These are the men and women who volunteer their time, energy and wisdom to help new and active business owners navigate toward their ideal results. As you will see by their individual profile, diversity of member counselors is our greatest resource in effectively addressing every aspect of starting and running a successful company. The purpose of the "Member Profile" page is to express the vast diversity that makes us a strong team. It will also help you to get to know us better. If you have an interest in joining our team, simply click on the flowing link: (Membership Application).
CHAPTER OFFICERS
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Richard Lopatka (Richard)
Chapter Chairperson; Workshop Instructor; Speaker Bureau; Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Senior Executive, Large corporation in Engineering, Manufacturing and Research. Non-profit and Government Leadership.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Young Adult Entrepreneurial Guidance
• Leadership Plans and Strategies
• New Product Development
Best Advice: " Be someone with a plan, then go for it."
Personal Interests: Outdoors; Music; T'ai Chi; Being helpful |
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Richard E. Forgay II (Rick)
1st Vice-Chairperson, Workshop Instructor; Speaker Bureau; Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Circulation/Marketing Executive: Fortune 150 Multi-Media Corporations.
Owner: Business Leadership Mastery™, Coach, Speaker, Author.
Business Leadership Coach, Facilitator, Speaker, Author
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Leadership Effectiveness and Goal Achievement
• Business Planning and Implementation
• Direct and E-Sales and Marketing Planning and Implementation
Best Advice: "Begin each opportunity and challenge with possibility thinking."
Personal Interests: FAA Certified Pilot, Athletics, Magician and Recreational guitar. |
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Ivan Gerald Beaulieu (Ivan)
2nd Vice-Chairperson; Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Banking /Financial Services Executive; Certified Organizational EfficiencyConsultant; Corp. e-Commerce Technology Manager/Trainer, Business Owner.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Business Planning and Financial Management
• Information Technology Needs Assessments and Solutions
• Team Development and Leadership
Best Advice: " Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground."
Personal Interests: Community Service, Travel, Computer Technology |
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Joe Singer (Joe)
Treasurer; Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Engineering
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• General Business
• Manufacturing
• Finance
Best Advice: " Seek wisdom."
Personal Interests: Arts; Music. |
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Bharat Desai (Bart)
Recording Secretary; Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Financial Executive and Business Manager
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Finance
• Business Plan and Budgeting
• Business Management
Best Advice: " Think before you decide getting into business."
Personal Interests: Keeping up to date on business developments and economy. |
ACTIVE MEMBERS |
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J. D. Ayers (J. D.)
Speakers Bureau; Member/Counselor
Career Experience: Business Consultant; Arts and Education
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Start-up Process
• Attitude Development
• Creativity
Best Advice: " Honesty - Diligence - Humor."
Personal Interests: Health, Art, Literature, Writing. |
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John Berrigan (John)
Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Greenfield, MA
Career Experience: Financial Management; Director of Finance and Administration Manufacturing.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Finance
• Business Planning
• Goal Setting
Best Advice: " Be encouraging and positive to client's ideas."
Personal Interests: Ham radio and travel |
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Samuel Blank (Sam)
Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Teaching, Retired Military
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Education
• Finance
• General Business
Best Advice: " Keep up the great work."
Personal Interests: People. |
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William Blanker (Bill)
Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Greenfield, MA
Career Experience: CEO of Fine, Paper Manufacturer
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Organizational Structure
• Effective Team Leadership
• Sales and Marketing
Best Advice: " Think and organize your thoughts, then move forward."
Personal Interests: Civic affairs, Outdoor activities, Travel |
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Charles Connington (Chuck)
Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Greenfield, MA
Career Experience: Cost accountant; Manufacturing, Technical sales and service; Web processing manufacturers, Consultant; New product and maintenance diagnostics.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Technical and Industrial Sales
• General Accounting
• Self Employment, Consulting
Best Advice: " A sale is not complete until the customer is satisfied and invoice is paid."
Personal Interests: Tennis, squash, home upkeep and attending fine arts programs |
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Charles DeRose (Charlie)
Workshop Instructor; Speaker Bureau; Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Northampton, MA
Career Experience: Former newspaper publisher and business owner
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Sales and Marketing
• Finance and Revenue Generating
• Business Planning
Best Advice: " Be prepared."
Personal Interests: Family; Community; Back road biking. |
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Len Gendron (Len)
Workshop Instructor, Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: 40 plus years international manufacturing and senior management experience in China, Japan, Brazil, Canada. Start-up and turnaround experience.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Planning
• Problem Solving
• Costing
Best Advice: " Commitment without experience is doable, experience without commitment is doomed."
Personal Interests: People, Travel, Photography, Cooking, Food Preservation. |
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Philip Houser
Workshop Instructor; Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Retail; Marketing and Sales; Training
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Sales
• Marketing
• Education
Best Advice: " You always have an opportunity for staring a new business."
Personal Interests: Yoga; Education; Reading Business Books. |
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Donna H. Jeanloz (Donna)
Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Greenfield, MA
Career Experience: Principal: Durable goods manufacturer; Publisher: National circulation magazine
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Direct Marketing
• Publishing
• Product Development
Best Advice: " Think it through!"
