together, we are building a cadre of leaders who are making a difference in their careers and communities.” LPV is a nonprofit that works to identify, develop, and connect diverse leaders to strengthen the region. LPV’s core program challenges and engages emerging leaders from all sectors of the community from throughout the region. The curriculum consists of both classroom and hands-on, experiential learning that builds leadership skills, enhances regional understanding, and creates broader networks. The Women’s Fund is a public foundation that connects donors with the lives of local women and girls through strategic grant making and leadership development. Its signature, non-partisan program, LIPPI, is designed to address the need to provide women with the tools, mentors, and confidence they need to become powerful and effective civic leaders and elected officials. Further information on each program can be found at leadershippv.org and womensfund.net.

Local Farmers Receive Awards Totaling $117,500

AGAWAM — Recognizing that farming is essential to the region, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation and Big Y awarded 47 local farmers from the Berkshires to the Pioneer Valley $2,500 each to make physical infrastructure improvements to their farms. Along with the support of sponsors Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation and MGM Springfield, farmers have already put to use the awards for farm-improvement projects. This represents a 42% increase in awards from the 2015 inaugural year. With the collaboration of local agriculture advocacy organizations Berkshire Grown and CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture), the applications selected for the Local Farmer Awards were announced in December. More than 120 farmers submitted applications describing their improvement projects. The award recipients are diverse: 32% have been farming for more than 20 years, and 23% for five years or fewer; and more than 40% of the farms have sales of more than $100,000, while another 30% recorded sales of less than $49,000. A winner from 2015 and 2016, Julia Coffey of Mycoterra Farm in Westhampton said, “we are thrilled to be a Local Farmer Award recipient. The projects that these awards have helped fund are making our farm more viable.” This year, Coffey is purchasing equipment required for outfitting a commercial kitchen that will allow the farm to begin manufacturing value-added food products with unsold fresh mushrooms. Jennifer Salinetti, owner of Woven Roots Farm in Tyringham, will install a permanent vegetable wash station which will directly impact the farm’s productivity. Gideon Porth of Atlas Farm in Deerfield will install a pump system for a new well to increase the supply of potable water for the farm’s packing house and greenhouses, which will double its current watering abilities. Harold Grinspoon, founder of the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, who launched the Local Farmer Awards in 2015, noted that “farmers don’t typically ask for help. They are genuinely appreciative of these awards and use the money in creative ways for projects to help their businesses.” Charlie D’Amour, president & COO of Big Y, added, “through our partnership with the Grinspoon Foundation, we are providing one more way to help local growers thrive in our community.” The goal of the Local Farmer Awards is to strengthen farmers’ ability to compete in the marketplace so the region benefits from the environmental, health, and economic advantages of local farming. A farmer appreciation event is held yearly for all applicants and awardees to honor and recognize farmers and promote the importance of local farming.

Berkshire Bank Will Take Tuesday Afternoon Off to Give Back

By BusinessWest Staff June 6, 2016

PITTSFIELD — All Berkshire Bank locations will close at noon on Tuesday, June 7 to allow all employees the ability to participate in volunteer projects from noon to 4 p.m.

So far, 1,133 Berkshire Bank employees across all regions are scheduled to participate in work assignments as part of the bank’s Xtraordinary Day. This number is still growing, and is anticipated to reach 95% total employee engagement.

Employees will volunteer at Stanley Park, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, YMCA of Westfield, ReGreen Springfield, Southwick Rail Trail, West Springfield YMCA, Amelia Park Children’s Museum, Birthday Wishes, Children’s Study Home, YMCA of Greater Springfield, Community Survival Center, and Girls Inc. of Greenfield.

The bank will also host a contest called Catch Us in the Act, through which it encourages customers to take a photo of bank employees performing a volunteer service and post the photo to social media using the hashtag #xteam. Each submission will be entered to win $100 for the nonprofit of their choice; two winners will be selected per region.

Springfield, Pittsfield Each Given $475,000 in Working Cities Challenge

By BusinessWest Staff June 2, 2016

Business Management Sections

The five communities put forward initiatives focused on neighborhood revitalization, workforce development, and improving access to economic opportunity. The cities will work on these initiatives over a three-year period, accompanied by technical assistance and a learning community for best-practice sharing.

“I want to congratulate the winners of the Working Cities Challenge. Collaborative leadership is at the heart of this competition, and these five cities demonstrated significant capacity to reach across sectors and advance efforts on behalf of low-income residents in their communities,” said Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren. “I look forward to following the progress in the communities in the coming months and years.”

Added Gov. Charlie Baker, “together with our partners in the private, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors, we are proud to leverage greater resources to support and prepare communities for success. The Working Cities Challenge elevates local leadership, amplifying solutions from the community level to increase cross-sector collaboration and improve economic outcomes for low-income residents.”

Last fall, 10 Massachusetts communities were each awarded $15,000 design grants through the Working Cities Challenge to strengthen their bids to the competition. The five winning cities were selected after a six-month design-grant period, which saw the cities refining proposals and adding partners from across their community.

The Springfield Works Initiative will advance the city’s economy by enhancing and strengthening the connectivity between employers who need qualified workers and low- income Springfield residents who need meaningful employment. It aims to achieve this goal through an innovative collaboration between employers, educational institutions, service providers, community leaders, community-based organizations, government, and residents.

The Springfield Works Initiative core team includes the Western Mass. Economic Development Council, the Springfield Office of Planning and Economic Development, the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, MGM Springfield, Partners for Community Action, HAPHousing, Springfield Technical Community College, Western MA National Machine and Tooling Assoc., the Community Foundation of Western Mass., Tech Foundry, United Personnel Services, United Way of Pioneer Valley, and DevelopSpringfield.

The Pittsfield Bridges: Transformative Movement (PBTM) initiative will support the journey from poverty to sustainability by collaboratively building community resources and removing barriers. The effort’s vision is for all people in Pittsfield to experience a just, thriving, and safe community. The PBTM’s goal is to improve individual, institutional, and social fairness and respect in the community and thus support individuals moving out of poverty.

The PBTM’s core team includes Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, the city of Pittsfield, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Berkshire Community College, BerkshireWorks Career Center, Berkshire United Way, Goodwill Industries, Berkshire Children and Families, Berkshire Health Systems, Berkshire Community Action Council, Downtown Pittsfield Inc., Pittsfield public schools, the local NAACP chapter, Pittsfield Community Connection, West Side Neighborhood Initiative, First United Methodist Church, Heart 2 Heart Ministry, Manos Unidas, Brien Center for Mental Health, Multi-Cultural Bridge, and Girls Inc.

For more information on the Working Cities Challenge, visit www.bostonfed.org/workingcities.

Giombetti Associates Builds Stronger Companies, One Person at a Time

By BusinessWest Staff May 17, 2016

Getting to Know You

Ross Giombetti, president of Giombetti Associates

Thirty years ago, Rick Giombetti developed a concept, called Performance Dynamics, that links personality with business productivity and potential. His Hampden-based company, Giombetti Associates, has grown significantly since then, helping hundreds of companies succeed by understanding personalities and building better leaders. His son, Ross, recently took the reins of the firm, but doesn’t expect much to change — least of all the passion he and his father share for making a difference in clients’ lives.

It’s not always easy, Ross Giombetti says, to be a client of his business-consulting firm, Giombetti Associates.

“We want to build the relationship and build the trust so clients know we care about the demands of their business, then deliver feedback that is true, real, and honest — tell them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. And sometimes it stings,” said Giombetti, who recently succeeded his father, Rick — who co-founded the Hampden-based firm 30 years ago — in the president’s chair.

“I’ve certainly been called ‘direct’ before,” Ross went on, “but you’ll also find we back that up with support and compassion, so when we have to deliver a message you’re not going to like, you walk away trusting it, and knowing it’s what you needed to hear to make you and your organization better.”

That message varies wildly from client to client, as it always has; Giombetti Associates deals in leadership development and training, team-building, talent acquisition and recruitment, pre-employment assessment, and strategic executive coaching, among other roles.

“But the foundation of it all is building high-performance, world-class companies through people,” he explained — an idea he would return to several times during his talk with BusinessWest.

“There’s one constant in every business, regardless of size or industry — people, who have character traits that drive their behavior, and can cause issues and conflict,” he explained. “Our clients come to us to help them solve challenges related to personality and leadership. It could be they have a team that doesn’t get along really well or isn’t maximizing their potential or their results. There could be a talent gap in the organization that they want us to help solve, or it could be them wanting us to protect their business from making bad hiring decisions.”

The heart of Giombetti Associates is a concept called Performance Dynamics — a means of assessing personality and understanding how it affects behavior in the workplace — created in 1986 by Ross’s father, Rick, and his business partner, Paul Alves. At the time, the pair — former human-resources professionals who had struck out on their own — had virtually no money, and even scraping up enough to fly to Washington to visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office was a challenge.

But their idea paid off, and today, the company boasts hundreds of business clients worldwide — from mom-and-pop operations to Fortune 500 companies — helping them make hiring decisions, train executives, build leadership skills, handle office conflict, and perform a host of other interpersonal tasks.

Simply put, Performance Dynamics explores personality and applies it to leadership in business. Before quitting his job to become a consultant 30 years ago, Rick Giombetti used his human-resources experience and psychology education to develop personality-assessment exercises that companies could use to understand and manage their hiring and personnel issues. These assessment tools measure factors ranging from personality traits and mental maturity to overall understanding of leadership and how people cope with conflict.

“They’re validated and defined by major psychological think tanks,” Ross said. “We put them together in a trademarked process. My father and Paul Alves, they were well beyond their time, extremely progressive as it related to personality and leadership. That’s how it all started — with a dream and a philosophy.”

With clients boasting anywhere from five employees to 100,000, in industries ranging from landscape design to advanced manufacturing; from medical facilities to banking and insurance, the one common denominator is people, he went on. “That’s one reason why we work in all those different industries. You can change the function, change the geography, but people exist in every single one of them.”

Let’s Talk

When a company hires Giombetti, it should be ready to talk.

“Our work is a combination of things and involves a lot of fact finding, a lot of exploration, a lot of open-ended conversations in an attempt to get to know a person, a team, an organization, or an entire culture. That’s where we start,” he said.

That said, “we don’t take on new business without knowing what we’re walking into. They have to believe philosophically same things we believe. If they don’t, we’re not afraid to walk away from business. We’re not afraid to fire a customer.

