Springfield law firm named to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly list of ‘Legacy Law Firms’
SPRINGFIELD — Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin P.C. has been included in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s first-ever “In the Lead: Legacy Law Firms” list, honoring firms that have thrived for 25 years or more while continuing to demonstrate excellence.
Founded in 1969 by former legal services attorneys, the firm has established a regional presence, with 18 attorneys offering experience in business planning, estate planning, commercial and tax-exempt financing, real estate development and permitting, litigation, bankruptcy and more.
“We’re honored to be recognized among such a respected group of longstanding firms,” attorney Michael Fenton said in a statement. “This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to client service, legal innovation and community engagement, values that have guided us for more than five decades.”
Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin represents individuals, family enterprises, nonprofits and multinational businesses throughout western New England and eastern New York.
“This list highlights firms that have stood the test of time,” Fenton added. “We’re proud to be counted among them, and we look forward to continuing to serve our clients and communities with the same dedication that got us here.”
BusinessWest accepting nominations for Women of Impact awards
SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest, the business journal of western Massachusetts, is accepting nominations for the eighth annual Women of Impact awards. Nominations for the Women of Impact Class of 2025 are due by Thursday, Sept. 4, at businesswest.com/women-of-impact-nominations.
In 2018, BusinessWest created the Women of Impact program as a way to honor women in the region who are making an impact and creating positive change. While nominees can hail from the world of business, they can also emerge from other realms, such as the nonprofit community, public service, law enforcement, education, social work, the mentorship community or a combination of these.
Baystate Franklin named a ‘High Performing Hospital for Pneumonia’
GREENFIELD – Baystate Franklin Medical Center has been named among U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Hospitals as a “High Performing Hospital for Pneumonia.”
U.S. News & World Report’s annual Procedures & Conditions ratings are designed to assist patients and their health care providers in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.
“It is an honor to be nationally recognized by U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings, designating us as a High Performing Hospital for Pneumonia,” Jodi Stack, president and chief operating officer at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, said in a statement. “This recognition is a direct reflection of our team and their commitment to clinical excellence. We appreciate the acknowledgment of our ongoing dedication to patient safety and quality care.”
“For more than three decades, U.S. News has been an invaluable guide for patients,” U.S. News & World Report Managing Editor and Chief of Health Analysis Ben Harder said in a statement. “Hospitals designated as ‘High Performing’ by U.S. News demonstrate a consistent ability to provide excellent care for particular medical procedures and conditions, showcasing their specialized expertise as well as dedication to exceptional patient outcomes.”
U.S. News & World Report evaluated more than 4,400 hospitals across 15 adult specialties and 22 procedures and conditions. One-third of them earned an award. To determine the Best Hospitals, U.S. News & World Report analyzed each hospital’s performance based on objective measures such as risk-adjusted mortality rates, preventable complications and level of nursing care. The Best Hospitals Specialty rankings methodology and Procedures & Conditions ratings methodology measure patient outcomes using data from more than 800 million records of patient care.
In addition to the inclusion of Baystate Franklin, Baystate Medical Center in Springfield ranked No. 6 in Massachusetts among U.S. News & World Report’s best hospitals. This is an improvement from last year’s ranking, where Baystate Medical Center was ranked No. 7. The hospital was rated as “High Performing” in 16 conditions and procedures, up from 11 last year. Those conditions and procedures are: abdominal aortic aneurysm repair; aortic valve surgery; back surgery (spinal fusion); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); diabetes; heart attack; heart bypass surgery; heart failure; hip fracture; hip replacement; kidney failure; knee replacement; leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; lung cancer surgery; pacemaker implantation; and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
“We are pleased to see Baystate Medical Center moving up the ranks to No. 6 in the state,” Ronald Bryant, president and chief operating officer at Baystate Medical Center, said in a statement. “This placement is a reflection of our team members’ hard work and dedication to caring for our communities. We are proud to be ranked among the best in Massachusetts as we strive to achieve the best possible patient outcomes, patient safety, and optimal caregiver and patient experience.”
