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Supermarket Partnerships Fuel Expansion at Between Rounds South Windsor

October 22, 2014 // by admin

Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café, the unique bakery café and bagel shop with four locations in Connecticut, has recently expanded operations at their South Windsor corporate headquarters and is hiring.

Jerry and Joe Puiia, owners of the Between Rounds franchise, have recently added a second oven to the South Windsor location, which will better accommodate the growing popularity and customer demand for their bagels as well as better support the partnerships that the company has with independent grocers. Between Rounds bagels are now offered in the bakery departments of 16 supermarkets in Connecticut.

Between Rounds is also hiring additional production staff to support the wholesale orders of independent grocers across the region. The bagels are delivered to grocers fully baked so no additional labor is required of the grocer’s bakery department.

“Our product is high quality, consistent and absolutely delicious. Currently, we supply 16 supermarkets with our bagels and that number keeps growing. It is an easy decision for many independent grocers because they get a superior product without any additional labor required from their bakery department,” explained Jerry Puiia. “In addition, we promote each supermarket’s bakery department by directing our website visitors to the grocers that carry our bagels. Many of our customers also shop at those supermarkets, so they can easily purchase Between Rounds bagels while grocery shopping.”

For more than 20 years, Highland Park Markets, which has stores in Suffield, Farmington, Manchester, Coventry and Glastonbury, has been carrying Between Rounds bagels as their privately labeled brand, but switched to the Between Rounds brand name two years ago. West Side Marketplace in Rocky Hill has been carrying the signature brand for four years. Geissler’s Supermarkets, which are located in Agawam, Bloomfield, East Windsor, Granby, Somers and South Windsor, have been carrying them for almost a year. Lyman Orchards Apple Barrel Market in Middlefield and the family-owned Gardiner’s Market in South Glastonbury have just started carrying Between Rounds products. As a grocery partner, Waverly Markets, LLC and the Cohen Family now offer Between Rounds signature bagels in their ShopRite Manchester and East Hartford stores.

About Between Rounds

Founded in 1990, Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café is a unique bakery café and bagel shop renowned for their fresh, baked-on site bagels and baked goods as well sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, specialty coffee and a unique line of giftware. Between Rounds offers patrons an upscale, fast-casual dining experience with free Wi-Fi and the added convenience of a drive-thru window. Between Rounds is expanding and franchise opportunities are available. Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café has been named a Military Friendly Franchise®, which places in an elite group and is testimony to the company’s commitment to supporting military veterans interested in franchise opportunities.

Between Rounds’ current locations include South Windsor, Vernon, Manchester and Tolland. Corporate headquarters are located at 19A John Fitch Blvd, Route 5 in South Windsor, CT. For more information about Between Rounds franchise opportunities or to inquire about wholesale bagels at grocery stores, contact (860) 291-0323 or visit www.betweenroundsbagels.com.

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Plymouth businessman Scott Hokanson celebrates 20 years in employee benefits on ….Halloween?

October 17, 2014 // by admin

Scott Hokanson, owner of Brabo Benefits, celebrates his 20th anniversary selling employee healthcare benefits. Here’s what the Plymouth resident wore for his 19th anniversary, with son Jacoby.

PLYMOUTH, MA…

The irony and humor that his career in selling employee healthcare benefits began on Halloween is not lost on Plymouth businessman and resident Scott Hokanson. Yet in celebrating his 20^th anniversary in the business this October 31, Hokanson sees less of the humor as healthcare costs have many small business owners and employees figuratively running scared.

“The new Affordable Care Act is a bit frightening and mysterious to many people, just like that kid trick-or-treating in the monster outfit. In selling benefits to small businesses, I figuratively take the mask off the ‘monster’ and turn on the lights so business owners can see what’s available and we can work together to devise a solution,” said Hokanson, who started selling employee benefits with his father’s firm, Marshfield, MA-based Hokanson Insurance Agency, back in 1994. He started Brabo Benefits in 2013.

Over the course of his 20-year career selling benefits, Hokanson has seen the prices of healthcare benefits rise from $100 per month for single coverage to over $500 per month and deductibles increase from zero to $2000. Still, Hokanson has seen many improvements as well, particularly in terms of who can sell employee benefits.

“Back in 1994, anybody with an insurance license could sell health benefits. As part of the healthcare reform, selling employee benefits has become an expertise that requires specific accreditation and that is absolutely a benefit to consumers,” said Hokanson.