“Once we know what we’re looking at,” he explained, “to really help develop an individual, a team, or a culture, we have a series of personality instruments we use that go really deep, identify the ‘why’ behind the ‘what.’ It’s not hypothetical, not conceptual; it’s concrete and real.”

A few of the team members at Giombetti Associates, from left: Miklos Ats, Ross Giombetti, and Amanda Collins.

As one example, he cited a client in the Midwest founded on the core belief of purpose-driven products. “They don’t really care as much about the money they make or the success they have; they want their employees to wake up with purpose. So they’re founded on the right philosophy.”

However, Giombetti went on, the company’s leader was simply too nice and struggled with making difficult decisions, and that held his organization back.

“I’d like to think that, after working more than five years with them, his own leadership and the culture as a whole have gotten much stronger and better,” he said. “They now blend family and balance of life with accountability.”

After all, he continued, bosses can care deeply about their employees’ family time, work-life balance, and having fun at work, but at the end of the day, there has to be accountability and a focus on growing the business. Now, he said, “their organization is an example of an organization we would all want to work for.”

Another client — a local firm, Notch Mechanical Constructors in Chicopee — had a much different issue. It’s a company run by five siblings who balance their input well. “They maintain boundaries and keep each other accountable and grounded, and they make good business decisions,” Giombetti said. But they struggled with finding a strong financial leader.

“We have close to a 20-year relationship with this family, and we wanted to make sure they hire the right person. We went through a lot of due diligence, and it took us longer than we or they would like, but the story has a happy ending. We found somebody who is a great cultural fit — the same philosophy, grounded, humble, but tough and smart. They’re pretty happy with the decision we made. Sometimes making the right decision takes longer.”

In both cases — a company leader who had to change his way of thinking, and bringing in the right person from the outside for a key role — it all came down to the importance of people, he stressed.

“Great organizations believe that building a strong team with great people is largely what makes you successful. You can have a great product, you can have great service, you can have a great business model, but without the people, you won’t capitalize on your opportunities. You’ll have nothing.”

Smart Growth

Giombetti currently employs six people and is actively looking for a couple more to meet the needs of an expanding client base nationwide.

“But we’re careful about the business we take on,” he said. “We don’t take on business just for the sake of growing. That philosophy will never change as long as I’m tied to the organization. I learned that from my father, that bigger is not always better; better is better. I want to do it the right way, to continue to treat our clients like their business was ours, and I don’t want to lose touch with the close relationships we have with most of them. So we’re really careful about how we run our business.”

In part, that means running the business like that client in the Midwest who prioritizes his workers’ lives away from the office, saying he wants to do the same for team members like Miklos Ats, senior associate; Amanda Collins, office manager (who’s being groomed for a larger, human-resources generalist role), and Monica Childers, who doesn’t have a title beyond ‘protector’ and ‘boss of all of us,’ Giombetti joked.

“When I’m not working, I’d rather be spending time with my wife and three kids and a million hobbies,” he said. “I’d rather see Mik spend time with his lovely wife and go eat at more great restaurants. I’d like to see Amanda spend more time honing her trivia skills, and see Monica spend more time with her awesome husband, who recently learned how to make sushi, and their fantastic two boys. We believe in ‘work hard, play hard.’”

At the same time, he wants the firm to continue giving back to the community, through its efforts with Habitat for Humanity and other local organizations. Meanwhile, Giombetti coaches youth sports and launched a mentorship program at Minnechaug Regional High School in 2012 — efforts that, along with his business success, contributed to his selection to BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty class of 2016.

“We’re passionate about developing young people,” he said. “Most students don’t know who they are or what they want to do, but if we can help them better understand who they are, they’ll have a lot less stress and anxiety in their young life and career.”

These efforts are just one more way Giombetti is committed to the Western Mass. region. “The Pioneer Valley will always be our home. I don’t have visions about moving our office into a big city to be closer to bigger business and more opportunities. I’m happy being where we’re at, doing what we do, supporting awesome clients and individuals.

“Philosophically, we treat our clients’ businesses like our own, and we’re going to protect that,” he went on. “Our clients trust us to know their people, know their culture, know their business, and protect it like it was our own.”

As for Ross’ father, Rick Giombetti may have relinquished his president’s title this year, but he remains active in some project work as a strategic advisor, which Ross appreciates. “His legacy will live on forever here. He’s a fantastic leader.”

One who has long been committed to building up the leadership potential of others, a passion he certainly passed along to his son.

“It sounds cliché, but I wake up every morning truly being motivated to inspire people and make a difference,” Ross said. “When students are coming out of college, when they’re asked the question, ‘what do you want to do?’ a majority say, ‘make a difference,’ but they don’t know what that means — and don’t know how.

“That is the passion I live every day,” he went on. “When I see somebody grow, develop, and become a better person, become a better husband or wife, become a better teammate or leader, that keeps me coming back for more.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff April 19, 2016

Michael Houff

Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center, announced the appointment of Michael Houff as director of Physician Services for HMC Specialty Practices as well as Western Massachusetts Physician Associates. Houff brings more than 20 years of extensive healthcare leadership experience in executive-level physician-group management, project consulting, revenue-cycle management, hospital outpatient operations, managed-care payer and provider operations, and IT implementations. He most recently served Meridian Medical Management in Windsor, Conn. as director of operations and, previously, Hampden County Physician Associates, LLC in Springfield as chief operating officer, vice president of operations, and director of operations. “Mike brings the leadership necessary to help Holyoke Medical Center and Western Mass Physician Associates provide the highest levels of patient care and satisfaction,” said Hatiras. “His experience in managing physician services will be an asset to ensuring that our providers and office staff continue to deliver high-quality and compassionate care to our patients.” Houff graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and received a master’s degree in general administration health care management from the University of Maryland in 1996. From 1988 to 1992, he served as active duty combat arms officer in the U.S. Army and then worked for Kaiser Permanente in Rocky Hill, Conn., Tulane University Hospital and Clinic in New Orleans, and GE Healthcare. “I really wanted to get back to the patient-care-delivery side of the business of healthcare,” said Houff of choosing to work at HMC. “It’s a much more meaningful mission to know that what you’re doing every day in outpatient operations has a real impact on people’s lives — helping people who are going through very difficult times with their health issues and being able to help them have one good day among many bad ones is a really good motivation.”

•••••

The Hampshire Mall management team recently welcomed Lynn Gray as general manager. Gray has extensive knowledge of the shopping-center industry. She is a graduate of Holyoke Community College with an associate degree in business administration. She returns to Hampshire Mall after holding the positions of marketing assistant, assistant marketing director, and marketing director within Pyramid Management Group from 1995 to 2005. Prior to her return, she held various roles within General Growth Management over the past 10 years, most recently as director of field marketing for the East Region. During her time there, she received the MAXI Award for innovative contributions made to Natick Mall. She is a lifelong resident of the Western Mass. area and actively involved with several community and nonprofit organizations, including Alex Scafuri’s Benefit Fund, Harper Yucka Benefit Fund, Chicopee Youth Football Assoc., and CHERUBS. “We are pleased to have Lynn return to Pyramid Management Group,” said Joe Castaldo, Pyramid Management Group’s director of Shopping Center Management. “With her vast experience in the shopping-center industry, she will be a tremendous asset in the development of Hampshire Mall.”

•••••

Melissa Provost

HUB International New England, a division of HUB International Limited, announced that Melissa Provost has joined HUB International New England as a personal lines account manager, responsible for assisting clients with their home, auto, and personal-liability umbrella coverages. She will be based in the South Hadley office. Provost joins HUB International with several years of customer service experience in the insurance industry, and has held previous positions with Liberty Mutual Insurance, most recently as a senior customer service representative. At HUB International, her role includes assisting in the day-to-day needs of clients, handling client requests, preparing quotes, reviewing and updating policies and certificates, maintaining existing client relationships, generating new business, and keeping abreast of the changing market. “Over the past few months, we have hired several talented individuals as we continue to expand into one of the largest agencies throughout New England,” said Timm Marini, president of HUB International New England. “Melissa is a perfect fit for our agency as she is clearly a ‘people person’ who will focus on providing extraordinary customer service.”

•••••

Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) announced that Bob Perry — a donor, volunteer, partner, and friend who has supported the organization for more than 15 years — will join the team as the new volunteer donor relations manager. “Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity is thrilled to be able to welcome back Bob Perry as our new volunteer donor relations manager,” said Jennifer Schimmel, the organization’s executive director. “Even with his new title, he’ll still be known by many as Habitat’s chief hugging officer!” Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity is a housing ministry dedicated to strengthening communities by empowering low-income families to change their lives and the lives of future generations through home ownership and home-preservation opportunities. This is accomplished by working in partnership with diverse people, from all walks of life, to build and repair simple, decent, affordable housing. GSHFH has helped 70 local families, as well as 90 international families, over the past 27 years.

Country Bank Donates $670,000 to Area Organizations in 2015

By BusinessWest Staff April 11, 2016

WARE — Officials at Country Bank reported that the bank donated more than $670,000 in 2015 to nearly 350 organizations in the communities it serves through its Charitable Giving Program. Many of these donations were in the form of contributions to local nonprofits, including senior centers, food pantries, homeless shelters, and health centers.

“Our commitment to our communities is deeply rooted in our philosophy of being a good corporate citizen. As a local community partner, we understand the importance of supporting local nonprofits that exist to benefit and improve the lives of the families and individuals in our communities,” said Paul Scully, president and CEO.

For example, the Ware Valley Domestic Violence Task Force through Valley Human Services received a $15,000 donation which enabled them to work with more than 100 adults and children from Ware and Hardwick. They also used these funds for an important educational theatre for the Ware Middle and High School to teach students to recognize the signs of partner violence and what healthy relationships look like.

Meanwhile, Hearts for Heat in North Brookfield received a $2,500 donation which was used to purchase heating assistance for five local families, ensuring they stayed warm during the winter months. Scholarships were also awarded to 32 graduating seniors totaling $80,000.

Other organizations that received support from Country Bank’s charitable contributions included Leicester Public Library, Ludlow Boys & Girls Club, Baystate Mary Lane Hospital Cancer Services through the Walk of Champions, the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, the Jimmy Fund, and many more.

Country Bank’s staff are equally invested in giving back to their communities. In 2015, they volunteered more than 800 hours of their own time and contributed an additional $50,000 to employee-selected nonprofits through the bank’s Employee Charitable Giving Program. For more information about Country Bank’s Charitable Giving Program and 2015 donations, visit www.countrybank.com/about-us/our-involvement.

