Aaron Vega
President & CEO, Western Mass Economic Development Council (EDC)
Aaron Vega became President and CEO, Western Mass Economic Development Council (EDC) at the start of 2026, succeeding Rick Sullivan in the role. Vega most recently held the position of Director of the City of Holyoke's Office of Planning and Economic Development in which he was instrumental in advancing major housing and redevelopment projects; as well as initiatives to strengthen business support and local economic planning. His career in service of community began prior to that serving from 2013-2021 as MA State Representative for the 5th Hampden District, as an Adjunct Political Science Professor at UMass Amherst for four years and before that for two terms as a one of Holyoke’s first Latino at-large councilors, where he served a term as Chair of the Redevelopment Committee. Vega’s passion for economic growth can also be seen in his role as a small business owner of VegaYoga & Movement Arts and VegaYoga Mobile.
Vega’s educational journey found him attending Holyoke Community College and Keene State College where he graduated with a dual bachelor’s degrees in psychology and film studies. After which he pursued a career in film editing, working on projects for Ken Burns, PBS, TLC and HBO.
A proud Ecuadorian, born and raised in Holyoke, Mass; his film career took him to New York City and New Hampshire for a number of years. Missing what Western Mass offers, he moved back to Holyoke with his wife, former Rockette and now entrepreneur, Debra. He is the proud parent of three daughters and a son, as well as a recent grandfather.
Vega currently serves on the board of Mass Humanities as Chair and serves on the board for the Community Foundation of Western Mass, The Carlos Vega Fund for Social Justice, NEPM, Holyoke Community College, and MassHire Holyoke Career Center.
Having received various recognitions over the years, a few that stand out include being an award-winning documentary film editor, being named to the Business West 40 under Forty, class of 2010, and most recently by MassLive as one of eight Hispanic trailblazers driving change across Massachusetts and beyond.
Adam Bright
Executive Director, Double Edge Theatre
Adam Bright is Executive Director of Double Edge Theatre in Ashfield, Massachusetts, where he works alongside the ensemble to cultivate the organization's artistic vision, operations, finances, fundraising, and long-term strategic development. Since assuming a leadership role, he has helped grow the organization's annual operating budget from approximately $500,000 to more than $2million while guiding major capital, housing, sustainability, and cultural infrastructure initiatives that strengthen both the theatre and the surrounding rural community.
His work focuses on building systems that connect arts and culture with affordable housing, climate resilience, food security, municipal planning, and community development. He also currently serves as Project Coordinator for the Clean Energy in the Cultural Sector initiative, a collaboration between UMass Arts Extension Service and UMass Clean Energy Extension, supporting arts organizations across Massachusetts in advancing equitable clean energy and climate resilience projects.
Beyond his professional roles, Adam has worked as an independent consultant with emerging nonprofit organizations, particularly BIPOC-led, rural, and community-based organizations, supporting strategic planning, organizational development, fundraising, and governance.
Adam serves as an elected member of the Ashfield Planning Board and has participated in regional Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) planning initiatives. He also serves on local and regional committees advancing affordable housing, sustainability, and rural community development. Across his work, he is committed to building partnerships that bridge sectors and create resilient, equitable communities through culture.
Adam lives in Ashfield, MA, with his partner, Tomantha Sylvester, and his daughter, Yulia. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, swimming and playing futball (soccer), and finds inspiration through theatre, community gatherings, and the forests and hills of Western Mass.
B.A. (Hons.) in Theatre and Performance, University of Hull (Hull, England). His education has been further shaped by more than two decades of ensemble-based artistic practice, community leadership, and collaborative learning across the arts, nonprofit, and civic sectors.
Ben Clark
Owner/President, Clarkdale Fruit Farms, Inc.