Personal Interests: Community development issues. |
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Charlie Johnson (Charlie)
Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: CEO and Owner Johnson's Bookstore: Books, gifts, stationary and allied Lines. Bookstore building, owner, rentals, remodeling and maintenance.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Retail Sales
• Retail Advertising
• General Management
Best Advice: " There are a minimum of 5 solutions to any problem."
Personal Interests: Helping people solve problems. |
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Gerald Katz (Gerry)
Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Hotel Management; Vice President Sales Marketing and Operations
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Sales
• Marketing
• Budgeting
Best Advice: " Listen, Listen, Listen intently looking for overlooked opportunities."
Personal Interests: Opera and Musical Performance, Music, Golf, Woodworking |
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Norman LaGasse (Norm)
Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Regional Manager (Dental Sales); Sales Trainer Seminar
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Management
• Sales
• Training
Best Advice: " Dress for success."
Personal Interests: Speaks French. |
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Thomas Don Lewis
Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Greenfield, MA
Career Experience: International manufacturing in garment industry, training and factory set-up in the Far East, Europe and Mexico.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Management
• Work Place Training
• Education/College Level
Best Advice: " Preparation before action."
Personal Interests: Travel; Tennis; Reading. |
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William McCollough (Bill)
Former Chapter Chairperson; Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Steel and Fabrications: CFO, CEO, Director International Businesses, Business Consultant, Seminar Presenter, College Faculty HCC & STCC, Business Manager
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Business Start-ups
• ROI, Business Value
• Business Plan and Revenue Generation
Best Advice: " Open doors and due diligence."
Personal Interests: Gardening, Hiking/Climbing, Grandchildren |
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John McGreal (John)
Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Financial Executive with diversified experience. Strong leader, providing efficient, professional service to integral and external customers.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Business Planning
• Cash Management
• Asset Management
Best Advice: " Have technical expertise in the business you wish to operate."
Personal Interests: Local government; Taxes; Health Insurance for seniors and low income persons. |
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Cynthia Sheridan Murphy (Cynthia)
Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Self employed marketing company and business coach.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Coaching
• Consulting
• Networking
Best Advice: " If God brought you to it, God will bring you through it."
Personal Interests: Networking, family, coaching and travel. |
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Stephen C. Niederfringer (Steve)
Workshop Instructor; Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Plant Manager for two Fortune 500's, Vice-President Manufacturing and Productivity Consultant (Lean and d Six Sigma Programs).
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Manufacturing
• Project Management
• Productivity Improvement
Best Advice: " Common sense prevails!"
Personal Interests: Tennis; Golf; Model Railroading. |
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Edward Schenk
Gold Award Recipient; Former Chapter Chairperson and Instructor; Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Worked all over the world as a Corporate Vice-president
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Business Plan
• Starting a business
• Industry identification
Best Advice: "Take material home with you and attend or workshop."
Personal Interests: Family, church and home projects. |
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Clark Shea (Clark)
Speakers Bureau; Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Executive Vice-President of Manufacturing at Pratt & Whitney and Hamilton Sunstrand, currently retired.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Business Planning - Value Added Management
• Manufacturing
• Supply Management
Best Advice: "Never give up."
Personal Interests: Sports and reading. |
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Ray Smalley (Ray)
Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: President/General Manager, businesses from $3 to 50 million revenues. Sales Management.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Business Planning for Funding
• Turnarounds and Operational Troubleshooting
• Construction Contracting
Best Advice: " Failing to plan is planning to fail." John Wooden
Personal Interests: Photography |
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Edward Stevenson (Ted)
Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Retired, 43 years of handling import/export traffic, insurance, office management.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Office Management
• Import/Export
• Business Insurance
Best Advice: " Start ups must look at all aspects of business."
Personal Interests: Traveling |
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Thomas R. Toman (Tom)
Former Chapter Chairperson; Volunteer Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Chief Information Officer, Stanhome-International Consumer Products, Nashua Corporation; Business Consultant, Arthur Anderson & Co.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Strategic Business Planning and Implementation
• Business/Financial Analysis and Troubleshooting
• Information Technology
Best Advice: "Know your business, know your customers, know yourself."
Personal Interests: Volunteering with Youth Detention Center, Church and Community |
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David Wentworth (Dave)
Gold Award Recipient; Workshop Instructor; Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Technical Sales, Product Manager, V.P. Marketing, Corporate President.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Non-Profit Start-ups and Operations
• Strategic Planning
• Marketing
Best Advice: " Maintain a good credit rating."
Personal Interests: Travel and Biking. |
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Mary Wentworth (Mary)
Gold Award Recipient; Member/Counselor
Counseling Location: Springfield, MA
Career Experience: Owner, Ladies Retail Stores for 35 years, Western Massachusetts.
Specialized Counseling Topics:
• Merchandising
• Starting a new business
• Retail Management
Best Advice: " Get experience by working many different industries."
Personal Interests: Travel, Family, 6 Children, 6 Grandchildren. |