Hokanson says that expertise is needed as most employees will not spend the time needed to make the wisest healthcare benefits decision for their family.

“If you were buying a household appliance like a washing machine, you would probably spend a good five to six hours doing your research online and asking around. For something like health insurance that’s going to cost you the price of a washing machine per month, most people give it very little thought,” said Hokanson. “That’s why I enjoy this business so much is because I really feel like I am helping people who need it. Plus, it’s cool to visit small businesses and look at the many different ways people are making a living.”

A graduate of Marquette University, Hokanson resides in Plymouth with his wife and their five children. He’s a member of the Plymouth Rotary Club, president of the Sacred Heart High School Parents Association, and has served on many boards including the Plymouth Boys & Girls Club of Plymouth, the Massachusetts Connector, Blue Cross, Tufts , Fallon and Minuteman Health.

For more information on Brabo Benefits, please visit www.brabobenefits.com.

A friend with benefits – Brabo Benefits

Based in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Brabo Benefits provides the full package of employee benefits solutions, including: health, dental, life, disability, and stop loss insurance. In addition, Brabo Benefits offers consultative services, such as underwriting support and health care reform compliance. For more information, visit www.brabobenefits.com or call 617-733-6471.

Plymouth businessman Scott Hokanson celebrates 20 years in employee benefits on ….Halloween?Read More

Westport, MA subdivision, Briggs Landing, moves sales office to completed new model home at 21 Devol Avenue

October 16, 2014 // by admin

The Fairfield, the new sales office at Briggs Landing in Westport, MA

SOUTH EASTON, MA and WESTPORT, MA…

Stonebridge Homes, the builder for Briggs Landing, recently announced the completion of a new model home at the 90-lot subdivision located off Tickle Road in Westport, Massachusetts. The new model home, the Fairfield, is located at 21 Devol Avenue. The model home will be used both for open houses and the Briggs Landing sales office.

“The Fairfield is a very popular model at several of our other subdivisions. It offers significant space and luxurious amenities. We’re delighted to bring this model to Briggs Landing,” saidStonebridge Homes Site Manager Joe Chaves.

The Fairfield, a 2,384-square-foothome, is one of several models available at Briggs Landing. The others include: The Beacon, the Compton, the Charles, The Clarendon, the Dartmouth, the Hudson, the Marion and the Tremont. The Westport model, a 2,752-square-foot home, is currently under construction.

All home styles available at Briggs Landing feature energy-efficient, quality construction and luxurious amenities, such as hardwood floors and granite countertops. All models are equipped for natural gas heating.

In addition to the comfort of luxury living, Briggs Landing offers convenience. A short commute to Providence, Rhode Island (within 30 minutes to the capital building), New Bedford and Fall River, the Tickle Road location is within close proximity to the beaches of Westport and walking distance to South Watuppa Pond.

“All the models available at Briggs Landing offer luxury living for empty nesters, newlyweds, single parents, blended families and others who may have grown tired of the limited inventory of existing homes in today’s real estate market,” said Rami Itani, business manager for Stonebridge Homes.

Houses at Briggs Landing start at $379,000. To view floor plans, please visit Stonebridge Homes’ website, www.stonebridgehomesinc.com, and click on the home page link for Briggs Landing.

Open house hours are Saturday and Sunday, 1pm to 4pm. For more information or to make an appointment for a tour of Briggs Landing, please call Mel Antonio at 508‐728‐2656.

About Stonebridge Homes, Inc.:

For more than 20 years, Stonebridge Homes and its team, based in South Easton, Massachusetts, have built many residential communities throughout Massachusetts, including Tanglewood Estates (www.eastontanglewood.com) in Easton, Mass; Maplewood Estates (www.newhomesatmaplewood.com) in Rockland, Mass. and The Gables Condominiums (www.thegables.net) in Abington, Mass. More recently, Stonebridge Homes has been focusing on building and managing construction in towns of southeastern Massachusetts, including Abington, Dighton, Easton, Foxboro, Norfolk, Norwell, Pembroke, Rockland and Westport. The styles of these communities have varied from imaginative condominiums to custom single‐family homes designed by its award‐winning in‐house architect, whose specialty is customizing dream homes for individuals, couples and families. Each development is built with the same commitment for quality and satisfaction.

For more information, please visit www.stonebridgehomesinc.com or call 508.230.2300.