Real Estate Transactions

By BusinessWest Staff April 5, 2016

Departments Real Estate

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

28 Meadow Lane
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Glassman
Seller: Karen S. Kaplan
Date: 03/04/16

BERNARDSTON

65 Deane Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Robert A. Deane
Seller: Drew, Mark E., (Estate)
Date: 02/23/16

128 Fox Hill Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $351,300
Buyer: William E. Savitri
Seller: Dennis M. Shockro
Date: 02/26/16

BUCKLAND

120 State St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Sarah Davenport
Seller: Ruthe W. Jubinville
Date: 02/26/16

DEERFIELD

6 Pocumtuck Dr.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $416,000
Buyer: Jonathan D. Lewis
Seller: David G. Spoolstra
Date: 02/24/16

GILL

67 Dole Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Scott A. Newton
Seller: Brian D. McComb
Date: 02/29/16

GREENFIELD

653 Bernardston Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Patrick Mahoney
Seller: James H. Lunt
Date: 02/29/16

147-151 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: David J. Larue
Seller: Aardvark Apts. LLC
Date: 02/29/16

153 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: David J. Larue
Date: 02/29/16

111-113 Deerfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $131,600
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Leroy H. Stewart
Date: 03/01/16

264-266 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Mark A. Sirum
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/25/16

16 Grove St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: David J. Larue
Seller: Aardvark Apts. LLC
Date: 02/29/16

63 James St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: James R. Gleason
Seller: William E. Savitri
Date: 02/26/16

35 Lakeview Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $296,250
Buyer: Robert J. Sagor
Seller: Margaret S. Barry
Date: 03/04/16

28 Park Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Jose L. Castillo
Seller: Desiree A. Frank
Date: 02/22/16

56 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Robert Howe
Seller: John J. Mackin RET
Date: 02/26/16

HEATH

1 Bray Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Heather C. Hathwell
Seller: Steven A. Michel
Date: 02/26/16

LEYDEN

140 Alexander Road
Leyden, MA 01337
Amount: $287,400
Buyer: Robin W. Symonds
Seller: Edward W. Quinlan
Date: 03/01/16

MONTAGUE

23-25 Griswold St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Simon E. Scher
Seller: Ronald F. Bovat
Date: 03/02/16

8 West Chestnut Hill Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Laurie D. Williams
Date: 02/24/16

NEW SALEM

214 Cooleyville Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Gary P. Skaza
Seller: Patricia A. Skaza
Date: 02/23/16

NORTHFIELD

821 Millers Falls Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Jeanne K. Moore
Seller: Robert Howe
Date: 02/26/16

96 Mount Hermon Station Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: John A. Jones
Seller: Pamela J. Veith
Date: 03/03/16

ORANGE

20 Burrill Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Morgan A. Sisson
Seller: Edward J. Dornig
Date: 02/23/16

110 Oaklawn Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Thomas P. & K. A. Thompson LT
Seller: Michael H. Barnard
Date: 02/29/16

SHELBURNE

119 Bridge St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Thomas C. Johnson
Seller: Brian F. Clare
Date: 03/03/16

WHATELY

110 Christian Lane
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $670,000
Buyer: Rich & Co. LLC
Seller: Samson Associates LLC
Date: 03/03/16

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

373 Barry St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $252,500
Buyer: Michael R. Renkawitz
Seller: Richard T. Ward
Date: 02/29/16

262 Colemore St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Andrey K. Domnenko
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/26/16

55 Elm St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Amber Dutton
Seller: Ronald R. Napolitan
Date: 02/29/16

41 Fernwood Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $257,500
Buyer: Jason A. Bassett
Seller: Anthony Depalma
Date: 02/29/16

145 High St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Ryan P. Fitzemeyer
Seller: Christopher J. Bednarzyk
Date: 02/26/16

84 Highland St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $183,850
Buyer: Albert J. Liquori
Seller: 84 Highland LLC
Date: 02/29/16

42 Poinsetta St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Garner
Seller: Maxine J. Bolly
Date: 02/26/16

215 Poplar St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $173,223
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Joseph J. Liquori
Date: 03/02/16

108 Reed St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Benjamin E. Nuzzolilli
Seller: Michael A. Santaniello
Date: 03/03/16

717 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Moustafa I. Tahoun
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/29/16

346 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Sharol A. Menard
Seller: Nancy Gentile
Date: 03/04/16

583 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Edward Quinlan
Seller: David M. Tangredi
Date: 03/01/16

BRIMFIELD

45 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: Courtney M. Williams
Seller: Nathan M. Clairmont
Date: 02/26/16

CHESTER

404 Route 20
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Marie L. Morrissey
Seller: Michael A. Morrissey
Date: 03/02/16

CHICOPEE

2 Access Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: Robert Larkin
Seller: USA VA
Date: 02/23/16

22 Bardon St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Edward J. Montemagni
Seller: CRA Holdings Inc.
Date: 02/24/16

245 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $140,349
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Gayle L. Crochiere
Date: 02/29/16

547 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $117,050
Buyer: Citifinancial Servicing
Seller: Raymond T. Peltier
Date: 03/02/16

455 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $1,888,400
Buyer: Chicopee Gardens Rehab & Care
Seller: Guilford Health Mgmt. Inc.
Date: 03/04/16

198 Carew St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Thomas A. Conroy
Seller: Russell A. Hedges
Date: 03/03/16

247 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $117,560
Buyer: Grzegorz Nowakowski
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 03/03/16

48 Claire St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Bagge
Seller: Keith W. Lemay
Date: 02/26/16

914 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,500
Buyer: Julie Gardner
Date: 02/23/16

117 Gilbert Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Teresa Chadwick
Seller: Godaire, Ernest R., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/16

255 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: William D. Bouthillette
Seller: Yvette Guyette
Date: 02/22/16

48 Hamilton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Robert Galica
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/04/16

48 Hamilton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Dorothy Dorobisz
Date: 02/26/16

22 Harrington Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Alexandre C. Holan
Seller: Scott E. Graham
Date: 02/24/16

28 Harrington Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Mayo
Seller: Julian S. Tenczar
Date: 03/03/16

51 Helen St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Pepin
Seller: Thomas W. Connor
Date: 02/29/16

94 Manning St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Joseph R. Ricker
Seller: Cheryl Soucy
Date: 02/25/16

75 Murphy Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Diane M. Mercier
Seller: Riverbend 2 Properties
Date: 02/26/16

44 New Lombard Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $1,888,400
Buyer: Chicopee Gardens Rehab & Care
Seller: Guilford Health Mgmt. Inc.
Date: 03/04/16

455 Oldfield Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $116,000
Buyer: Andrei Katykhin
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/25/16

54 Pembroke Place
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Paul J. Caban
Seller: Lydia Garcia
Date: 02/26/16

42 Reedstone Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Marissa L. Cloutier
Seller: Susan M. Baez
Date: 02/26/16

63 Silvin Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $158,900
Buyer: Edward A. Rivera
Seller: Kevin Montemagni
Date: 02/26/16

165 Trilby Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Robert J. King
Seller: Robert F. King
Date: 02/26/16

29 Warregan St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Jesus J. Torres
Seller: Micks, Preston L., (Estate)
Date: 03/04/16

EAST LONGMEADOW

389 Chestnut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Tan D. Nguyen
Seller: Joseph Scalia
Date: 02/29/16

7 Dewey Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Horace Parker
Seller: Tracy A. Lavoie
Date: 02/25/16

21 East Circle Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Tara A. Edson
Seller: Dean C. Edson
Date: 02/25/16

255 Elm St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Prudence L. Maloni
Seller: FNMA
Date: 02/26/16

11 Park Place
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $201,000
Buyer: Robert H. Caldwell
Seller: John D. Perenick
Date: 02/29/16

188 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $237,500
Buyer: Dennis P. McManus
Seller: Belorusky, Nadia J., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/16

434 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Dennis M. Goldrick
Seller: Boudrew, Joseph A. V., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/16

GRANVILLE

734 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Joshua L. Rutola
Seller: James C. Jensen
Date: 02/22/16

15 Old Westfield Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Clark C. Boynton
Seller: Olsen, Peter J., (Estate)
Date: 02/25/16

231 Silver St.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $274,900
Buyer: Eric D. Lane
Seller: Ralph W. Emerson
Date: 03/02/16

HAMPDEN

62 Pondview Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: John D. Moriarty
Seller: Kathleen A. Charest
Date: 03/04/16

Thresher Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Cumberland Blues RT
Seller: Nicholas C. Camerota
Date: 02/29/16

375 Wilbraham Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Seller: Carol A. Andree
Date: 02/22/16

HOLLAND

6 Ardmore Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $137,283
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: Michelle M. Damon
Date: 02/26/16

HOLYOKE

184-186 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $163,069
Buyer: Anthony Witman
Seller: Witman Properties Inc.
Date: 02/22/16

1104 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

1106 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

1124 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

1138 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

1140 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

1154 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

1156 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

1373 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

1375 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

48 Elliot St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Matthew J. McDonough
Seller: Philip M. Rugo
Date: 03/04/16

213 Locust St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: David M. Cowan
Seller: Heather M. Rush
Date: 02/26/16

82 Memorial Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Jason L. Paulo
Seller: Clifford W. Laraway
Date: 03/04/16

40 Moss Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: David Morrissey
Seller: Eleanor M. Morrissey
Date: 02/22/16

7 Ross Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: Erich R. Dittrich
Seller: C. L. Callahan-Swindell
Date: 03/03/16

31 Washington Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Louis A. Lebron
Seller: Alden Pond Properties LLC
Date: 03/04/16

LONGMEADOW

188 Burbank Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $324,000
Buyer: Christopher P. Rennix
Seller: Thomas J. Haberlin
Date: 02/23/16

159 Edgewood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Thomas G. Conway
Seller: Foundation Investors Inc.
Date: 02/29/16

12 Erskine Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Ian L. Goldsmith
Seller: Douglas W. Taylor
Date: 02/25/16

120 Inverness Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Gary A. Popovich
Seller: Timothy F. Keane
Date: 02/26/16

112 Kenmore Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $263,500
Buyer: Geoffrey Putnam
Seller: Paul J. Kipetz
Date: 03/01/16

110 Knollwood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Michael J. Przyborski
Seller: Catherine M. McCarthy
Date: 02/26/16

21 Lincoln Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Rajendrasinh S. Mahida
Seller: Campagnari Construction
Date: 02/23/16

29 Lincoln Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Kalpanaben S. Desai
Seller: Campagnari Construction LLC
Date: 02/29/16

19 Oak Hollow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Jonh A. Benson
Seller: Michael D. Caban
Date: 02/29/16

101 Osceola Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $332,000
Buyer: Sara K. Perry
Seller: Goldstiek, Eleanor, (Estate)
Date: 02/29/16