Ben is the fourth-generation of his family to own and operate Clarkdale, originally founded in 1915. Situated in the hills of Deerfield, the orchard is comprised of 40 acres of apple, peach, pear, plum, nectarine, and cherry trees, as well as grapevines. 95% of sales are through the on-farm retail store, with a small amount of wholesale business to local restaurants, grocers, and schools. Apple cider is produced on-site October-January. The store operates seasonally July-January, but the business of tending the trees and land is year-round and requires 12 full- and part-time seasonal employees. Ben oversees all aspects of operations, sales and administration.
The farm donates fruit to and sponsors numerous school, church, and civic groups, as well as local food pantries and meal sites. Ben is very involved with the annual March for the Food Bank of Western Mass, and is consistently a top fundraiser for the event. He has volunteered with the Deerfield Fire Department for over 20 years and currently holds the rank of Assistant Chief. He previously was also a volunteer EMT. Ben serves on the boards of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce as well as the Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association. He is past president of the Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) board, was previously on the steering committee of the Greenfield Farmers’ Market and recently termed off as a Trustee of Deerfield Academy, after 10 years of service. In 2023, Ben was awarded the Greenfield Recorder’s Franklin County Citizen of the Year.
Ben and his wife Lori live on the farm in Deerfield with their 2 boys. The family enjoys weekends in NYC, vacations in NH and theme parks in Florida. They bond over board games, swimming, and movie nights and are thankful for the natural beauty of the land they steward.
Ben graduated from Deerfield Academy, and earned a B.A. in Theater from Wesleyan University. He lived and worked in Boston and Providence prior to returning to the family farm in 2006.
Bill Hynes
Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, Westfield State University
Bill Hynes is the Executive Director of Institutional Advancement at Westfield State University, as well as the Executive Director of the Westfield State University Foundation. Bill’s role at Westfield State and its Foundation is to foster meaningful donor and alumni connections, and create opportunities that enhance academic programs, student success, scholarships, and long-term institutional growth for current and future students. Prior to Westfield State, he has been in development and advancement work at Western New England University, Baystate Health, and the American Heart Association. He began his non-profit journey at an AmeriCorps Program in the City of Holyoke, eventually became the Executive Director of the Greater Holyoke Youth Service Corps.
Bill lives in Westfield and is the proud parent of two children in their 20’s, Mason and Sydney. Bill is an active community member, serving as a board member and Treasurer at the Homework House of Holyoke and a volunteer for the Parlor Room Collective in Northampton. When not working or volunteering, he can be found on the golf course or at a local concert venue.
Bill received a Bachelor’s Degree in History at UMass-Amherst in 1997 and holds a Master’s Degree from American International College in Non-Profit Management. Bill is a proud UMass alum and the parent of one UMass grad and one current UMass student.
Brian Boyles
Executive Director, Mass Humanities
Brian Boyles is Executive Director of Mass Humanities, a foundation based in Holyoke that creates opportunities for the people of Massachusetts to transform their lives and build a more equitable commonwealth through the humanities. Before joining Mass Humanities in 2018, Boyles served as Vice President of Content at the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, where he directed programming at the Louisiana Humanities Center in New Orleans and served as publisher of 64 Parishes magazine. His first book, New Orleans Boom & Blackout, was selected as the citywide read in 2015.
Under his leadership, Mass Humanities has grown its impact as a grant maker focused on supporting grassroots organizations, delivering more than $10 million in direct funding to nonprofits across Massachusetts. Boyles co-chaired the Special Commission on the Seal and Motto of the Commonwealth, and currently serves on the board of Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford. A native of Pittsburgh and a graduate of Tulane University, he lives in Leverett with his family.
Christian D'Amour
Sr. Director of Store Operations, Big Y
Christian D’Amour began his career at Big Y at the age of 14 as a part-time service clerk. After graduating from college, he worked as a sales and marketing representative for an insurance company based in Providence, RI. He rejoined Big Y in 2014 as a store director trainee. Within a year, he was promoted to assistant store director at the Wilbraham store.