Westport, MA subdivision, Briggs Landing, moves sales office to completed new model home at 21 Devol AvenueRead More

South Coast Improvement Co. hires Reading native Jared Butler

October 15, 2014 // by admin

READING, PA and MARION, MA…

South Coast Improvement Company (SCI), a design-build general contractor serving New England and the Mid-Atlantic states, recently announced the hiring of Jared Butler for its business development department for its Northeast Region.

Based in South Coast Improvement’s Reading, PA office, Butler will be part of the business development team and the company’s efforts to retain new construction and renovation projects throughout the region. South Coast Improvement specializes in construction projects for senior living, educational, institutional, and hospitality industries.

“As a general contractor, we try to grow in two ways. First, we want to increase the number of projects, but we also want to cultivate the next generation of construction industry professionals by hiring talented younger team members. Hiring Jared accomplishes both and we’re happy to have him on board,” said Tom Quinlan, president of South Coast Improvement, Inc.

Butler comes to Alternate Construction Concepts in West Chester, PA where he worked as a sales representative and project manager. A graduate of Kutztown University, Butler holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communications.

“I’m very excited to be part of the South Coast Improvement business development team,” said Butler. “The job and the company are really a great fit for my skills and the career path I envision for myself.”

A Reading, PA native, Butler currently resides with his wife Jackie in Downingtown, PA.

South Coast Improvement Co is a recognized leader in providing building and renovation services to a client base of senior living, healthcare and institutional clients. For more information, please call 508-748-6545 or visit www.southcoastimprovement.com.

South Coast Improvement Co. hires Reading native Jared ButlerRead More

Center stage on the Learning Stage. SelecTech’s Ricciardelli to speak at ABX 2014

October 14, 2014 // by admin

AVON and BOSTON, MA…

Thomas Ricciardelli, president of SelecTech, Inc., will be a speaker at this year’s ABX Expo at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, 415 Summer Street in Boston later this month. Ricciardelli’s talk, entitled “Shades of Green in Flooring” will take place at 11:30am on Wednesday, October 29 on the Learning Stage section of the Expo.

Based in Avon, MA, SelecTech, Inc. is a leader in the manufacture of innovative flooring products from recycled materials–SelecTech flooring products are also 100 percent recyclable. Ricciardelli’s talk will provide examples of “green” flooring and cover the various attributes that make flooring “green,” including recycled content, recyclability, VOC emissions, raw material make-up, and others.

“ABX is the premier event for people in our industry in our region and it’s an honor to be invited to speak,” said Ricciardelli. “Green flooring is a relatively new concept and product in the industry and I’m looking forward to sharing information about its benefits with Expo attendees.”

Ricciardelli’s talk will also cover the attributes that contribute to LEED, as well as others that are not considered under the LEED rating system.

SelecTech’s presence at ABX 2014 goes beyond Ricciardelli’s presentation. The flooring at the ABX Innovation Pavilion will be SelecTech’s FreeStyle products. The company will also have a booth at the Innovation Pavilion.

“There’s no better place than a conference to experience the difference in flooring between our flooring and the hard surfaces you find at most conventions,” said Ricciardelli.

In addition to being made from recycled materials and 100 percent recyclable, SelecTech flooring products feature a patented interlocking system—including patented recycled composite underlayment with interlocking tabs—and require no adhesive or special tools to install. Utilizing a breakthrough interlocking technology, SelecTech products completely bypass the need for adhesives and floor prep to install or replace flooring. This dramatically reduces installation times because old flooring can be left in place and machinery and furniture does not have to be completely moved or removed for installation.

In addition, SelecTech offers anti-static flooring products, specifically the aforementioned FreeStyle ESD products. This type of flooring is typically used by industries such as electronics manufacturing, communications, aerospace, biotech and healthcare where electronics and sensitive data must be protected.

To learn more about SelecTech products, including the FreeStyle and FreeStyle ESD flooring products, visit http://www.selectechinc.com. For information about the ABX conference, visit www.abexpo.com.

About SelecTech, Inc.

SelecTech, Inc. was founded in 1993 with the mission of creating valuable products from scrap plastics. The company has become a leader in the manufacture of flooring products from recycled materials and uses one million pounds of recycled materials annually. Their products are made with up to 100 percent recycled content, are 100 percent recyclable and installed without adhesives making them some of the “greenest” and most cost-effective flooring products available. The unique interlock system on SelecTech’s flooring products enable them to be installed at a much lower cost, without a lot of costly downtime, which provides significant value to customers.