LUDLOW

1680 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: David J. Chaves
Date: 02/29/16

972 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $218,600
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Diane M. Hernandez
Date: 02/24/16

1275 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $313,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Debra C. Derose
Date: 02/26/16

615 Fuller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Lupa Development Co. LLC
Seller: Strycharz FT
Date: 03/04/16

38 Grimard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Cody R. Binette
Seller: David A. Yelle
Date: 02/29/16

30 Jackie Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Simard
Seller: Kevin P. Pycko
Date: 02/26/16

102 Longview Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Brian M. Liberty
Seller: William J. Liberty
Date: 02/26/16

614 Moore St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $185,313
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: Frankie J. Albano
Date: 03/01/16

7 Spring St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Joseph Teixeira
Seller: Miguel Goncalves
Date: 03/01/16

129 West Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Higgins
Seller: William A. Nichols
Date: 02/23/16

MONSON

11 Gates St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $138,600
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: James A. Burke
Date: 02/26/16

3 Homer Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $206,912
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Patricia A. Courtemanche
Date: 03/03/16

PALMER

4437 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: Mark Baldwin
Seller: Marcia L. Copeland
Date: 03/04/16

3201 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Crystal A. Dennison
Seller: William J. Brown
Date: 02/29/16

3051 Pine St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $133,500
Buyer: Bradley Lord
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 02/26/16

3058 South Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Mcgrath
Seller: May L. Rooney
Date: 03/03/16

1046 Thorndike St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $163,261
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Michelle L. Bennett
Date: 02/29/16

363 Ware St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $193,450
Buyer: Michael J. Senecal
Seller: Miriam J. Jorge
Date: 02/26/16

SOUTHWICK

14 Bungalow St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Peter G. Sprague
Date: 02/24/16

17 Ed Holcomb Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Timothy G. Gerrish
Seller: Red Oak Investments LLC
Date: 02/26/16

6 Junction Station Road #6
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Goldsmith FT
Seller: 20 Depot Square LLC
Date: 03/04/16

SPRINGFIELD

57 Albee St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Michael Connors
Seller: Gary Forney
Date: 03/04/16

15 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

17 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

18 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

20 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

25 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

28 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

30 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

35 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

37 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

38 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

40 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

5 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

50 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

52 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

7 Allendale St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

65-67 Ardmore St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $176,500
Buyer: Michael J. Keane
Seller: Jason M. Fitzgerald
Date: 02/26/16

101 Bancroft St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

103 Bancroft St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

112 Bancroft St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

114 Bancroft St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

56 Beaufort Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $158,500
Buyer: Tomasz J. Laskawiec
Seller: Lucid Development Inc.
Date: 02/29/16

53 Belvidere St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Tenita M. Smith
Seller: Mary P. White
Date: 02/25/16

248 Bolton St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Jenny I. Gonzalez
Seller: Angela Cosenzi
Date: 02/26/16

108 Bulat Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Etulia Faustin
Seller: Griffin, Thomas W., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/16

75-77 Clantoy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Orange Park Management
Seller: Orange Park Management
Date: 03/01/16

33 Coleman St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $162,700
Buyer: London Realty LLC
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 02/22/16

114-116 Commonwealth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Ricard Martinez-Berdecia
Seller: London Realty LLC
Date: 02/22/16

16 Conklin St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,128
Buyer: Hickory Street Dev. LLC
Seller: Hickory Street Dev. LLC
Date: 02/23/16

72 Curve St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Daniel Marti
Seller: Ricard Martinez-Berdecia
Date: 02/22/16

101 Derryfield Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Luke D. Hands
Seller: Terrie A. Henrich
Date: 02/26/16

88 Ellsworth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Lombardi
Seller: James Niedbala
Date: 02/26/16

34 Emerson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $170,676
Buyer: USA HUD
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/04/16

131 Fargo St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Helena M. Monteiro
Seller: Dennis B. Chechile
Date: 02/24/16

17 Gertrude St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Emmanuel Pena
Seller: Misael Ramos
Date: 03/02/16

97 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $154,500
Buyer: Sandra Urbanski
Seller: Layne M. Breton
Date: 02/29/16

55 Glenvale St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Trudy-Ann Wilson
Seller: Stephen D. Foy
Date: 02/25/16

37 Granger St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Brittney L. Twohig
Seller: AMP Real Estate Group LLC
Date: 02/26/16

800 Grayson Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Carissa Tryba
Seller: Nelson Garcia
Date: 02/26/16

10 Hebron St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

15 Hebron St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

17 Hebron St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

34 Hebron St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

36 Hebron St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

44 Hebron St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

46 Hebron St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

5 Hebron St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

7 Hebron St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,235,000
Buyer: DM Property LLC
Seller: Bel Air Homes Assocs. LP
Date: 02/29/16

63 Hope St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $150,300
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Carmen L. Farrow
Date: 03/01/16

47 Home St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Wilmington Trust
Seller: Angel Soto
Date: 02/25/16

274 Island Pond Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Aztec 425 LLC
Seller: Tran, Michael Q., (Estate)
Date: 02/29/16

73 Kenwood Park
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Jeannette Blyther
Seller: Vincent R. Siniscalchi
Date: 03/01/16

147 Magnolia Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Enrique Santos
Seller: Arthur H. Helmus
Date: 02/22/16

24 Oxford St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Felicita Saenz
Seller: Michael D. Friedman
Date: 02/23/16

22-24 Palmyra St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Buyer: Lisa W. Cassidy
Seller: Alan M. McMenamin
Date: 03/01/16

42 Perkins St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $148,500
Buyer: Mekhaiel Tahir
Seller: JJJ 17 LLC
Date: 03/04/16

197 Plainfield St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: NRJ Davis LLC
Seller: Michaelson, Edward, (Estate)
Date: 03/01/16

85 Rochelle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Seller: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Date: 03/03/16

46 Shumway St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Kimberly Santiago
Seller: Patricia A. Lavallee
Date: 02/26/16

81 Thorndyke St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Furnival A. Nyarko
Seller: Zhong X. Chen
Date: 02/26/16

120 Timothy Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Christine L. Higgins
Seller: Jeffrey M. Higgins
Date: 02/23/16

17-19 Webster St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $124,900
Buyer: Pork Meas
Seller: Mirna Gomez
Date: 02/23/16

175 West Allen Ridge Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $118,650
Buyer: Kristyana E. Daitch
Seller: Philip J. Moynihan
Date: 03/03/16

82 Westbrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Davin Robinson
Seller: Jason R. Ochotnicky
Date: 02/26/16

64 Whittum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: William F. Baker
Seller: Edward H. Lynch
Date: 02/26/16

147 Wollaston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: Michael Power
Date: 02/29/16

WALES

6 Grove Point Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Joseph Romonosky
Seller: Donna H. Patrie
Date: 02/22/16

WEST SPRINGFIELD

24 Chapin St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Henry Pavel
Seller: Susan M. Zemba
Date: 02/29/16

25 George St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Prem L. Gurung
Seller: Sergey Petlyakov
Date: 02/26/16

55 Hillside Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: David An
Seller: MAA Property LLC
Date: 02/26/16

48 Mountain Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $294,000
Buyer: Jamie L. Horton
Seller: Oak Ridge Custom Home Builders
Date: 03/04/16

36 Northwood Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Steven A. Georgeopolus
Seller: John J. O’Hara
Date: 03/02/16

WESTFIELD

98 Berkshire Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Donald J. McClellan
Seller: David F. McClellan
Date: 02/26/16

63 Beverly Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Justin Curran
Seller: Leonard Colson
Date: 02/29/16

64 Big Wood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Christopher E. Pinney
Seller: Mark E. Vasicek
Date: 02/26/16

38 Dartmouth St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Joshua S. Bruso
Seller: Paul K. Backholm
Date: 03/02/16

89 Foch Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Carlos Maldonado
Seller: Ginette S. Senecal
Date: 02/25/16

78 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $357,090
Buyer: Daniel D. Call
Seller: Granville Road LLC
Date: 02/25/16

78 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $367,900
Buyer: Roger L. Ringenbach
Seller: Granville Road LLC
Date: 03/04/16

110 Little River Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Howe
Seller: Christopher E. Pinney
Date: 02/26/16

184 Munger Hill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Thomas A. Galanis
Seller: Thomas E. McMahon
Date: 02/29/16

60 Scenic Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Buyer: Viktor Nikitchuk
Seller: Charles V. Fortin
Date: 02/25/16

81 Springfield Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $1,400,000
Buyer: 4 MH LLC
Seller: Francis E. Hartnett
Date: 02/25/16

57 Squawfield Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Sherry L. Karnolisz
Seller: Garde, Philip M., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/16

Union St. (off)
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Westfield Realty LLC
Seller: Claire M. Casey
Date: 03/04/16

WILBRAHAM

9 Cadwell Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Ashley M. Holden
Seller: M. Marcella Sundberg
Date: 02/26/16

3 Duffield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $228,003
Buyer: Marvina M. Lowry-Brook
Seller: Vincent L. Langone
Date: 02/29/16

4 Pearl Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Frank J. Fortune
Seller: Berrett, Keith A., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/16

32 Pleasant View Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Richard E. Burns
Seller: Ruolin Zhou
Date: 02/25/16

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

635 Main St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Norman D. Brown
Seller: Jeanne Shumway
Date: 02/26/16

35 Pelham Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $348,000
Buyer: Michael Kirschenbaum
Seller: Marie Hess
Date: 03/01/16

47 Shumway St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Chestnut Street Realty
Seller: Richard G. O’Rourke
Date: 02/22/16

BELCHERTOWN

12 Barrett St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Stephanie C. Barthelette
Seller: Harvey A. Sansoucy
Date: 03/04/16

416 Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: David A. Cunningham
Seller: Gary S. Moore
Date: 02/26/16

25 Depot St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $200,599
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Andre P. Grenier
Date: 03/03/16

570 North Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Cynthia A. Czaporowski
Seller: Property Edge LLC
Date: 02/26/16

3 Terry Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $286,500
Buyer: Eric C. Merullo
Seller: Doreen M. Curry
Date: 02/26/16

39 Underwood St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Arthur J. Dybizbanski
Seller: Korman, Thomas P., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/16

EASTHAMPTON

19 Chapin St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Heather McLean
Seller: Nathan G. Davis
Date: 02/26/16

246 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $139,916
Buyer: Aleta G. Kennedy
Seller: Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity
Date: 03/04/16