PV Squared recognized as a 2025 Top Solar Contractor
GREENFIELD — According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the U.S. installed a record-breaking 50 gigawatts of new solar capacity in 2024, the largest single year of new capacity added to the grid by any energy technology in more than two decades. PV Squared, a worker-owned cooperative based in Greenfield, is one of the companies that contributed to this milestone installation year and is being recognized as a 2025 Top Solar Contractor by Solar Power World.
The Top Solar Contractors List is compiled by Solar Power World to highlight the work of installers who are decarbonizing the grid and supporting homegrown, local energy. Companies are ranked by the services they offer, the markets they serve and their installed capacity in 2024.
“At a time when the federal government is doing everything it can to cut solar power down, the gigawatts put up by our 2025 Top Solar Contractors emphasize just how crucial it is to our nation’s energy mix,” Kelsey Misbrener, managing editor of Solar Power World, said in a statement. “From the smallest residential projects to the largest utility-scale solar farms, these installations are keeping the lights on and keeping power affordable. We’re thrilled to recognize another outstanding class of Top Solar Contractors and look forward to persevering through legislative hurdles to celebrate our 15-year edition next year.”
PV Squared employs 50 workers, 27 of whom are also owners of the business. In 2024, the team installed 3,523.34 kilowatts of solar power across western Massachusetts and southern Vermont. Since its founding in 2002, the company has installed more than 23,991 kilowatts of solar energy. PV Squared specializes in custom solar solutions for homes, farms and mission-driven organizations.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our in-house experts, our cooperative ownership model and the deep relationships we’ve built across our region. It’s proof that solar done right, with care and integrity, continues to shine,” Brittany Hathaway, marketing and outreach specialist, and worker-owner at PV Squared, said in a statement. “We’re proud to represent a cooperative model in this industry and to prove that values-driven business can lead with impact.”
Northwestern DA’s office announces series of promotions, reassignments and new hires
Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan is announcing several promotions, reassignments and new hires within the DA’s office.
Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Erin Aiello was promoted to chief of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit and ADA Thomas Robinson in May was promoted to chief of the Elders and Persons with Disabilities Unit.
Meanwhile, former Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit Chief Sandra Staub transitioned to the Juvenile Justice Unit, filling the vacancy left when Robinson moved to the Elders and Persons with Disabilities Unit.
Aiello has worked for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office in the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit since February 2019 after previously working in the Plymouth and Bristol County district attorney’s offices. Robinson joined the office in 2023 after working for years in various positions with the Committee for Public Counsel Services and in private practice.
Additionally, in July, Ingrid Frau joined the office as an assistant district attorney in the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit after a 19-year tenure in the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office, including many years as a domestic violence prosecutor.
“ADA Aiello is a dedicated and talented prosecutor and I am pleased to promote her to be the chief of the DVSAU. The former director of the unit, ADA Staub, set the bar high and I have no doubt the unit will continue its excellent work under Erin’s leadership and with the addition of a prosecutor as experienced as ADA Frau,” Sullivan said in a statement. “The juvenile unit will be well-served by the experience and compassion of ADA Staub.”
Sullivan noted that in the two years Robinson has been with the office, he distinguished himself as a skilled litigator in juvenile courts as well as in district and superior courts.
“Tom’s prior experience and passion for helping victims of crime will serve him well in this new position,” Sullivan said.
Other recent staff changes include:
- ADA Jared Hirsch, who has worked at the office since January 2023 after previously working as an ADA in Suffolk County, was named attorney-in-charge of the Northampton District Court, replacing former ADA Veronice Santana, who left in June to take a position with the Massachusetts Parole Board.
- ADA Elayna Bartolomeo was promoted to attorney-in-charge of the office’s Greenfield District Court staff. Bartolomeo joined the office in December 2022 after previously working as an ADA in Berkshire County. She replaces ADA Ryan Scott, who will continue prosecuting cases in Greenfield District Court while also working alongside Superior Court ADA Aidan Lanciani handling investigations and cases from the Northwestern Anti-Crime Task Force.
- Other recent new hires as assistant district attorneys were Mailande DeWitt and Kyle Stublen, who joined the office in March and May, respectively. Stublen, who previously worked as a prosecutor in Florida and at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, is working in the Child Protection Unit. DeWitt, a new member of the bar, is a prosecutor in the district courts.
