Software firm locates downtown
Pragmatic Works Software, a provider of business intelligence solutions, has opened an office in Haverhill.
This is the company's second office; the other is in Jacksonville, Fla.
Tim Moolic, an owner of Pragmatic Works concentrating on sales and marketing, said opening the Haverhill office is part of the company's strategic plan to better serve its North American customers.
"We chose the Haverhill area because it lowers cost for our employees with train service, no tolls and free parking. Additionally, our business benefits from Haverhill's large pool of well-educated talent and the lowest operational costs we could find in the area," Moolic said.
He said the company is hiring for sales positions in the Haverhill office.
"Pragmatic Works Software is fortunate to see growth while most companies are downsizing. With the Haverhill expansion, we can double our existing sales team and continue to grow as needed," Moolic said. Pragmatic Works' products complement Microsoft SQL server platforms.
Local doctor speaks at Alzheimer's conference
Dr. Buck H. Woo, neuropsychologist and co-director of the Memory Disorders Clinic at Merrimack Medical Center in Haverhill, gave the opening address at the 21st annual Merrimack Valley Alzheimer's Conference on April 25.
In "It's Not Just Old Age," Woo discussed the importance of thorough evaluations in accurately diagnosing Alzheimer's disease or lrlated dementia, apprpriate treatment, and family unity dealing with the disease.
Penacook Place recognizes staffers
Three Penacook Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center staff members have been named Employees of the Month for the first quarter of 2009.
They winners for January, February and March are, respectively, Jean Smith of Plaistow, N.H., Gail Cogliano of Bradford and Paul Jennings of Derry, N.H.
Employees of the Month are selected by members of Penacook's management team from a list of nomiees. Anyone may nominate an employee, including co-workers, managers, residents and family members. The Employees of the Month are honored during a recognition ceremony at the end of each quarter.
Smith, the facility's weekend receptionist, has worked at Penacook since December 2001. She was nominated for being a friendly face and for her kindness to residents, visitors and co-workers.
Cogliano, a licensed practical nurse, has worked at Penacook since June 2007. She was nominated for being an excellent nurse, treating residents well, making extra effort to ensure all their needs are met and being proactive, conscientious, patient and personable.
Jennings, who works in the Maintenance Department, has been employed at Penacook since May 2008. He was nominated for always helping out when needed and responding positively to requests, especially those that impact residents' health and safety.
Bank plans to close 'redundant' branch
Haverhill Bank plans to close its Cushing Avenue branch pending approval from regulators, bank officials announced this week.
"Obiously, it is difficult to justify keeping a branch open that is within walking distance of another," said Chairman and CEO Thomas R. Faulkner.
The bank's board of directors voted unanimously to close the branch near the Plaistow, N.H., border. It was one of four Northeast Community Credit Union branches that merged with Haverhill Bank in December.
Faulkner said attempts will be made to reassign as many of the seven employees as possible to the remaining six Haverhill Bank offices and branches.
"The bank, as it has been since 1877, is depositor owned and only depositors will benefit from any cost savings," Faulkner said.
Remaining branches are at 180 Merrimack St. (the main office), 163 S. Main St., 1094 Main St., 100 Lafayette Squre, Haverhill High School and Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School.
Electronics service firms merge
Tops Electronics Service, Inc., headquartered in Haverhill, announced this month that they are merging with Elwin Electronics of Warwick, RI. The new company, called Pinnacle Service Solutions Group Inc. will retain employees from both businesses as well as state-of-the-art service facilities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Indiana. The merger is effective immediately and the new company will support the needs of consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers. The combined businesses employ over 200 consumer electronics professionals at their three facilities.
Local company grows in difficult economy
Despite the tough economic climate, Little Sprouts, Inc., a leading early education provider with nine locations in Massachusetts, has hired more than 20 new employees in just the last 12 weeks, including two key additions to the management team. Kelly Doherty joins Little Sprouts as the director of marketing and Meagan Cosgrove joins as manager of Human Resources and Recruiting. Doherty brings more than 12 years of experience in marketing and management working with companies such as Smithsonian Student Travel and Wunderman, the direct marketing division of Young and Rubicam, Inc. Cosgrove was previously with The Davis Companies, a human resources solution provider, where she was senior recruiter for the past three years.
Little sprouts created a partnership with private school owners American Education Group in 2008. With this partnership, AEG and Little Sprouts are now positioned to be a full-service provider of Pre-K through 12th grade education. In the past two years, Little Sprouts grew by 50 percent and plants to add four new schools this year.