248 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $139,916
Buyer: Angelique Baker
Seller: Pioneer Valley Habitat Humanity
Date: 03/02/16

493 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Amber Black
Seller: Kristan A. Lagueux
Date: 02/25/16

12 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $194,500
Buyer: Aurelio Pagan
Seller: Tracy K. Mulvey
Date: 03/04/16

27 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Nathan G. Davis
Seller: J&A Homes LLC
Date: 02/26/16

16 Sterling Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $199,220
Buyer: Brian N Jourdain
Seller: USA VA
Date: 02/26/16

18 Summit Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Heather M. Rush
Seller: Jane A. Nathan
Date: 02/26/16

GOSHEN

59 Aberdeen Road
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: John Sidney-Webb
Seller: Jennifer A. Webb-Fusaro
Date: 02/23/16

59 South Chesterfield Road
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $436,000
Buyer: Catalina Arrubla
Seller: William A. Celatka
Date: 03/04/16

GRANBY

141 Pleasant St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Glen S. Masiuk
Seller: Eric Merullo
Date: 02/26/16

145 Pleasant St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Roxanne C. Costigan
Seller: Mary E. Fortier
Date: 03/03/16

HADLEY

River Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Szawlowski Realty Inc.
Seller: Lyndell Day-Nuttelman
Date: 02/24/16

190 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Mohammad Moini
Seller: Thomas Witzenberger
Date: 03/01/16

12 Wampanoag Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $389,900
Buyer: Ina A. Forman
Seller: James E. Harrison
Date: 02/26/16

HATFIELD

44 Linseed Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $249,999
Buyer: Crystal M. Callahan
Seller: Caroline Hopfenspirger
Date: 03/04/16

HUNTINGTON

68 County Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Casey J. Mitchell
Seller: Arthur D. Medeiros
Date: 03/04/16

MIDDLEFIELD

1 Skyline Trail
Middlefield, MA 01011
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Michael C. Stimpson
Seller: Colleen M. Budness
Date: 02/26/16

NORTHAMPTON

63 Bradford St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Ralph H. Litwin
Seller: John P. Regish
Date: 02/25/16

79 Hawley St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $843,000
Buyer: AE Properties LLC
Seller: Wang FT
Date: 02/25/16

3 James Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Katherine M. Hicks
Seller: Gloria B. Ayvazian FT
Date: 02/24/16

109 Laurel Park
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Marah M. Macrostie
Seller: Kate Greenough
Date: 02/26/16

88 Laurel Park
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Melanie M. Miller
Seller: Jennifer Snyder
Date: 02/24/16

36 Manhan St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Northeast Ent. Realty
Seller: Soliwoda NT
Date: 03/01/16

25 Market St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: 300 Elm Street LLC
Seller: Robert P. Andrews
Date: 02/25/16

88 Massasoit St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Erin E. Eppsteiner
Seller: Mark A. Casey
Date: 02/29/16

206 North Main St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: David C. Velez
Seller: Joslad & Associates PC
Date: 02/26/16

SOUTH HADLEY

28 Ashton Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Mark S. Kendall
Seller: Richard L. Bayeur
Date: 03/04/16

20 Ferry St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: CRA Holdings Inc.
Seller: HSBC Bank
Date: 02/24/16

6 Gaylord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Norwich Properties LLC
Seller: Mount Tom Properties LLC
Date: 02/23/16

5 Lexington Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Kyle R. Brunault
Seller: Robert J. Brown
Date: 02/23/16

54 School St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Lukasz Socha
Seller: Michael J. Pijar
Date: 03/01/16

7 Silver St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $489,900
Buyer: Scott T. Lynch
Seller: Richard L. Lovelace
Date: 02/23/16

18 Susan Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Karl E. Grochowalski
Seller: Arthur J. Dybizbanski
Date: 02/26/16

22 Waite Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Jason P. Pearlman
Seller: Krok, Lillian, (Estate)
Date: 02/23/16

SOUTHAMPTON

9 Cold Spring Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Matthew Stine
Seller: Amber E. Black
Date: 02/25/16

99 Gilbert Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $361,000
Buyer: Troy E. Chilson
Seller: David Garstka Builders
Date: 02/26/16

87 Gunn Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Buyer: F&G LLC
Seller: Carr, Helen G., (Estate)
Date: 02/23/16

22 Katelyn Way
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Thomas Wnetrzak
Seller: Renata U. Robak
Date: 03/01/16

WARE

27 Berkshire Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $197,500
Buyer: Michael J. Harney
Seller: Jennifer Matos
Date: 03/04/16

29 Fisherdick Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $197,798
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Rose M. Bilodeau
Date: 02/26/16

15 Highland St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Edward L. Masse
Seller: Mark F. Kuras
Date: 02/26/16

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff February 23, 2016

Brandon Mitchell

Chris Marini

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) announced the promotion of Brandon Mitchell, CPA, MSA and Chris Marini, MSA, MOS to Senior Associate positions. Mitchell has been with MBK since 2013 and brings a strong technical skill set to his work, as well as a background in sales. “Brandon has demonstrated a strong understanding of our clients and their industries in his time with our firm,” said MBK partner Howard Cheney. “He is resourceful and often takes the initiative to educate himself on his clients beyond the scope of his technical work, allowing him to enhance his relationship with our client base and deliver an even higher level of client service.” Mitchell earned his MSA from Westfield State University. He is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. For more than two years, Marini has demonstrated a dedicated work ethic to both clients and the firm. He is a team leader within the not-for-profit, HUD, and pension-audit niches. “Since the very beginning, Chris has worked hard and demonstrated a commitment to growth and education,” Cheney said. “He is also an instrumental resource for computer and technology matters here at the firm, helping to spearhead a number of projects and initiatives as we continue to take our cloud-based computer environment to the next level. This has resulted in efficiencies which we are able to pass on to our clients.” Marini holds a BBA with a concentration in accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and earned his MSA from the University of Connecticut. He is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants and the board of trustees for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and serves as a mentor for the Westfield State University Accounting Club.

•••••

PeoplesBank announced the following:

Beverly Farnham

Amos McLeod III

Nancy Robinson

• Beverly Farnham has been promoted to Loan Service Officer. She possesses close to two decades of financial and banking experience. She first joined the bank in 1996 and previously served as loan service specialist. She has earned diplomas for financial services operations and consumer lending from the Center of Financial Training. She has been volunteering for the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race for more than a decade;
• Amos McLeod III has been appointed Senior Credit Analyst Officer. He brings more than a decade of banking experience to his new position. He will be responsible for understanding and managing the credit risk and loan quality of the bank’s commercial real-estate and loan portfolios. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Springfield College and is a graduate of the School of Commercial Lending Program at Babson College. He serves as treasurer of Friends of the Huntington Public Library and volunteers for the United Way of Pioneer Valley; and
• Nancy Robinson has been promoted to Internal Audit Officer. She possesses more than a decade of banking and financial experience. She first joined the bank in 2012 and previously served as financial analyst. She holds a master’s degree in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University. She serves on the board of the Connecticut River Valley Golden Retriever Club. She also volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and Children’s Study Home.

•••••

Jean Deliso

Jean Deliso, CFP, from the Connecticut Valley General Office of New York Life, is now authorized to offer AARP-branded life insurance and lifetime-income annuity products to AARP members. It is the first time these group-life-insurance products are offered by authorized-to-offer agents. Deliso is among a select group of New York Life agents who became authorized to offer her clients AARP Guaranteed Acceptance Life, AARP Level Benefit Term, and AARP Permanent Life Insurance, all from New York Life and New York Life’s Guaranteed Lifetime Income Annuity. She is a licensed insurance agent and passed courses specific to AARP. Deliso has been a New York Life agent since 1995. She serves on many boards in her community, including the Baystate Health Foundation and Pioneer Valley Refrigerated Warehouse, and is chairman of the board of the Community Music School of Springfield. She is past chairman of the board of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, past board member of AAA Pioneer Valley, and past trustee of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and the advisory council at Bay Path University. Since 1994, AARP group-life products from New York Life have been available via direct mail to AARP members. The company has also been the provider of group lifetime-income annuities to AARP members since 2006.

•••••

The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts announced that Liz Feeley was named Director of Philanthropy. She brings a wealth of blended experience in education and philanthropy to the organization. Feeley received her bachelor’s degree in English from Lehigh University. After spending 21 years coaching intercollegiate women’s basketball at institutions such as Smith College, Princeton University, the University of Notre Dame, and Holy Cross College, Feeley took her penchant for building relationships into the field of philanthropy. She brings a background in strategic planning, team building, volunteer management, and designing sustainable programs to the Women’s Fund. Feeley’s work at both Smith College and Stoneleigh-Burnham School, a day-boarding school for girls in Greenfield, brought to the forefront of her consciousness issues that girls and women face each day. She looks forward to building relationships around the Women’s Fund’s mission of creating economic and social equality for women and girls in Western Mass. through philanthropy. Prior to arriving at the Women’s Fund, Feeley served as director of Development at Amherst Montessori School. Previously, as director of Development and Alumnae Relations at Stoneleigh-Burnham, she led a team that increased fund-raising by 133% and alumni participation in the annual fund by 50% in three years. As director of Development, she also launched an initiative that increased the number of major-gift donors by 35% in two years. In five years, her team took fund-raising at the school to an unprecedented level by implementing a strategy based on stewardship, cultivating relationships, brand identity, creating sustainable programs, social media, and in-person visits across the country and in Asia. While at Stoneleigh-Burnham, Feeley was instrumental in the planning and implementation of a $1.2 million two-year campaign. Her team coordinated and hosted a Leadership Symposium and Gala to launch the campaign that successfully raised money for a new student-center complex. She partnered with volunteer groups of parents, alumni, faculty, students, trustees, and others in an effort to advance the mission of the institution.

•••••

Keith G. Roy Construction Inc., a construction and contracting company serving Massachusetts and Connecticut since 1946, announced that Joshua David Roy has been appointed Vice President. “Joshua is continuing a legacy of leadership at a local family-owned and -operated company,” said President Keith G. Roy. Joshua developed his expertise by working side-by-side with both his grandfather, David, and his father, Keith, since his teenage years. He oversees and personally works on projects that include roofing; exterior builds, including decks and siding; as well as interior construction, including kitchens and baths. “I take particular pride in training our crew, project supervision, and customer service,” he said. For more information about the company, visit kgroyconstruction.com.