In 2016, Christian was named store director in Southampton, later returning to manage the Wilbraham location. He was then selected to lead Table & Vine’s flagship store in West Springfield, MA.
In 2019, Christian was appointed district sales and merchandising mentor for Big Y’s 15-store district in Western Massachusetts. In this role, he oversaw sales, merchandising and team development across all departments, while continuing to manage operations at Table & Vine.
In 2021, he took on leadership of Big Y’s e-commerce platform, a role he held through 2023. He was subsequently appointed District Director, overseeing 16 Big Y locations across Connecticut. In the Fall of 2025, he was appointed Sr. Director of Supermarket Operations. In this role he is responsible for the oversight of the five supermarket districts ensuring operational excellence across all locations.
Christian holds a BA from St. Michael’s college in Vermont and spent a semester studying at The National University of Ireland at Galway. He and his wife, Olivia, have 4 children.
Conor J. Bevan
CEO, Greater Holyoke YMCA
Conor Bevan's connection to the Greater Holyoke YMCA began at age two, when his grandparents brought him to the Y and he learned to play checkers from the senior citizens who attended there. From there on, he participated in swimming lessons, basketball leagues, and volunteered as a referee, coach, and fitness center assistant. In 2024, he returned to lead the organization as CEO, overseeing a $4.7 million budget, more than 125 staff, and programs serving over 6,000 people annually across multiple locations, advancing the Y's 140-year mission of strengthening spirit, mind, and body.
A lifelong Y member, Conor credits the organization with teaching him the importance of healthy living, community engagement, volunteerism, and belonging. As a proud first-generation college student, he earned a bachelor's degree in Business & Management from Skidmore College and later an MPA in Nonprofit Management from NYU Wagner. After beginning his career as a senior business and financial analyst supporting the U.S. Department of the Navy, he transitioned to the nonprofit sector, serving in leadership and fundraising roles with Boys & Girls Clubs in Springfield, Holyoke, and Hartford, as well as Berkshire Health Systems, where he helped launch nonprofit subsidiaries and strengthen organizational capacity.
Today, Conor is dedicated to building stronger communities through nonprofit leadership while remaining grounded in the values that shaped him. Outside of work, he treasures his roles as a son, brother, husband, and father. He and his wife, Katherine, celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary this year, and together with their children, Padraic and Marley, enjoy spending time hiking, swimming, and exploring the outdoors.
Ellen Moorhouse
Communications and Marketing Director, Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW)
As the Communications and Marketing Director for the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW), Ellen’s primary role is to strengthen the Commission’s brand, outreach efforts, and positioning among stakeholders, government officials, and the media. Ellen was also an inaugural commissioner during the formation of the regional Hampden County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (HCCSWG), and cares deeply about advocating uplifting local and regional issues that improve access to opportunities and equality for women across the Commonwealth.
Previously, as the Communications Director for the Women’s Funding Network (WFN), Ellen was responsible for leading, directing, and administering WFN’s communications strategies and programs. She directed these efforts alongside staff, consultants, and coalition partners to provide strategies, research, and resources that supported the critical agency and influence of women’s foundations and gender justice funders worldwide. In addition, as the former Program Officer for the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWN), Ellen also directed the Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI), a women’s leadership course designed to encourage women to run for office.
Born and raised in Springfield, MA, Ellen graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a bachelor’s in political science and an Honors International Relations Certificate from the Five Colleges. In 2018, she was honored as a 40 Under 40 awardee by BusinessWest. In 2020, she received her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in executive leadership management and was inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta honors society.
Erika Kuester
CEO, Treehouse Foundation
Erika is a seasoned nonprofit leader, with 25 years of experience in the sector. She brings a deep and steadfast commitment to social justice and community to her role as CEO of Treehouse Foundation, whose award winning intergenerational model ensures that children who have experienced foster care, their caregivers, and older adults have the support necessary to thrive. Treehouse’s flagship community, located in Easthampton, MA, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026. As CEO, Erika leads efforts to expand the Treehouse model across New England, with communities in development in Boston, Framingham, Worcester, and beyond.
