AMHERST — The Jones family commemorated 60 years of living and working in the Amherst area with a Sept. 27 community event at the Amherst Golf Club, co-hosted by the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.
Jones Group Realtors began in 1958 when Denison H. Jones founded the company from the living room of his Amherst home. In 1970 D. H. Jones Real Estate Company moved into its current 200 Triangle St. offices in Amherst.
In 1992 Gerald L. Jones assumed ownership of the company, while Andrew Jones and Wendy Jones Boisseau assumed leadership and management of Jones Properties.
For 60 years Jones Group has grown with three locations in the centers of Amherst, Belchertown and Northampton, and more than 60 experienced real estate professionals. Locally owned and independent, Jones claims to provide “a truly local perspective” on real estate in the Five College Area and Upper Pioneer Valley.
EASTHAMPTON — Brothers-in-law Roger Fuller and Rick Hinton founded R & R Window Contractors Inc. in November of 1978, hoping to do what they loved and put food on the table.
For 40 years, they have built a good reputation by doing right by their customers and employees and providing high quality work project after project.
The two-man window installation business has matured into a full-service building façade company that employs nearly 100 people, including multiple generations of family.
R & R is hosting a dinner party to celebrate the milestone anniversary on Nov. 3 at the Sheraton Hotel in Springfield. In attendance will be current and former employees, project owners, architects, general contractors, and many of R & R’s most trusted product vendors.
AMHERST — On Tuesday, the Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley, 447 West St., will host Sheila Heen, best-selling author of “Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well” at the Delaney House in Holyoke.
Heen teaches at Harvard Law School and in the Harvard Negotiation Project. Also, Ross Giombetti will explain why and how your company would benefit from a “users manual of you.” To register contact Ira Bryck at ira@fambizpv.com or 835-0810.
HADLEY — In 2016, Paragus CEO Delcie Bean implemented an employee stock ownership plan, which distributed ownership of 40 percent of the company to its (at the time) 40-plus employees. On Friday, Paragus and their now 50-plus employees will toast Employee Ownership Month and celebrate the pride of self-ownership at the firm’s headquarters.
The head brewer of Harpoon Brewery will serve one of his favorite concoctions and field questions. Paragus staff will prepare and serve favorites from the Paragus cookbook, featuring home recipes from the firm’s employee-owners. Attendees will also receive a copy of the cookbook.
Bean says the decision to offer employee stock options was a smart one. It has fueled growth and inspired deeper commitment by giving everyone a direct stake and a personal investment in the future of the company.
NORTHAMPTON — United Fresh Produce Association has named Big Y World Class Market produce and floral sales manager, Wade Michels, as a 2018 produce manager of the year in its retail produce manager awards program.
This year, Michels was honored among 25 produce managers representing supermarket chains, commissaries, and independent retail stores from 15 different states and two Canadian provinces. Michels was selected from hundreds of nominations across the industry.
Winners are selected by a special team of produce experts and based upon a number of criteria including efforts to increase produce consumption through everyday excellence in merchandising, special displays and promotions, community service and commitment to total customer satisfaction.
Michels has been with Big Y for 15 years. He started in the produce department at the Rocky Hill, Connecticut, store in 2002, went to Guildford, Connecticut, in 2009, and is now in Branford, Connecticut.