Using state-of-the-art technology and innovative product design, SelecTech created the top performing Place N’ Go residential flooring products, which are available at Home Depot. They are also the creators of the renowned commercial and industrial FreeStyle, FreeStyle BioLock, FreeStyle ESD and StaticStop ESD flooring lines.

SelecTech is a vendor partner of Health Care Institute, an International Facility Management Association (IFMA) alliance partner. The company is headquartered at 33 Wales Avenue, Suite F in Avon, MA. For more information about SelecTech, visit http://www.selectechinc.com.

Center stage on the Learning Stage. SelecTech’s Ricciardelli to speak at ABX 2014Read More

Stonebridge Homes announces Equestrian Estates in Pembroke, MA

October 10, 2014 // by admin

10 Equestrian Way at Equestrian Estates in Pembroke, MA

PEMBROKE, MA and SOUTH EASTON, MA…

Stonebridge Homes, a South Easton, MA-based builder of residential communities throughout southeastern Massachusetts, recently completed two homes in Equestrian Estates, a six-lot subdivision off Oldham Street in Pembroke, MA.

One of the completed homes, 10 Equestrian Way, is sold. The second completed home is being used as a model home (15 Equestrian Way). Stonebridge Homes will build the remaining four lots over the next six months.

“Equestrian Estates offers the entire package. Luxury living, state-of-the-art amenities and convenient location close to local shopping, public transportation, downtown Pembroke and Routes 3 and 53,” said Eoghan Kelley, project manager, Stonebridge Homes. “With a dwindling inventory of homes in the current real estate market, Equestrian Estates gives home buyers the chance to have the home they want where they want—30 minutes from Boston and 30 minutes to the Cape.”

Homes at Equestrian Estates are colonial style, with four bedrooms, two and one half baths, two-car garage, open floor plan with hardwood flooring, detailed millwork, and an energy-efficient heating system. Total square footage of living area for Equestrian Estates homes is 2726 square feet on just under an acre of land.

Houses at Equestrian Estates start in the $600,000s. To view floor plans, please visit Stonebridge Homes website, www.stonebridgehomesinc.com, and click on the home page link for Equestrian Estates.

For more information or to make an appointment for a tour of Equestrian Estates, please contact Sharon McNamara of BostonConnect at 781-294-4848 or Sharon@BostonConnect.com

About Stonebridge Homes, Inc.:

For more than 20 years, Stonebridge Homes and its team, now based in South Easton, Massachusetts, have built many residential communities throughout Massachusetts, including Tanglewood Estates (www.eastontanglewood.com) in Easton, Mass; Maplewood Estates (www.newhomesatmaplewood.com) in Rockland, Mass. and The Gables Condominiums (www.thegables.net) in Abington, Mass. More recently, Stonebridge Homes has been focusing on building and managing construction in towns of southeastern Massachusetts, including Abington, Dighton, Easton, Foxboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Rockland and Westport. The styles of these communities have varied from imaginative condominiums to custom single‐family homes designed by its award‐winning in‐house architect, whose specialty is customizing dream homes for individuals, couples and families. Each development is built with the same commitment for quality and satisfaction.

Stonebridge Homes announces Equestrian Estates in Pembroke, MARead More

Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café announces franchise opportunity

October 9, 2014 // by admin

The restaurant industry is the most-franchised industry, consistently leading in overall job creation, according to Franchisedirect.com. The Food Franchise Industry Report 2014 reported that the bakery café segment is a major player in the food industry.

Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café, the unique bakery café and bagel shop with locations throughout Connecticut, offers traditional store and kiosk franchise opportunities to restaurant managers, bakers and others who wish to command their own destiny. In fact, the Between Rounds opportunity is the next likely step for restaurant managers and bakers who have been working in the industry for a number of years because they have the focus and expertise. Plus, the hours working in a fast casual café franchise such as Between Rounds are better.

“Nowadays, consumers are looking for fresh, healthy and nutritious meal options in a quick serve atmosphere, which makes bakery cafés extremely popular and a solid business investment,” explained Jerry Puiia, co-owner of the Between Rounds Bakery Café franchise.

He continued, “Restaurant managers and bakers are already ‘hands on’ in the industry and well-aware of what it takes to successfully operate a bakery café. The next logical step for them is shop ownership. Between Rounds offers brand recognition, proven operations and plenty of training and support which, coupled with the knowledge and experience they already have, is a recipe for success.”