•••••

The Gove Law Office announced that attorney Jaclyn Packard has joined the firm, focusing her practice on civil and criminal litigation and trials, real-estate transactions, and estate planning. “Jaclyn Packard is a wonderful addition to our growing law firm of professionals who represent the diverse practice areas Gove Law offers clients within the firm’s Litigation, Real Estate, and Estate Planning departments,” said Michael Gove, founding partner of Gove Law Office. Having graduated cum laude from the Florida Coastal School of Law, Packard holds a license to practice law in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Florida. In addition to being a practicing attorney, she is an active supporter of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event and a volunteer with the Lawyer for a Day program. The Gove Law Office, with offices in Ludlow and Northampton, is a bilingual firm with attorneys who provide guidance to clients in the areas of business representation, criminal and civil litigation, personal-injury law, commercial lending, residential and commercial real estate, estate planning, immigration, and bankruptcy.

•••••

Rob Poole

Rob Poole has been named Director of Business Programs at American International College. He will oversee the undergraduate and graduate business administration programs. As part of his responsibilities, Poole will lead the faculty in upgrading the curriculum and managing internship opportunities. The internship program will integrate with the business community to create placements that are mutually beneficial to the industry, students, and the college. In addition, he will focus the MBA program for the non-business major. “Acquiring a technical area of knowledge as an undergraduate, while layering and applying business experience, significantly expands career opportunities,” he said. Poole’s areas of expertise include accreditation, assessment, and internship programs. In addition to working as a private consultant, he has served as an assistant professor at Richard Stockton College and Bellarmine University. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in economics, then received his master’s degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, and a PhD in production operations management from the University of North Texas.

•••••

Milly Parzychowski

United Bank announced the winners of its 2015 Mortgage Loan Officer (MLO) Sales Contest, the bank’s second annual internal awards program that recognizes its bankers for achieving excellence in mortgage production, and a local mortgage loan originator, Milly Parzychowski, is among the honorees. The final standings are based on the number of units and volume closed in 2015. Depending on an MLO’s production for a given year, they can be recognized in three categories: Chairman’s Club (including Chairman’s Club Champion), President’s Club, or Vice President’s Club. Parzychowski was named to the Vice President’s Club. Parzychowski, who joined United Bank in 2011, is based at the Westfield branch and covers Western Mass. Her more than 40 years in banking and mortgage origination included loan officer roles at Mortgage Master Inc. and Family Choice Mortgage Corp. Parzychowski was also a branch manager at American Home Mortgage and at CNI National Mortgage, a loan originator with National City and Source One, and started her banking career as a teller at Valley Bank in Springfield. She is currently an MBA candidate at Bay Path University.

PeoplesBank Announces Promotions, Appointments

By BusinessWest Staff February 5, 2016

Class of 2016 Difference Makers

HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank announced the promotions and appointments of three officers: Beverly Farnham, Amos McLeod III, and Nancy Robinson.

Farnham has been promoted to loan service officer. She possesses close to two decades of financial and banking experience. She first joined the bank in 1996 and previously served as loan service specialist. She has earned diplomas for financial services operations and consumer lending from the Center of Financial Training. She has been volunteering for the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race for more than a decade.

McLeod has been appointed to senior credit analyst officer. He brings more than a decade of banking experience to his new position. He will be responsible for understanding and managing the credit risk and loan quality of the bank’s commercial real-estate and loan portfolios. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Springfield College and is a graduate of the School of Commercial Lending Program at Babson College. He serves as treasurer of Friends of the Huntington Public Library and volunteers for the United Way of Pioneer Valley.

Robinson has been promoted to internal audit officer. She possesses more than a decade of banking and financial experience. She first joined the bank in 2012 and previously served as financial analyst. She holds a master’s degree in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University. She serves on the board of the Connecticut River Valley Golden Retriever Club. She also volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and Children’s Study Home.

Carol Leary, President of Bay Path University

By BusinessWest Staff January 26, 2016

This Inspirational Leader Isn’t in the Community; She’s of the Community

Carol Leary, President of Bay Path University
Leah Martin Photography

Carol Leary says the executive search firms, the headhunters, don’t call very often any more. In fact, she can’t remember the last time one of them did.

She still gets e-mails gauging her interest in various positions, but they’re almost always of that variety that goes out to hundreds, if not thousands, of people. “Are you interested in, or would you care to nominate someone for, the job of president of ‘fill-in-blank college’” is how they usually start.

But not so long ago, Leary, who took the helm at Bay Path University in Longmeadow in late 1994, was getting calls all the time, most of them related to attractive opportunities within the broad realm of higher education. She declined to get into specifics, but said one of them was “very, very flattering.”

Still, it met with the same response as all the others — no response.

When asked why, Leary offered an answer that went on for some time. Paraphrasing that response, she said she was in a job — and in a community — that she was very committed to. And she had, and still has, no intention of leaving either one.

“Noel and I are not dazzled by big or prestigious; we’re dazzled by mission, vision, and making an impact,” said Leary, referring to her husband of 43 years. “We really love this community. We think you can make an impact here; you can make a difference.”
And the evidence that she has done just that is everywhere.

It is in every corner of the Longmeadow campus, starting with the brick sign at the front gate, which declares that this nearly 120-year-old institution, once known as a junior college, is now a university.

Carol Leary is where she always is — the middle of things — after a recent Bay Path commencement exercise.

It also exists in the many other communities where Bay Path now has a presence, including Springfield, where the school located its American Women’s College Online in a downtown office tower in 2013, and East Longmeadow, where it opened the $13.7 million Phillip H. Ryan Health Science Center a year ago.

It’s also on the recently unveiled plaque at the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts at the Quadrangle, the one that reads ‘The Carol and Noel Leary Gallery of Impressionist Art’ in recognition of their $300,000 contribution to that institution, which Noel has served as a board member for many years.

And, in a way, it’s in virtually every business and nonprofit in the region — or, to be more specific, any organization that has sent employees to the Women’s Professional Development Conference, which Leary initiated amid considerable skepticism (even at Bay Path) soon after her arrival.

When the conference was first conceptualized, organizers were hoping to draw 400 people; 800 turned out that first year. Today, the event attracts more than 2,000 attendees annually, and over the years it has welcomed keynoters ranging from Margaret Thatcher to Barbara Walters to Maya Angelou.

But Leary is best known for the turnaround story she is very much still writing at Bay Path, a school that was struggling and suffering from declining enrollment when she arrived.

Over the past two decades, she has led efforts that have taken that enrollment from just under 500 to more than 3,000 when all campuses and all programs, including online offerings, are considered. When she arrived, the school offered 14 associate degrees and three baccalaureate degrees; now, it offers 62 baccalaureate degrees and 20 graduate and post-graduate degrees.

In 2015, for the second year in row, the Chronicle of Higher Education included Bay Path on its list of the fastest-growing baccalaureate colleges in the country, and just a few months ago, Leary and Bay Path were ranked 25th in the 2015 ‘Top-100 Women-led Businesses in Massachusetts’ compilation sponsored by the Boston Globe and the Commonwealth Institute.

The sign at the main entrance explains just how far Bay Path has come under Carol Leary’s stewardship.

Such growth and acclaim didn’t come overnight or very easily, said Leary, who attributed the school’s success to vision, assembling a focused, driven team (much more on that later), and a responsive boards of trustees — all of which have facilitated effective execution of a number of strategic plans.

“Let’s see … there was Vision 2001, and 2006, and 2011, which we had to redo halfway through because of the crash, so there was 2013, and Vision 2016, which ends in June, and then we just launched Vision 2019,” she said, adding that she would like to be around for its end.

“I’ll do it only as long as my board wants me and the faculty and staff feel I can be effective as their leader,” she explained. “And as long as I can get up every day and say ‘wow, it’s great to go to work today.’”

She’s said that since day one, and it’s an attitude that only begins to explain why she’s a Difference Maker.

Making a Course Change

Leary told BusinessWest that, with few exceptions, all of them recently and schedule-related, she has interviewed the finalists for every position on campus, from provost to security guard, since the day she arrived on campus, succeeding Jeanette Wright, who passed away months earlier.

And there’s one question she asks everyone.

She wouldn’t divulge it (on the record, anyway) — “if I did, then someone might read this, and then they’d be prepared to answer it if they ever applied here” — but did say that it revealed something important about the individual sitting across the table.

“To me, that’s the most important part of any CEO’s job — the hiring of the individuals who will be working in the organization,” she explained. “Beyond the résumé and the skill set, I dig a little deeper. And my question tells me what that person cares about; it tells me what motivates them.”

The practice of interviewing every job finalist — but not her specific question of choice — was something Leary took with her from Simmons College, where she spent several years in various positions, including vice president for Administration and assistant to the president, the twin titles she held at the end of her tenure.

But that’s not all she borrowed from that Boston-based institution. Indeed, the Women’s Conference was based on an event Simmons started years earlier, and Leary has also patterned Bay Path’s growth formula on Simmons’ hard focus on diversity when it comes to degree programs.

She applied those lessons and others while undertaking a turnaround initiative at Bay Path that almost never happened — because Leary almost didn’t apply.

“I sent in my letter of interest and résumé on the last day applications were due,” she told BusinessWest, adding that she was encouraged to apply by others who thought she was ready and able to become president of a college — especially this one — but very much needed to be talked into doing so.

“I was nominated for this job — I wasn’t even looking for a presidency,” she went on, adding that, while she had her doctorate and “six years in the trenches,” as she called it, she wasn’t sure she was ready to lead a college. “I loved Simmons, I loved my job, I loved the mission, and I loved working in Boston; it was great.”

It was with all that love as a backdrop that she and Noel, while returning to Boston from a vacation in Niagara Falls that August, decided to swing through the Bay Path campus to get a look at and perhaps a feel for the institution. Suffice it to say they liked what they saw, heard, and could envision.

Indeed, what the two eventually found beyond the idyllic campus located in the heart of an affluent Springfield suburb was a college that possessed what Leary described using that time-honored phrase “good bones.”

And by that, she meant that it still had a sound reputation — years earlier, it was regarded as one of the top secretarial schools in the Northeast, if not the country — and, perhaps more importantly, a solid financial foundation upon which things could be built.

“I knew that Bay Path had been challenged with a decrease in its enrollment over several years,” she recalled. “But all the presidents had kept the institution financially strong; they kept deferred maintenance down, and the endowment was healthy for such a small school of 500 students. I looked at their programs, and I saw the challenges they were facing. But I looked at the balance sheet, and we both said, ‘we can see ourselves here; this has incredible potential as a women’s college.’”