Erika has extensive experience building and leading teams, including as COO, with a focus on scaling for growth. She has led operations and programmatic work in multiple national organizations. Through her community organizing, she found a passion for team-building, coaching and mentoring, and building systems and infrastructure that poise teams to do their most impactful work. Erika also serves on the Board of Directors for the Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst, MA.
Erika is married to Ian Galloway, with whom she is a parent to two young kids and a small menagerie of pets. She and her family live in Amherst, where they take advantage of all the outdoor activities that Western Massachusetts has to offer, including hiking, canoeing, and snowshoeing.
Erika holds multiple degrees, including a BA in Philosophy from the University of Toledo and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law.
George Timmons, Ph.D.
President, Holyoke Community College
George Timmons, Ph.D., joined Holyoke Community College in 2023 as its fifth president, bringing to the college a wealth of experience from a distinguished career in higher education as well as a passion for—and commitment to—student success.
With strong family roots in the greater Springfield/Hartford region, President Timmons has equated his arrival at Holyoke Community College to a homecoming. As a first-generation college graduate, he has experienced first-hand the challenges many Holyoke Community College students face.
He believes that providing the support necessary to help students overcome the barriers to their success is critical in ensuring equity in access to a high-quality college education. Through the provision of excellent educational and training opportunities and the removal of obstacles such as lack of transportation, childcare, housing, food security, and more, students can find achievement and become valuable members of a society that needs their intelligence and innovation.
President Timmons embraces the Holyoke Community College core values of Innovation, Collaboration, Kindness, Inclusion, and Trust, and is pleased to lead a community committed to those values. Under his watch, the college has grown enrollment while successfully implementing MassReconnect and other growth-focused initiatives.
President Timmons brings to the college a commitment to community service. He serves on the Education Sector Working Group of Governor Maura Healey's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Taskforce and the boards of Holyoke Hospital, MassHire Hampden County Workforce, The Tech Foundry, Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council.
President Timmons earned a Bachelor of Science in financial management from Norfolk State University, a Master of Science in higher education from Old Dominion University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University.
Gerry McCafferty
Director of Housing and Homelessness Policy, City of Springfield
Gerry McCafferty is the Director of Housing and Homelessness Policy at the City of Springfield, where she is currently shepherding creation of a new housing strategy focused on improving the marketability of Springfield and its housing stock. During her tenure with the City, Gerry has coordinated Springfield’s response to homelessness, launched a Healthy Homes home-repair initiative, and managed housing-rebuilding following the devastating 2011 tornado. Prior to joining the City’s Office of Housing, Gerry worked as a tenant’s rights attorney for 15 years, first at Colorado Legal Services in Denver and then at Western Massachusetts Legal Services in Springfield. Gerry began her law career as a Skadden Fellow.
Gerry lives in Springfield, where she gradually advances home improvement projects, adds native plants to her yard, and walks her dog in nearby Van Horn Park. Gerry enjoys music, reading, and spending time with her adult son and with friends.
Gerry is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, where she earned her Juris Doctor cum laude. She holds a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado Denver, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame, where she studied the Great Books curriculum.
Hannah Rechtschaffen
Executive Director, Greenfield Business Association
Hannah Rechtschaffen is an award-winning leader and community builder with over a decade of experience guiding transformative projects at the intersection of creative placemaking, economic development, and stakeholder engagement. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Greenfield Business Association (GBA), leading a dynamic transformation of the organization at a pivotal moment in its evolution. Hannah has worked in arts-based economic development for more than a decade, joining The Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation as a Project Manager in 2014 - consulting on projects ranging from large scale event production to urban design strategy to interdisciplinary program development. Upon returning to the Valley in 2018, Hannah joined the team at WD Cowls as their Director of Placemaking for The Mill District development in North Amherst, engaging the community and regional partners through real estate curation, events, and proactive community building. Hannah is active in her community as well, sitting on the boards of the GCC Foundation and Stone Soup Cafe, as well as the city’s Sustainable Greenfield Implementation Committee and Greenfield Cultural District Committee.
