Business Briefs: Dec. 27, 2024

Two new members join GCC board of trustees

GREENFIELD — Jenni Lanoue and Shonda Pettiford have been appointed to Greenfield Community College’s board of trustees.

Lanoue is a longtime resident of Franklin County and a GCC alumna, having graduated with an associate degree in nursing in 2003. With nearly two decades of experience working at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, she currently serves as the chief nursing officer/director of patient care services, overseeing multiple nursing units and leading initiatives that enhance patient care and safety.

“I am honored and excited for this new opportunity to sit on the board of trustees for the college that kicked off my career in nursing,” Lanoue said in a statement. “I am eager to help shape the future of GCC and support our students in achieving their goals.”

Pettiford brings a wealth of experience in operations and communications. Currently serving as director of operations at Five Colleges Inc., she has a background in strategic planning, human resource management and collaborative initiatives across multiple higher education institutions. Pettiford’s previous roles include CEO of Gravity Switch and director of communications at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her commitment to community service is exemplified by her involvement with the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, where she has served as president of the board of directors.

BHN makes The Boston Globe’s ranking of 2024 Top Places to Work

SPRINGFIELD — Behavioral Health Network Inc. (BHN) has been named one of the 2024 Top Places to Work in Massachusetts in the 17th annual, employee-based survey from The Boston Globe.

BHN has earned this designation for three consecutive years and is ranked No. 10 on the list of 25 companies in the largest company category (representing companies with 1,000 or more employees). BHN was also awarded recognition as a “2024 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Champion.”

Top Places to Work recognizes the most admired workplaces in the state voted on by the people who know them best — their employees. The survey measures employee opinions about their company’s direction, execution, connection, management, work, pay, benefits and engagement. The employers are placed into one of four groups: small, with 50 to 99 employees; medium, with 100 to 249 workers; large, with 250 to 999 staff members; and largest, with a workforce of 1,000 or more employees.

“We are honored to be nominated for the Top Workplace Award for the third consecutive year, and to be recognized for our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion,” Steve Winn, president and CEO of BHN, said in a statement. “At BHN, our focus on social justice, high-quality care and staff well-being is strong. This recognition reinforces that our efforts are making a difference, and it motivates us to continue this important work for our staff to feel valued, respected and appreciated. We are grateful to our staff for their commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve.”

BHN employs more than 2,500 people across western Massachusetts (Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties) and in Suffolk County. The organization serves 38,000 individuals annually who face life challenges due to mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Top Places to Work of 2024 can be viewed online at Globe.com/TopPlaces.

BHN announces two additions to executive leadership team

SPRINGFIELD — Two new members have joined Behavioral Health Network’s executive leadership team.

Anthony Boswell joined BHN as senior vice president in October, bringing extensive experience in mental health leadership. In this role, he will provide strategic leadership across multiple service lines and play an instrumental role in shaping the organization’s future direction.

Prior to joining BHN, Boswell served as CEO of LevinThor LLC, a consulting firm specializing in management, leadership and education. He has also held senior leadership positions at mental health organizations in Springfield, New Orleans and Washington D.C.

Boswell attended the United States Air Force Academy and earned a bachelor’s degree from Stony Brook University, a master’s degree in organizational leadership from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

Sigfredo Irizarry joined BHN in November as vice president of performance improvement, applications and data analytics. In this position, Irizarry will lead efforts to enhance performance improvement initiatives across the organization, focusing on optimizing applications and leveraging data analytics to improve service delivery.

With 30 years of experience in information technology, Irizarry specializes in IT leadership, system information, business continuity, cybersecurity and process automation. Irizarry has extensive experience in managing technical teams, complex system migrations and cybersecurity efforts to mitigate risks.

Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity from Purdue University, Irizarry is enrolled in the CISSP Track. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from the International Institute of The Americas.

“We are excited to welcome Tony and Sigfredo to our executive leadership team,” Steve Winn, president and CEO of BHN, said in a statement. “Their experience and leadership will be key in driving our strategic vision and enhancing the quality of services we provide. These appointments demonstrate our commitment to strengthening BHN’s leadership and advancing our mission to deliver exceptional behavioral health services.”

“The Strong Man” screening to feature live accompaniment

GREENFIELD — Silent film with live music returns to the Garden Cinemas on Monday, Jan. 6, with a screening of “The Strong Man” (1926) starring Harry Langdon at 6:30 p.m.

The screening will feature live accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based composer who specializes in creating scores for silent films.

Directing “The Strong Man” was Frank Capra, who would later go on to create such Hollywood classics as “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (1939) and “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946).

“The Strong Man” tells the story of a World War I soldier (Langdon) who, following his discharge, finds work as an assistant to a circus strongman. As the act travels the country, Langdon continually searches for a girl he corresponded with while stationed overseas in the military. The search leads to a town controlled by Prohibition-era gangsters, which forces Langdon to test the limits of his own inner strength.

Admission is $10.50 adults and $8.50 for children, seniors and students.

Silent films with live music are screened at the Garden Cinemas on the first Monday of each month. Upcoming titles include:

■Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m. — “Nanook of the North” (1922).

■March 3, 6:30 p.m. — “The Sheik” (1921).

■April 7, 6:30 p.m. — “The Lost World” (1925).

REALTOR Association of Pioneer Valley gives out two awards

HOLYOKE — The REALTOR Association of Pioneer Valley announced its annual award winners during its holiday luncheon on Dec. 12, at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.

The 2024 award winners are:

■REALTOR of the Year: Peter Ruffini, RE/MAX Connections

■Affiliate of the Year: Kristin Gravanis, Westfield Bank

The REALTOR of the Year award is the highest recognition the association can bestow on a REALTOR member. It is given to a member based on association activity, community activity outside the association and business activity.

A REALTOR since 1996, Peter Ruffini of RE/MAX Connections served as president of the REALTOR Association of Pioneer Valley’s board of directors for 2024. He has given back to the community by supporting local charitable events and serves as chair of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons. He also actively serves on several committees at both the state and national levels, demonstrating commitment to advancing the REALTOR Association of Pioneer Valley’s profession and supporting its members. Ruffini holds 11 professional designations and certifications.

The Affiliate of the Year award is the highest recognition the association can bestow on an affiliate member. It is given based on affiliate membership activities related to the association, community service in activities outside the association and business activity.

A member of the REALTOR Association of Pioneer Valley since 2007, Gravanis of Westfield Bank has served on the Community Service Committee. Gravanis has volunteered in the association’s community service efforts through fundraising and preparing meals at the Friends of the Homeless volunteer program.