When asked about those struggles with enrollment, Leary said they resulted in part from the fact that there was declining interest in women’s colleges, fueled in part by the fact that most every elite school in the country was by that time admitting women, giving them many more options. But it also stemmed from the fact that Bay Path simply wasn’t offering the products — meaning baccalaureate and graduate degrees — that women wanted, needed, and were going elsewhere to get.

So she set about changing that equation.

But first, she needed to assemble a team; draft a strategic plan for repositioning the school; achieve buy-in from several constituencies, but especially the board of trustees; effectively execute the plan; and then continually amend it as need and demand for products grew.

Spoiler alert (not really; this story is well known): she and those she eventually hired succeeded with all of the above.

To make a long story short, the college soon began adding degree programs in a number of fields, while also expanding geographically with new campuses in Sturbridge and Burlington, and technologically. It’s been a turnaround defined by the terms vision, teamwork, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Milestones along the way include everything from the establishment of athletics (there are eight varsity sports now) to the first graduate-degree program (Communications and Information Management), launched in 2000, a year ahead of schedule; from the introduction of the innovative One-Day-a-Week Saturday College to those new campuses; from the launching of the American Women’s Online College to the school’s being granted status as a university in 2014.

Add it all up, and Leary and her staff have accomplished the mission she set when she arrived — to make Bay Path a destination.

That’s a great story, but the better one — and the reason why all those executive search firms were calling her — is the manner in which all this was accomplished.

Study in Relationship Building

And maybe no one can explain this better than Caron Hoban.

She didn’t work directly with Leary at Simmons — they were assigned to different campuses but served together on a few committees — but certainly knew of her. And when Leary went to Bay Path, Hoban decided to follow just a few months later.

“I knew her a little bit, and I was looking to make my next move just as she had been made president at Bay Path; they had a position open, and I applied for it,” said Hoban, who now holds the position of chief strategic officer.

When asked to summarize what Leary has accomplished at the school and attempt to put it all in perspective, Hoban obliged. But is doing so, she focused much more on how Leary orchestrated such a turnaround and, perhaps even more importantly, why.

And as she articulated these points, Hoban identified what she and others consider Leary’s greatest strengths — listening and forging partnerships.

“One of her greatest gifts is relationship building,” Hoban explained. “So when she came to Bay Path and the Greater Springfield area 21 years ago, she really committed to not just learning more about the college, but really understanding the whole region. She met with hundreds and hundreds of people and just listened.

“At my first meeting with her, she said, ‘what I’ve really been trying to do in my early days is listen to people and understand what the college needs and what the region needs,’” Hoban went on, adding that from this came the decision to create a women’s professional conference modeled on the one at Simmons, and a commitment to add graduate programs in several areas of study.

“She knew that the way to grow the campus and move from 500 students, which is what we had when she arrived, to the 3,000 we have now is by adding master’s-degree programs,” Hoban went on. “And these came about by her going out and listening to what the workforce needs were in the community.”

But Hoban said Leary’s listening and relationship-building talents extended to the campus community, the people she hired, and her own instincts, and this greatly facilitated what was, in every aspect of the word, a turnaround that was critical to the school’s very survival.

In 2007, President Leary welcomed poet, author, and civil-rights activist Maya Angelou to the Women’s Leadership Conference.

Indeed, in 1996, Leary recalled, she essentially asked the board for permission to spend $10 million of the $14 million the school had in the bank at the time over the next several years to hire faculty, add programs, and, in essence, take the school to the next level.

“I remember the conversations that were had around the table, and there was one member of the board, the chair of the academic committee, who said, ‘if we don’t do this, there might not be a future for Bay Path,’” she recalled. “I recommended that we make that investment — it had athletics in it, the Women’s Leadership Conference, and much more; that was Vision 2001.”

As it turned out, she didn’t have to spend all the money she asked for, because those degree programs added early on were so successful that revenues increased tremendously, to the point where the school didn’t have to take money out of the bank.

Looking back on what’s transpired at Bay Path, and also at the dynamics of administration in higher education, Leary said turning around a college as she and her team did is like turning around an aircraft carrier; in neither case does it happen quickly or easily.

In fact, she said it takes at least a full decade to blueprint and effectively execute a turnaround strategy, and that’s why relatively few colleges fully succeed with such initiatives — the president or chancellor doesn’t stay long enough to see the project to completion. And, inevitably, new leadership will in some ways alter the course and speed of a plan, if not create their own.

But Leary has given Bay Path not one decade, but two, and she’s needed all of that time to put the school on such lists as the Chronicle of Higher Education’s compilation of fastest-growing schools.

In keeping with her personality, Leary recoils when a question is asked with a tone focusing on what she has done. Indeed, she attributes the school’s progression to hiring the right people and then simply providing them with the tools and environment needed to flourish.

“I got up every day and knew I had to hire the best possible staff, people who believed in the mission,” she recalled. “And when people ask why Bay Path has been so successful, I say it’s because I hired the right people at the right time, and they just threw themselves into their jobs.”

While giving considerable credit to those she’s interviewed and hired over the years, Leary saved some for Noel and his willingness to share what she called “an equal-opportunity marriage.”

Elaborating, she said she agreed to uproot and follow him to Washington, D.C. and a job in commercial real estate there decades ago, and he more than reciprocated by first following her to Boston as she took a job at Simmons, then making another major adjustment — trying to serve his clients in the Hub from 100 miles away — when she came to Bay Path. He did that for more than a decade before retiring and taking on the role of supporting her various efforts.

“Noel has been a tremendous, tremendous support to me,” she explained. “He basically said, ‘this is an important job, I love what you’re doing, and I enjoy being a part of it.’”

And she implied that what he meant by ‘it’ was not simply her work at the campus on Longmeadow Street, but her efforts well outside it. They are so numerous and impactful that Hoban chose to say that Leary isn’t in the community, “she’s of the community.”

And perhaps the best example of that has been the women’s conference and how the region’s business community has embraced it.

Learning Curves

Dena Hall says it’s a good problem to have. Well … sort of.

There are more people at United Bank, which Hall serves as regional president, who want to go to the conference than the institution can effectively send.

Far more.

And that has led to some hand-wringing among those administrators (like Hall) whose job descriptions now include deciding who gets to go each spring and who doesn’t.

“We’ve gotten to the point where we have too many who want to go — we just can’t accommodate everyone, because we can’t have 50 current or emerging leaders out of the company at one time,” she explained. “So we’ve put it on each of our managers to identify one or two women in their business line who they believe should attend the conference and who will really benefit from what they see and hear.”

But these hard decisions comprise the only thing Hall doesn’t like about the women’s conference, except maybe finding a parking space that morning. That, too, has become a challenge, but, for the region as a whole, also a great problem to have.

Because that means that 2,000 women — and some men as well — are not only hearing the keynoters such as Walters, Angelou, and others, but networking and learning through a host of seminars and breakout sessions.

“You always learn something,” said Hall, who has been attending the conference for more than a dozen years. “Last year, I participated in the time-management workshop, and it changed the entire way I look at my schedule from Monday through Friday; the woman was fantastic.

“And there’s tons of networking,” she went on. “We use the conference here as a coaching and development tool for the more junior women on our team. There’s a lot of value in it, and for us, the fact that it’s five minutes away makes it so much easier than sending someone to Boston or New Haven or anywhere else.”

The conference is a college initiative — indeed, its primary goal beyond the desire to help educate and empower women is to give the school valuable exposure — but it is also a community endeavor, and one of many examples of how Leary is of, not just in, the community.

Others include everything from her service to the Colony Club — she was the first woman to chair its board — to her time on the boards of the Community Foundation, the Beveridge Foundation, WGBY, and United Bank, among others. She was also the honorary chair of Habitat for Humanity’s All Women build project in 2009.

And then, there was the support she and Noel gave to the museums and the current capital campaign called “Seuss & Springfield: Building a Better Quandrangle,” a gift that Springfield Museums President Kay Simpson described as not only generous, but a model to others who thought they might not be able to afford such philanthropy.

“One of the motivating factors for Carol and Noel,” she noted, “is that they wanted to demonstrate that, even if you don’t think you can make a substantial gift, with planning, you can do it.”

Leary said planning began years ago, and was inspired by a desire to preserve and expand a treasure that many in this area simply don’t appreciate for its quality.

“We really believe in the museum — we absolutely adore it,” she said. “I said to my niece and nephew at the gala [where the gift was announced], ‘this is your inheritance; you might be in the will, but there isn’t going to be any money in it — it’s going right here, so you can bring your children and your children’s children here decades from now.’

“Noel told the audience that night, ‘we have some big birthdays coming up, but forget Tiffany’s; we’re giving it to the museums,’” she went on. “That’s how much we think of this region; there are so many gems, like the museums, the symphony, CityStage, and others that need support.”

From left, Donald D’Amour, Michele D’Amour, Carol Leary, and Noel Leary at the ceremony marking the naming of the Gallery of Impressionist Art.

And looking back on her time here, she said it has been her mission not only to be involved in the community herself, but to get the college immersed in it as well. She considers these efforts successful and cites examples of involvement ranging from Habitat for Humanity to Big Brothers Big Sisters; from Link to Libraries to the college’s sponsorship of the recent Springfield Public Forum and partnerships that brought speakers such as Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and author Wes Moore.

“You can’t be an ivory tower,” she told BusinessWest. “We have to be part and parcel of the good, the bad, and the ugly of any community.”

As she talked about the importance of involvement in this community, Leary made it a point to talk about the region itself, which she has chosen to call home. She said it has attributes and selling points that are easier for people not from the 413 area code to appreciate.

And this is something she would like to see change.

“People underrate this area, and the negativity has to stop,” she said with twinges of anger and urgency in her voice. “The language and the perception has to start changing from all of us who have a voice; we have to talk more positively.”

A Class Act

When asked how long she intended to stay at the helm at Bay Path, Leary didn’t give anything approaching a specific answer other than a reference to wanting to see how Vision 2019 shakes out.

Instead, she conveyed the sentiment that was implied in all those non-responses to inquiries from executive search firms: she’s not at all ready to leave this job or this community.

As she said, one can have an impact here. One can make a difference.

Not everyone does so, but she has, and in a number of ways.