The family-owned Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café, has been in business for more than two decades and is the brainchild of brothers Jerry and Joe Puiia, who are Staten Island, NY natives. Between Rounds’ current locations include South Windsor (corporate headquarters), Vernon, Manchester and Tolland. Between Rounds franchise options include a traditional store opportunity and a Kiosk program. Between Rounds’ kiosk store program is a non-traditional convenience store/gas station model that offers customers the ability to purchase Between Rounds specialty coffee, fresh made breakfast and lunch sandwiches, fresh baked bagels and assorted bakery items from a clean, well-designed store (drive-thru window is optional) adjacent to the filling station. The kiosk store has low start-up costs and requires an overall investment of approximately $120K for a standard store with no drive-thru.

For more information about the Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café opportunities, visit http://franchise.betweenroundsbagels.com.

About Between Rounds

Between Rounds is expanding and franchise opportunities are available. In 2013, the company was selected as a Military Friendly Franchise®, which places Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café in an elite group and is testimony to the company’s commitment to supporting military veterans interested in franchise opportunities.

Between Rounds’ current locations include South Windsor, Vernon, Manchester and Tolland. Corporate headquarters are located at 19A John Fitch Blvd, Route 5 in South Windsor, CT. For more information about Between Rounds franchise opportunities contact (860) 291-0323 or visit www.betweenroundsbagels.com.

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Old Colony Elder Services Appoints Maureen Hennessy as HR Manager

October 9, 2014 // by admin

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional agency serving older adults and individuals with disabilities, has recently appointed Maureen Hennessy as Human Resources Manager.

In her new role, Ms. Hennessy will have overall responsibility for Human Resources, Professional Development functions and general office support. For nine years previous to OCES, Ms. Hennessy served as the Manager of Training and Development for iParty retail stores based in Dedham, MA where a large part of her role involved recruitment. Prior to that, she was the Senior Training Specialist for eight years for Shaw’s Supermarkets based in West Bridgewater.

Ms. Hennessy holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Master of Science in Training and Development from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She completed additional coursework at Northeastern University Boston and is certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR).

Ms. Hennessy is a member of New England Human Resources Association (NEHRA) and a resident of Pembroke, MA.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 communities in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency has 179 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

Old Colony Elder Services Appoints Maureen Hennessy as HR ManagerRead More

Affordable Care provides ground floor opportunities for secure healthcare center and hospital data storage

October 7, 2014 // by admin

As part of the Affordable Care Act, hospitals are being incentivized to go to extra lengths to protect patient data. That includes the creation of data centers both on-site, at separate locations and in the cloud.

AVON, MA…

Not too long ago, a paperless doctor’s office or hospital might have seemed like a pipedream. Today, for the most part, records are stored electronically. With HIPPAA’s meaningful use requirement, which incentivizes providers to implement EHR technology to improve patient care while maintaining privacy and security of that information, many hospitals and healthcare facilities are taking the next step to securely store patient records by creating data centers of their own—both in the cloud and on-site.

While cloud-based solutions involve little or no hardware of space in a medical facility, opinions vary among IT professionals and hospital officials as to whether that’s the best solution for their facility. That debate leads to another about whether to have an on-site data center or in a separate facility.

“The biggest challenge a facility has in creating a data center is whether or not they have the appropriate space to have something on site. That’s not only a consideration for the present but in the future. That’s why some facilities that prefer their data center to be on site are opting for low-rise access flooring with efficient underfloor wire management systems,” said Thomas Ricciardelli, president of SelecTech, Inc., a leader in the manufacture of innovative flooring products from recycled materials.

Low-rise access flooring enables facilities to house wiring for power and data systems beneath the floor. This provides great flexibility for moves, changes and expansion in the future. Modular flooring is then installed on top of the access flooring to provide easy underfloor access, if needed. Typically, most data centers opt for ESD flooring to minimize static electricity, which can potentially disrupt or corrupt electronic data.

“In this new age of electronic information, hospitals, healthcare facilities and other medical centers are really going to have to think more like IT companies when it comes to storing and protection data. The use of ESD flooring is a great example,” added Ricciardelli, whose company has done ESD flooring installs for XO Communications, Dell, iFortress, to name a few.

All SelectTech flooring, including ESD products, employ a patented interlocking technology for easy installation and maintenance. SelecTech’s modular interlocking products integrate extremely well with access flooring and wire management systems. SelecTech flooring products are made using recycled material and are 100 percent recyclable.

To learn more about SelecTech products, visit http://www.selectechinc.com.