Archive for July 2023
New board, officer to focus on making state web services more accessible
The Healey administration will create a new panel and a “chief IT accessibility officer” tasked with overseeing a government-wide transition toward better accessibility on the state’s websites and digital applications. On the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order Wednesday standing up a Digital Accessibility and Equity…
Read MorebankESB Parent Company Wins National Top Workplaces Award
Hometown Financial Group, parent company of bankESB, announced it was named a 2023 Financial Services Industry Top Workplaces national award winner. This award is based solely on feedback from employees of participating workplaces, gathered through an anonymous, third-party survey administered by Energage LLC, a leading provider of technology-based employee-engagement tools. Industry Top Workplaces awards celebrate…
Read MoreHelp us Stuff the Bus!
It’s not too early to start thinking about back to school! Don’t worry, summertime is still here and we’re collecting school supplies for the United Way. Stuff the Bus is back! Thousands of children in homeless families in western Massachusetts need your help. Stuff our Western Mass News studios at 1300 Liberty Street in Springfield…
Read MoreMichael Preli Turns His Woodturning Passion into a Successful Business
Michael Preli’s career has been one of constant advancement — not necessarily in title or income, but in job satisfaction. And he’s a long way from where he started, in the auto-body field. “My father is a frame technician for auto body. And I always thought that’s what I wanted to do,” Preli told BusinessWest.…
Read MorePioneer Valley Food Tours Is a Growing Venture
Deborah Christakos has spent most of her adult life in the food business — or several businesses, to be more precise. Trained in France, she was a chef in restaurants in several major large cities, including New York, Boston, and San Francisco. Later, after moving to Northampton, starting a family, and deciding that a chef’s…
Read MoreCooley Dickinson Hospital’s new emergency department to meet increasing demand of patients
A historic day for Cooley Dickinson Hospital, as they officially announced the expansion and renovation of their new emergency department. In the 10 years since Cooley Dickinson Hospital became part of Mass General Brigham, a representative tells 22News that health quality care has improved. And an extra step in advancing the emergency room capacity will…
Read MoreNew Mural Captures Springfield’s History, Firsts, Character
You’ll need more than a glance to take in, and fully appreciate, the mural being created on the south-facing wall of the old Skyplex Building on Bridge Street in Springfield. You’ll probably need at least 10 minutes to fully absorb all the images on the 100-foot-long wall. There are dozens of them, large and small.…
Read MoreBusinessTalk with Valley Blue Sox General Manager Tyler Descheneaux
It’s not easy building a sports franchise that wins on the field while consistently growing its attendance and presence in the community. But the Valley Blue Sox, which has brought collegiate summer baseball to Holyoke since 2008, has certainly done both. On the next installment of BusinessTalk, as the team makes a late-season playoff push,…
Read MoreEvents happening in western Mass. this weekend
A weekend jam-packed full of things to do in western Massachusetts. There’s been lots of talk about two movies hitting theaters this weekend too. The summer blockbuster is back, everyone is super excited to see participate in Barbenhiemer. The new Barbie movie directed by Greta Gerwig and Christopher Nolan’s, Oppenheimer are starkly different films premiering…
Read MoreAmerican International College Aims to Stem Region’s Talent Drain
At a time when employers in most sectors are struggling to attract and retain a workforce, leveraging the impact of the region’s colleges and universities is more important than ever. That’s part of what Hubert Benitez, president of American International College (AIC), conveyed during an address to a recent Rise and Shine Business Breakfast sponsored…
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