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

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff January 26, 2016

Baystate Health recently announced changes and consolidations in leadership positions in its Eastern Region:
• Effective Jan. 29, Michael Moran will become the interim president and chief administrative officer for the Baystate Health Eastern Region. Moran has been at Baystate Health for 14 years and currently serves as the organization’s Vice President for Clinical, Facilities and Guest Services. Moran’s new role combines the responsibilities of two current positions in the region, the president and the chief operating officer;
• The region’s current president, Dr. Charles Cavagnaro III, will depart Baystate Health to pursue other opportunities. Before joining Baystate Health, Cavagnaro served as president and CEO of Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers for 15 years;
• The region’s current chief operating officer, Dr. M. Shafeeq Ahmed, will return to practicing medicine full-time at Baystate Health. Ahmed has been a physician-leader at Baystate Health since 2003;
• Dr. David McGuire will become the region’s chief medical officer.
“Our goal, in considering these changes, is to ensure that our Eastern Region can successfully deliver care that matters to the community in a responsible and sustainable way,” said Nancy Shendell-Falik, Senior Vice President of Hospital Operations for Baystate Health. “To survive and thrive in the contemporary world of healthcare, we continue to make changes that ensure long-term stabilization, system integration, and a consistent model for delivering quality, safety, patient experience, and value.”
Added Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health, “Drs. Cavagnaro and Ahmed have made major contributions to the integration of Wing into Baystate Health and to our organization as a whole. We thank them for their leadership, and we wish them the very best.” Three other management positions in the region are being eliminated and their work consolidated into other positions. At Baystate Health, Moran has been responsible for a broad spectrum of services including cancer, behavioral health, neurosciences and rehabilitation, food and nutrition, facilities, and more. Moran is known for building high-performing teams, fostering engagement, and serving as executive leader for Baystate Medical Center’s complex heart and vascular and emergency-room expansion projects. He led the building of the orthopedic surgery and cancer centers in Springfield and the surgical center under construction at Baystate Franklin Medical Center. He has co-led the health system’s largest and most complex Lean project, which saved more than $5 million and improved patient flow at Baystate Medical Center.

•••••

PeoplesBank has announced the promotions and appointments of four associates:

Brian Canina

• Brian Canina has been promoted to senior vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer. He possesses more than 16 years of financial experience and first joined PeoplesBank in 2009. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bryant College and is a certified public accountant. He is also a graduate of the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking and is a recipient of the Wharton Leadership Certificate. Canina is president of the Finance and Accounting Society of New England and an officer of the Financial Managers Society, Boston Chapter. He serves on the boards of directors for the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and the Children’s Study Home;

Stacy Sutton

• Stacy Sutton has been promoted to senior vice president, retail administration. Boasting more than two decades of banking experience, she joined the bank in 1992 and previously served as first vice president, retail administration. She holds an associate degree in accounting from Springfield Technical Community College and is a graduate of the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. School for Financial Studies. She serves on the board of directors for Springfield Partners;

Joseph Zazzaro

• Joseph Zazzaro has been promoted to senior vice president and chief information officer. He possesses more than three decades of information technology experience with a focus in financial services. He joined the bank in 2006 and previously served as first vice president, information technology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in information systems from the University of Phoenix and an associate degree in management information systems from Holyoke Community College. He also is a graduate of the New England School of Financial Studies. Zazzaro was a 14-year member of the Greater Westfield Boys and Girls Club board of directors and continues to volunteer to provide technical support for the club. He has also volunteered his technical and leadership skills at other local organizations, such as the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, the United Way, the Red Cross, and the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club; and

Russell Fontaine

• Russell Fontaine has been promoted to first vice president, retail sales. Boasting more than a decade of financial experience, he first joined the bank in 2009 and previously served as vice president, sales and service manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Westfield State University and a certificate from the Wharton School of Business Leadership at the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He serves on the board of the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity.

•••••

John Dowd Jr

The Dowd Insurance Agencies announced that John Dowd Jr., president and CEO of the Dowd Insurance Agencies, was selected to serve on the board of directors for the Massachusetts Assoc. of Insurance Agents (MAIA). Membership in the MAIA is open to independent, licensed insurance agencies doing business as individuals, partnerships, corporations, or other forms of business organizations in Massachusetts. With 1,300 agency members, MAIA is one of the largest state and regional associations of independent insurance agents in the country. The new board of directors began their term on Jan. 1. The board as a whole establishes positions on various industry issues and advocates for the agency community before government bodies. Individual members of the board of directors are the official representatives of the MAIA members in their geographical areas. “The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents has a long track record for consistent support for the insurance-agency community,” Dowd said. “I am very pleased to serve among this group of dedicated insurance professionals.” A 1980 graduate of St. Michael’s College, Dowd is an accredited advisor in insurance (AAI) and a licensed insurance advisor (LIA). He began his career as an underwriter for the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. and joined Dowd Insurance Agency in 1982.

•••••

L. Alexandra Hogan

Local law firm, Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. announced that attorney L. Alexandra Hogan was selected to serve on the emerging insolvency professionals subcommittee of the American Bankruptcy Institute. “Alex has quickly become a rising star in our bankruptcy department. She is dedicated and is already helping other professionals establish themselves in the insolvency field,” said attorney Steve Weiss, supervisor of the firm’s bankruptcy division. As a new member of the emerging insolvency professionals subcommittee, Hogan will help bankruptcy professionals find different avenues to network and develop as experts. The mission of this new subcommittee is to create a forum for developing leaders to exchange ideas to better aid clients and further cultivate the insolvency field. Hogan graduated in 2008 with cum laude honors from Western New England University School of Law, where she was also appointed assistant editor and became a published author of the Western New England Law Review. She graduated from Bay Path University with summa cum laude honors in 1996. She has been selected by Super Lawyers to the Rising Stars list and as a Top Women Attorney (2011-15). Hogan concentrates her practice primarily in business, litigation, and bankruptcy law. She has an extensive bankruptcy practice that includes both debtor and creditor representation in individual and business cases, including Chapter 7 and Chapter 11. Additionally, she acts as counsel to Chapter 7 trustee Steven Weiss in bankruptcy litigation advanced in adversary proceedings. “I am honored to be a member of this new committee,” Hogan said. “It is very important for developing professionals to find ways to network with insolvency experts and to discuss emerging trends in the bankruptcy field.”

•••••

Richard Venne, president and CEO of Community Enterprises Inc., announced the election of new officers to one-year terms at the recent board of directors meeting. Elected to officer positions for one-year terms are William Donohue, Chair, Children and Family Law, Springfield; Donald Miner, Vice Chair, Loomis Communities, South Hadley; Joanne Carlisle, Clerk/Secretary, Stop & Shop Inc., Springfield; and Brittney Kelleher, Treasurer, Westfield Bank, Springfield. Deborah Omasta-Mokrzecki, Amherst College, was elected as a new member for a three-year term. Existing members elected to additional three-year terms include Donohue; Carlisle; Miner; Mary Beth Davidson, Travelers, Hartford, Conn.; Kate LaMay-Miller, Multi-Media Impact, Hadley; and Albert Lognin, HARC, Hartford, Conn. Community Enterprises is a human-service organization that provides employment, education, housing supports, and day supports for people with disabilities. It is headquartered in Northampton and maintains 27 service locations throughout the U.S.

•••••

Lou Mayo has been installed as president of the 1,700-member Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley. Mayo, a Realtor since 1997, is the office manager with Real Living Realty Professionals, LLC in Wilbraham. As president, he will oversee the association’s activities and operations, including meetings of the board of directors, and act as a liaison to the association’s various committees. He is the official spokesperson of the association on issues related to the real-estate industry and the regional housing market. The other 2016 officers are Richard Sawicki Jr., president-elect; Edward Alford, treasurer; Susan Drumm, secretary; and Dawn Henry, immediate past president. Directors include Elias Acuna, Kelly Bowman, Shawn Bowman, Suzi Buzzee, Janise Fitzpatrick, Raymond Hoess-Brooks, Susan Rheaume, and Russell Sabadosa.

PeoplesBank Announces Four Promotions

By BusinessWest Staff January 15, 2016

HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank has announced the promotions and appointments of four associates.

Brian Canina has been promoted to senior vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer. He possesses more than 16 years of financial experience and first joined the bank in 2009. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bryant College and is a certified public accountant. He is also a graduate of the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking and is a recipient of the Wharton Leadership Certificate. Canina is president of the Finance and Accounting Society of New England and an officer of the Financial Managers Society, Boston Chapter. He serves on the boards of directors for the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and the Children’s Study Home.

Stacy Sutton has been promoted to senior vice president, retail administration. Boasting more than two decades of banking experience, she joined the bank in 1992 and previously served as first vice president, retail administration. She holds an associate degree in accounting from Springfield Technical Community College and is a graduate of the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. School for Financial Studies. She serves on the board of directors for Springfield Partners.

Joseph Zazzaro has been promoted to senior vice president and chief information officer. He possesses over three decades of information technology experience with a focus in financial services. He joined the bank in 2006 and previously served as first vice president, information technology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in information systems from the University of Phoenix and an associate degree in management information systems from Holyoke Community College. He also is a graduate of the New England School of Financial Studies. Zazzaro was a 14-year member of the Greater Westfield Boys and Girls Club board of directors and continues to volunteer to provide technical support for the club. He has also volunteered his technical and leadership skills at other local organizations, such as the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, the United Way, the Red Cross, and the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club.

Russell Fontaine has been promoted to first vice president, retail sales. Boasting more than a decade of financial experience, he first joined the bank in 2009 and previously served as vice president, sales and service manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Westfield State University and a certificate from the Wharton School of Business Leadership at the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He serves on the board of the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity.

Country Bank’s Employee-volunteer Program Evolves

By BusinessWest Staff January 6, 2016

WARE — Country Bank has been supporting local communities for many years, not only through donations, but also with volunteers working at local community events, participating in parades and road races, serving dinner on Thanksgiving Day, feeding the homeless, collecting trash, and building houses for Habitat for Humanity, to name a few efforts.

In 2015, the volunteer program at Country Bank was taken to the next level with the implementation of the Country Bank Cares Community Volunteer Program. This new program offers volunteer opportunities at various events throughout the year to Country Bank staff. Each volunteer hour is logged, and at the end of the year, staff members who volunteered 10 hours or more are awarded a grant to a charity of their choice for either $100 or $250, depending on their total time volunteered.

A total of 109 Country Bank staff members participated in this new program for a total of more than 800 hours of volunteer service. Of those 109, 32 qualified for a grant, for a grand total of $4,100 donated by Country Bank.

“I couldn’t be more pleased at the success of our first year of the Country Bank Cares Program,” said Deb Gagnon, corporate relations officer. “Our staff really came forward and helped out at various events in our towns, and as a result, many nonprofits will benefit from the donation dollars. It is amazing to see the commitment from our staff members and the bank through this program.”

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff December 29, 2015