Hannah lives with her husband George and three amazing step kids in Greenfield, and loves attending local events, spending time with friends, and finding even more places in the house for plants and art. She is passionate about small business development and support, and loves taking day trips to check out cool spots all over the area.
Hannah graduated from Oberlin College with a dual degree in Theatre and History, and received a Masters Degree in Arts Administration from Drexel University in Philadelphia. She is currently pursuing a second Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Saybrook University, to professionally address the impacts of mental health on the human ability to create and lead in ever more meaningful ways.
Dr. Jada J. Waters, EdD
Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club Family Center, Inc.
Dr. Waters is an accomplished educational and nonprofit executive dedicated to expanding opportunity for young people and strengthening their communities. She oversees six departments, from Preschool through Board Development, while leading youth programming. In year one, she pursued $1.2 million in grants, securing $220,000 with $499,000 pending, and launched first-ever partnerships with ConvenientMD and Community Music School. She rechartered the Keystone Club after inactivity, logging 588 hours, hosted monthly cultural events celebrating heritage, and took youth to MetLife Stadium for the Howard-Morehouse Classic and World Cup.
Previously, as the inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging and Title IX Coordinator for Middletown Public Schools, Dr. Waters wrote the district's first Equity Policy and presented it at the AASPA National Conference. She grew voluntary staff participation in DEIB learning from 0% to 81% and secured funding for the district's first HBCU tour, earning the 2024 NAACP Innovative Educators Award. Early in her career with Holyoke Community College's Gateway to College program, she presented nationally on best practices for re-engaging out-of-school youth and, on the heels of her doctoral research, led the program to its first national Excellence Award in 2016, again in 2017, and four more times since. Her systems keep thriving long after she moves on.
Dr. Waters is a licensed Principal (5-12) and Superintendent in Massachusetts. Her doctoral research produced the Your Presence Is Your Power framework: wherever she leads, her presence gives others permission to show up fully, and becomes the catalyst for the change that follows.
Dr. Waters lives in Springfield, MA, with her daughter, London, a 10th-grade scholar-athlete in basketball and track. A proud TRIO alum, she is grateful for her family and village, whose love empowers her to pursue every goal with purpose. She enjoys cooking, hosting family at home, and traveling, especially cruising.
Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and Supervision, Master of Nonprofit Management, and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology, all from American International College.
Jamilla Deria
Executive Director, UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center
Jamilla Deria is a nationally recognized arts leader, producer, and cultural strategist with more than two decades of experience advancing innovative artistic programming, institutional growth, and community-centered cultural initiatives. She currently serves as Executive Director of the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center, one of the region’s premier university-based arts presenters.
At UMass Amherst, Deria oversees a multidisciplinary arts complex that includes the Frederick C. Tillis Performance Hall, Bowker Auditorium, the University Museum of Contemporary Art, and multiple gallery spaces. Under her leadership, the Fine Arts Center has expanded its education and engagement initiatives, launched new arts and well-being programming, strengthened statewide cultural partnerships, and advanced significant capital and strategic planning efforts. Her accomplishments include securing a $19.2 million institutional commitment for major theater renovations, expanding student and community engagement initiatives, increasing institutional reserves, and helping position the Fine Arts Center as a leading convener around the intersections of arts, health, education, and civic life.
Before joining UMass Amherst, Deria served in senior leadership roles at the Apollo Theater Foundation, where she developed large-scale festivals, artist partnerships, and interdisciplinary cultural programming, including the internationally recognized WOW – Women of the World Festival and the Apollo’s Africa Now Festival. Earlier in her career, she led national marketing and promotional campaigns for Madison Square Garden and Blue Man Productions.