Allergy technology available in Bradford
AllergiCare Relief Centers of Bradford opens this month, offering area allergy sufferers hope for relief. AllergiCare clinics use laser technology and biofeedback systems to treat allergies. AllergiCare Relief Centers of Bradford is at 5A S. Central St. For more information, to make an appointment or for a complete list of AllergiCare locations, call 978-521-7111 or visit www.AllergiCare.com.
NECC employees recognized
Gail Gadd of Bradford was one of three Northern Essex Community College employees recently awarded the quarterly Employee Recognition Award for the second quarter of 2009.
An 11-year employee, Gadd is the administrative assistant in academic advising and also serves as secretary to the academic affairs and awards convocation committees and is a member of the academic master plan steering committee. She was nominated by Lane Glenn, vice president of academic affairs and Allan Hislop, NECC faculty, who lauded her outstanding work with the academic affairs committee. Gadd recently converted all the committee's work to electronic documents, which resulted in significant improvements in sharing and communicating information about curriculum changes.
The other recipients were Rosalie Catalano of Salisbury and Deborah Regan of Hampton Falls, N.H.
The Employee Recognition Award was started by NECC President David Hartleb as a way to recognize contributions of the college's nearly 700 employees. Employees are selected each quarter based on recommendations from supervisors and co-workers. Recipients receive a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant or mall of their choice.
Retired executives help entrepreneurs
Service Corps of Retired Executives — SCORE — offers free, confidential help to individuals starting a business or already in business. Sessions are Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce. Until the Chamber's home at 87 Winter St. is rehabilitated, sessions will be in the Chamber's temporary office in the Landmark Building, Merrimack Street.
Network at NECC to aid nonprofits
Nonprofit organizations in the Merrimack Valley, struggling more than ever because of the downturn in the nation's economy, are able to access premier grant research databases as well as attend professional grant research and grant writing workshops at a newly created Grants Resource Network in the library of the Lawrence campus of Northern Essex Community College on Franklin Street. All access is free. The Grant Resource Network is a partnership between the Associated Grant Makers of Massachusetts, Jericho Road Lawrence Inc. and Northern Essex Community College.
Business networking group to meet
The Haverhill chapter of Business Network International has a free networking breakfast every Friday at 7 at the First Presbyterian Church of Haverhill, 346 Broadway. New businesses are welcome. BNI is a business and professional networking organization with the purpose of exchanging qualified business referrals. For information, call Dianne McDermott at 978-394-5166.
Post your business card
The Haverhill Public Library provides a bulletin board for local businesses to display 3-by-5-inch cards. Cards will be dated and posted for six months. For information, call 978-317-1586.
Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce
Check the Web: The Chamber's community calendar lists daily, weekly and monthly event information from all 14 Greater Haverhill communities on the Chamber's Web site. The public is invited to submit items to be included on the calendar. Listed events will include recreational activities, music programs, community dances and dinners, citywide parades and more. Go to www.haverhillchamber.com.
For information on all Greater Haverhill Chamber events, call 978-373-5663.
Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce
Annual Dinner: MVCC's annual dinner on April 29 honored attorney George A. Stella as the recipient of the Ralph B. Wilkinson Award and Greater Lawrence Technical School and Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School in Haverhill, co-recipients of the Community Spirit Award. Featured speaker was state Treasurer and Receiver General Timothy P. Cahill.
Eat, bid and be merry: 4th Annual Grape Expectations wine tasting, silent and live auctions to benefit the programs of the Merrimack Valley Food Bank is Thursday, April 30, from 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Tewksbury Country Club, 1880 Main St. in Tewksbury. Tickets are $35.
Health care series: Friday, May 8 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. at the Lanam Club in Andover, with guest speaker Charlie Baker, President/CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.
Women in business: Wednesday, May 13, from noon to 1:15 p.m. at the Wyndham Andover Hotel in Andover, with guest speaker Carolyn Kirk, mayor of Gloucester. Other speakers that are invited and/or confirmed are former Lawrence Mayor Mary Claire Kennedy, former Lowell Mayor Rita Mercier and former Methuen Mayor Sharon Pollard. A full hot plated lunceon is included. Admission is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers.
Green energy environmental summit: Thursday, May 14 at 8:30 a.m. at Osgood Landing in North Andover with guest speakers Secretary Ian Bowles, Mass. Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and Rep. Barry Finegold, Chairman of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee.
Business directory: Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce is putting together its business directory, which is professionally printed to help reach a target audience. For information, contact Wil Carpenter at 978-686-0900, or wcarpenter@merrimackvalleychamber.com.
To make a reservation or for information about Merrimack Valley Chamber events, call 978-686-0900.
