Making News in Business, June 17

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Eastern States Exposition and West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt announced this week that the 105th edition of The Big E will take place Sept. 17 to Oct. 3.

“Big is Back” is the theme of this year’s fair. Organizers claim The Big E is the fifth largest fair in North America. A large attraction this year will be The Super Wheel, a 150-foot high Ferris wheel with 36 climate-controlled gondolas that seat up to six people. Concerts will be sponsored by Truly Hard Seltzers featuring top-names of the music industry.

Organizers encourage the public to stay tuned to The Big E website and social media pages for announcements as information becomes available. Advance discount tickets to the 2021 Big E are on sale now online at TheBigE.com or at The Big E box office. For more information, call 413-737-2443.

Sarah E. Cook has been named the new president and CEO by the board of directors of 18 Degrees, an agency that promotes the well-being and strengths of children, young people, adults, and families in western Massachusetts.

Cook has focused her career on providing opportunities to underserved populations in Boston and most recently in Austin, Texas, where her leadership concentrated on creating access to health care, according to a press statement. Originally from Boston, she is a graduate of Princeton University and the London School of Economics.

18 Degrees provides education, parenting skills and support, prevention and intervention, advocacy, and life skills across a spectrum of programs serving young people, adults, and families in four areas: early education and care; foster care and adoption; child and family well-being; youth and community development.

Hampshire Power Corporation recently announced Patrick Quinlan will take over as the technical account manager at the firm.

Quinlan holds a master of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin and has dedicated over 30 years of work to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Quinlan will be responsible for the support and growth of Hampshire Power Renewable Energy Certificate products and services — working with installation companies and homeowners alike.

Quinlan joins Hampshire Power from Solablock Corporation and Black Island Wind Turbines, of which he was a co-founder. Previously, Quinlan served as a congressional technology fellow, white house technology fellow, and worked as a senior analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Quinlan was a staff engineer at AeroVironment for famed inventor Paul MacCready. He holds several patents and has three projects now at the Smithsonian Institution.

HADLEY — Steve Lewis Subaru donated $30,500 to Whole Children in May from the 2020 Subaru of America Share the Love Event, which ran from Nov. 19, 2020 to Jan. 4, 2021. The annual event allows Subaru retailers the opportunity to select charities operating in their community to be included in a list of organizations that new owners can select from to receive a $250 donation from Subaru of America.

Whole Children, a program of Pathlight, offers a wide range of after-school, weekend, and vacation enrichment programs for children of all ages and abilities, particularly those with special needs. Classes include gymnastics, art, material arts, dance, music, social skills, yoga, sports, and theatre.

Upon receiving the check from Steve Lewis Subaru, Whole Children Director Maggie Rice said, “Their generous donation helps us provide a wide range of inclusive programming for children and teens. Our classes help build social and recreational skills, as well as provide support and community for the students and their families.”