Fran Ahern acknowledged that the analogy isn’t perfect, but, for the most part, it works, and it helps him effectively tell the story of one of the region’s least-known — and least-understood — business success stories.
“We’re a service center for airplanes,” said Ahern, general manager of Gulfstream’s sprawling operation at Barnes Municipal Airport in Westfield. He would go on to draw a number of loose comparisons between his operation and the corner garage or auto dealership where one might bring their Buick for new tires, a tuneup, or an inspection sticker.

Employers across Massachusetts gained confidence in the economy in November, but it appears to be a continuation of an up-and-down seesaw of sentiment and not evidence of sustained improvement, according to Associated Industries of Massachusetts.  'We just don't reach liftoff,' said Andre Mayer, senior adviser for Associated Industries , saying that ongoing budget squabbles in Washington stall momentum. 'The fluctuations month to month are understandable. We can tell what is making the changes. It's not random fluctuations. It's not progress, either.'

Day-long empowerment conference will engage women with success strategies. Event features renowned speakers and techniques geared toward achieving Life Domination. The conference invites women from Western Massachusetts and New England to learn strategies and techniques for personal growth and success from career and relationship experts, award-winning authors, national radio hosts, and successful entrepreneurs.

The MassWorks Infrastructure Program last fall awarded $2.75 million to help Michael Michon, owner of Mill 180 on Pleasant Street, Will Bundy, owner of Eastworks Mill, and James Witmer, owner of the Brickyard, with their proposal to connect their buildings and flip the buildings' entrances to open on the side facing the Manhan Rail Trail instead of Pleasant Street. The infrastructure work must be completed first. Bids are due back in the city Jan. 6, City Planner Jessica Allan said. She said the city hopes, with help of their consultant R. Levesque Associates, Inc. of Westfield to award the ...

Bob LePage spends a lot of time talking to employers from many different sectors, from healthcare to hospitality; financial services to manufacturing. And they all have one thing in common — a need for quality workers.  He related a conversation he had with the head of an area manufacturing firm. “He said, ‘we have more work than we have capacity. And what’s the biggest capacity constriction? Lack of workers. If I could find them, I’d add a shift, I’d add another line. Our challenge is, we need more qualified workers, whether that’s taking assemblers and upscaling them ...

Noble Hospital and the Noble Health Network has opened a express care facility at 57 Union Street in Westfield.  Noble Express Care is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.  According to a release, Noble Express Care serves patients if a primary care physician is unavailable, regular offices are closed, or for people who don't want to wait at the emergency room for a non-emergency.

The Town Council on Monday voted 9-0 in favor of granting the library renovation and expansion an additional $2.6 million in bonding funds, bringing the total amount of the project’s budget to $16 million.  Council President Kathleen Bourque stated that if other funding sources for the library project become available, the $2.6 million may not be used in full.

The company is planning to hire 50 employees at its Chicopee plant.

North Carolina. Ohio. California. Europe.The Connecticut Airport Authority has some lofty destination goals in 2014 for Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks. All those goals might not be realized next year, but the authority will be well on the way to fulfilling them, said CAA Executive Director Kevin Dillon.

Massachusetts has won a grant from Complete College America (CCA) to aid the state’s efforts to increase the number of college students who complete degree and certificate programs in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, the Department of Higher Education announced. The technical assistance grants are supported by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.  Greenfield Community College will be one of the beneficiaries of the grant.