Poised for continued growth and diversification, the company sets its sights on the future.

FLORENCE— After more than 10 years in business in Western Mass, Keiter Corporation has rebranded, unifying its four divisions under the Keiter umbrella and updating the company’s voice, look, and feel to reflect recent growth and transformation.

Keiter Builders, the commercial and industrial division of the company; Keiter Homes, offering residential construction; Hatfield Construction, providing site work; and Keiter Properties, the real estate arm; are now all under one Keiter umbrella at keiter.com, a new site developed by BRIGADE, a branding and design agency in Hadley, as part of a long-term collaboration.

Founded in 2010, Keiter is a family-owned construction services company working with clients on residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional projects of all sizes. Scott Keiter, founder and owner, said the brand update was a long time coming.

“Early on, I made a commitment to a long-term strategy, and my main goal is still the same today — to provide uncompromising attention to all of my customers, regardless of project size or exposure,” Keiter said. “Due to expansion across multiple markets, exponential growth, and diversification, it’s time to reflect our transformation in the way we present ourselves to the world. With the creation of the Keiter umbrella, we’re prepared to offer a higher level of service and satisfaction than ever before, setting us up for the next phase of growth.”

Jill Keiter, director of finance and administration, sees the brand update as a stake in the ground, announcing the arrival of a bigger, broader, more focused, and streamlined Keiter. 

“We’re looking ahead and understanding that the last decade is a prelude to the future. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have grown and flourished, and we expect the trend to continue,” she said. “The new Keiter umbrella, and the new look and communication style coming with it, will help to inspire the future growth of our company.”

At the start of the rebrand in early 2021, BRIGADE created new messaging, aiming to capture the breadth of the growing company, grounded in the foundation and reputation that Scott Keiter has built over time. 

The agency then developed a new look and feel for Keiter, including an update to the suite of Keiter logos and a new website that was created to cap the project. 

“We used BRIGADE to ensure the rebrand was strong, strategic, and visually in line with our vision for the future,” Scott Keiter said. 

To experience the updated brand and learn more about Keiter and its various divisions, visit keiter.com.

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Image from Tavern on the Hill website

Each year in December, I try to connect in person with former interns who still offer me assistance that ranges from leading research projects for clients to drafting press releases. This year, I have two such colleagues: Shannon Grossman and Shelby Ashline.

Since Shannon lives up in the White Mountains, I have yet to gather with her, but not for a lack of trying! (She’s a busy young woman.) Sometime early in the new year, though, I had the chance to catch up over dinner with Shelby. We ate at Tavern On the Hill in Easthampton at Shelby’s request. She was aware I’d done a press release for the Tavern on its new menu, and she wanted to try it out!

I’ve eaten at the Tavern many times in the past few decades. More recently, it’s become a place where you can have a beer at the outdoor bar and watch the sun set. You can also sit inside and admire the same incredible view.

I was surprised, then, when Amy Guyutte, one of the owners, along with her husband, Larry, contacted me for a press release announcing that the two were changing up the menu and going through a rebrand. Amy said the idea was to shift from fine dining to a focus on barbeque fare and craft beer.

“We want to expand our market and get on the radar of a broader audience,” she said. “We don’t want to be viewed as a special-occasion venue.”

I see the Tavern as special. But Amy’s right; it’s special every day. You definitely don’t need to wait for a graduation or an engagement or a big birthday. Check it out any day! The food is incredible.

I had some favorites on the menu before the shift. Some, such as the lobster ravioli, have disappeared, but the Pan Seared Scallops remain as do the Crab Cakes that are an appetizer. I learned this in late fall, when I went to the restaurant with my dear friend and former colleague Judy Kelliher—at her request. She, too, had seen the press release.

I ordered a full rack of ribs with collard greens and mac and cheese. The amount of food was staggering; after gorging, I still had enough for a meal for Jacques and I! And those ribs were delicious, falling-off-the-bone tender.

So, when I went to the restaurant with Shelby, I got the same thing! But I ordered a half rack this time. Those ribs are totally delicious. They are so good that I haven’t ordered anything else on the new menu yet!

Larry Guyette oversees the kitchen at Tavern On The Hill. The new menu is pared down to make room for wood-fired meats in addition to ribs; check it out on a website designed by cdeVision of Holyoke, at www.tavernonline.com/. (cdeVision is a great partner in my work; they design websites!)

The new brisket entrée is treated Texas-style with only salt and pepper prior to smoking; the ribs and pulled pork are seasoned with a gluten-free, house-made dry rub. Tavern On The Hill serves all its smoked meats “naked,” meaning without sauce. Three different house sauces are served on the side so guests can add it to suit their taste.  

Honestly, the ribs are so good, I haven’t once even tried the various sauces they served to accompany them!

Barbecue entrees all come with house-baked cornbread that is moist and sweet and a choice of four sides—mac and cheese, collards, cole slaw or pit beans.  

Many old staples remain, such as the Mt. Tom Burger, Grilled Faroe Island Salmon, Chicken & Wild Mushroom Risotto, and Pumpkin & Butternut Squash Tortellacci. There are familiar appetizers as well, such as Deep Fried Brussels Sprouts, General Tso’s Calamari and a variety of salads.

Tavern On The Hill is open Monday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. If you go in winter, bundle up. It can be chilly inside, but the view and the cozy ambience are worth it!

For more information, visit www.tavernonline.com/.

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My clients, and those I work with in The Creative with Ruth Griggs and Maureen Scanlon, often impress me with their savvy.

Recently, it was Valley Community Development that Ruth, Maureen, and I were applauding.

Literally.

The three of us stood with over two hundred of the nonprofit’s supporters from across the region, clapping and cheering as the leaders of the organization celebrated its 30th anniversary at the Hadley Farms Meeting House in mid-April.

Executive Director Joanne Campbell told the audience the celebration was a way to educate community members about the nonprofit’s mission to empower and improve the lives of people with low and moderate incomes through the development of affordable housing, homeownership counseling, economic opportunity, and small business development.

But she said her team and board members didn’t want to spend the evening patting themselves on the back, focused solely on their own accomplishments. Instead, they invited Charles M. Blow, an op-ed columnist for The New York Times, to come and speak on social justice. His talk was powerful and purposeful.

As is Valley Community Development.

It was bold and forward-thinking of them to bring a gifted and well-known speaker to the region to talk about matters that are on the hearts and minds of its staff, the people it serves, and the community at large—race, poverty, politics.

Their broad thinking did not surprise us, though. Joanne and her team planned the evening—and the entire year’s celebrations—with such intention. They began two years ago, in part by bringing us in to help raise awareness.

Together, The Creative helped the nonprofit tighten its name. Maureen refreshed the logo. Ruth created a strategy for rolling out a series of communications to help them achieve their fundraising goal. I wrote stories about the transformative work Valley Community Development does.

Over 12 months, the organization told its stories, in part through a fundraising piece we created, and through press releases we sent to the media, one of which prompted the Gazette to attend the anniversary party and write about Blow’s talk.

Joanne and members of her board visited with businesses and individuals around the region, talking up their work, seeking support from previous and new donors, and raising over $400,000 as a result, exceeding its goal.

Since 1988, Valley Community Development has created 224 units of affordable housing in Northampton, Easthampton and Amherst. It has counseled over 8,000 homebuyers and homeowners and educated over 1,500 businesspeople.  It has over 200 housing units in its development pipeline.

Now, Joanne and the staff at Valley Community Development can continue their good work while also expanding the nonprofit’s geographic reach, creating deeper community connections and assisting more new homebuyers and small business owners.

So many achievements worth applauding.

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