Awards & Recognition

Dennis Balling and Bruce McCarrier are well known in the maintenance circles of the Springfield Housing Authority.

As facilities management specialists for the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, they have made it their habit to visit SHA properties on a regular basis, and help staff here prepare for the state and federal housing inspections that are key to the agency’s success.

Both Balling and McCarrier were recognized recently by Friends of the SHA at a luncheon at Gentile Apartments, where they were leading a training session for a dozen local housing managers and maintenance staff.

“We are in your debt for many things,” noted SHA Executive Director William H. Abrashkin.

“Dennis and Bruce and the state agency have given us all the support and technical training that have made so much possible for us – including federalization,” he added.

SHA officials, property and maintenance workers at a luncheon to honor two state DHCD officials.

Friends of the SHA is a recognition program launched in 2009 to recognize individuals, organizations, etc. that have made notable contributions to the agency. As recipients of the recognition, Balling and McCarrier will have their names on a plaque that hangs in the administrative offices at Saab Court.

SHA Board of Commissioners Chairman Raymond Warren said Balling and McCarrier were key to the success of the recent federalization projects at Duggan, Reed Village and Robinson Gardens Apartments. That work brought in more than $21 million in economic development to the city over the past two years.

“These federalization projects were a big deal,” Warren said. “They’ve made a big difference to the city. These were three old projects that were coming to the end of their useful lives, and they are now redone and looking great. We have you to thank for helping us make this happen.

“You hear the word ‘collaboration’ all the time, but in this case, it was the real deal. Thank you kindly,” Warren added as he handed over framed citations to the men.

Left to right: SHA Deputy Executive Director Michelle Booth, DHCD Facility Management Specialist Dennis Balling, SHA Executive Director William H. Abrashkin, DHCD Facility Management Specialist Bruce McCarrier and SHA Board of Commissioners Chairman Raymond Warren.

SHA Deputy Executive Director Michelle Booth works closely with both men, and spoke of their work in superlatives.

“This is the first time we’ve had a team that really comes down into the trenches to work with us on such an intense level,” Booth said. “We really want to give you a heart-felt thanks. Federalization was such a complicated process, and you were a tremendous help.”

For their part, both Balling and McCarrier were modest about the work they have done with the SHA. They agreed that SHA staff is among the best they have worked with.

“It’s been my pleasure working with the people at the Springfield Housing Authority,” said Balling, who was on his last day with the state, retiring after 10 years of service. He served the prior 20 years in the U.S. Army.

“There is true camaraderie here, and a real desire to work hard to get the job accomplished. You can see the team work happening. They really just needed someone behind them that they could always count on,” Balling said.

DHCD Facility Management Specialist Dennis Balling was also celebrating his last day at work with the state agency.

McCarrier, who will continue to work with the agency on inspections and projects, summed up his feelings in a word: “Ditto.”

He added, “This is a great team to work with, always. We’ll be back in August to get ready for another round of inspections.”