Pioneer Valley Association of Realtors presents awards
SPRINGFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Association of Realtors announced its annual award winners last month at the association’s holiday luncheon.
2024 winners include Peter Ruffini of Re/Max Connections as Realtor of the Year and Christine Gravanis of Westfield Bank as Affiliate of the Year.
Realtor of the Year is the association’s highest recognition for its members. Awarded to members based on association activities, community activities outside of the association, and business activities.
He has been a real estate agent since 1996 and served as Chairman of the RAPV Board of Directors in 2024. He also held responsibilities for government affairs, strategic planning, bylaws and policy, and professional standards. He will continue to serve as a member of RAPV’s Board of Directors.
Ruffini serves as chair of the Massachusetts Real Estate Broker and Salesperson Registration Board. He also serves on several committees at both the state and national level, demonstrating his commitment to advancing the RAPV profession and supporting its members. Peter holds 11 professional titles and certifications.
The Affiliate of the Year award is the highest recognition an association can bestow on an affiliate member. Awards are given based on member activities related to the association, social contribution in activities outside the association, business activities, etc.
A member of RAPV since 2007, Gravanis serves on the Community Service Committee. Gravanis supported the association and community efforts and volunteered for RAPV’s community service efforts through fundraising and helping with and preparing meals for the Friends of the Homeless volunteer program.
Bank ESB hires Martins as social media manager
EASTHAMPTON — Bank ESB recently hired Kelly Martins (Partridge) as social media manager based at its office at 36 Main Street in Easthampton.
Martins, of Ludlow, earned a master’s degree in nonprofit management and philanthropy with an emphasis in strategic planning and execution from Bay Path University. She joins the bank from GRATI Consulting, where she was director of marketing and business development.
Hellel’s Ice Cream wins Spectrum Award
NORTHAMPTON — Northampton’s Herrell’s Ice Cream has won this year’s Spectrum Award from City Beat News. Spectrum recognizes companies that drive excellence and provide better customer service than ever before.
City Beat News collects information from a variety of sources including blogs, social media networks, and business rating services to determine the winners.
CBN seeks out and evaluates businesses that are hidden gems in our communities. In the process, the bias, both positive and negative, inherent in most ratings and reviews is removed. The result is comprehensive, research-based, unbiased ratings that guide the purchasing decisions consumers make every day.
Founded in 1980, Herrell’s boasts more than 400 flavors of ice cream and frozen desserts made using locally sourced rBGH hormone-free dairy products and other locally sourced premium ingredients.
Eversource Named America’s Most Responsible Company
BOSTON — For the sixth consecutive year, Eversource Energy has been recognized by Newsweek and Statista Inc. as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2025. The award highlights the energy company’s excellence in environmental, social and corporate governance efforts and reaffirms Eversource’s corporate governance efforts. We have a strong commitment to sustainability throughout our operations and a work culture that deeply embraces our values of corporate and social responsibility.
America’s Most Responsible Companies 2025 ranking focuses on a holistic view of corporate responsibility, considering environmental, social and governance factors. Companies on the 2025 list were selected based on a review of publicly available data and a survey of 26,000 U.S. residents about companies’ perceptions of corporate social responsibility. Eversource has appeared on the list in every edition since the annual ranking was introduced in 2019.