Deria holds an M.A. in Media, Culture and Communications from New York University and a B.A. in Political Science and Theatre from Williams College.
Jennifer Core
Executive Director, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)
Jennifer Core is the Executive Director of Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), a non-profit working across Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties to strengthen farms and engage the community to build the local food economy. Jennifer provides strategic vision and leadership in advancing structural and economic conditions that support farms and food production across our landscape. Previously, Jennifer developed a curriculum for new and beginning farmers at The Farm School, provided operational leadership at Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment, and served as the Director of Agriculture for The Trustees of Reservations, a statewide conservation organization, where she oversaw production operations across multiple farms and implemented agroecological trials & research.
Jennifer and her husband own and operate Hettie Belle Farm, a small, grass-based livestock farm in the town of Warwick in Franklin County. Originally from Oregon, she settled in New England to start her family and her farm after falling in love with the rural communities dotting the hills. When not picking up hay, setting fences or helping with lambing, she enjoys celebrating the abundance of local food by cooking for her family and friends.
Jennifer earned her Master of Arts in Intercultural Service, Leadership & Management from The School for International Training and Bachelor of Arts in English and Religion from Pacific Lutheran University.
Jessica Collins
Executive Director, Public Health Institute of Western MA
Jessica Collins has dedicated her career to collaborative efforts that build equitable communities and sustain programmatic, policy, and infrastructure change that supports quality of life. She has served as Executive Director of the Public Health Institute of Western MA for over ten years. PHIWM leads regional data assessments, coalition convening, and communications and advocacy on regional public health issues. She has founded and led many community-based coalitions in Massachusetts like CambridgeWalks, Shape Up Somerville (nationally recognized); Live Well Springfield and Equity in the 413.
She was named a 2021 BusinessWest "Women of Impact", awarded the Healing Racism Institute Community Builder Award in 2023 and the Urban League of Springfield Inclusion Luminary Award in 2025. Ms. Collins brings regional equity perspective to state efforts including the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Community Promote and Prevent Behavioral Health Commission (2018 and 2025); served as the Co-Director of the BeHealthy Partnership, the Accountable Care Organization (2018-2023) and served as on the MA Public Health Alliance Board of Directors for ten years and as President 2017-2019 and currently serves on Health Care for All Board.
Ms. Collins has a master’s degree from Tufts University and is a proud graduate of Wellesley College. Her passion for health equity began from experiences as a Jesuit Volunteer and US Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa. More recently, she spent over ten years coaching youth basketball and was elected to her town’s Board of Health for seven years (2017-2024). She lives in South Hadley with her husband and two teenagers.
Jessye Deane
Executive Director, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce & Regional Tourism Council
Co-owner, F45 Training Hampshire Meadows
Jessye Deane is the executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, Massachusetts’ only countywide chamber and state-designated regional tourism council. A marketing and public relations expert with 15-plus years of experience, Deane pairs strategic vision with persuasive public advocacy and a talent for building connections. Through service on more than 33 boards and committees spanning economic development, workforce development, tourism, public health and rural policy, Deane brings Franklin County’s priorities into regional and statewide decision-making and helps direct partnerships, resources and investment toward its communities.
Since taking the helm in 2022, Deane has added more than 200 members to the Chamber, doubled event attendance, nearly doubled tourism grant funding, and launched a first-of-its-kind Rural Downtown Revitalization Pilot. She also revived the Franklin County Gift Card, which has generated more than $120,000 in local spending.
Previously, Deane spent a decade at Community Action Pioneer Valley, rising to director of communications and development. There, she increased private fundraising by 1,645% while overseeing communications and fundraising for six departments and 40 programs as a one-person department.
Deane also co-owns F45 Training Hampshire Meadows in Hadley, Massachusetts’ first F45 studio, which she and her husband, Danny, opened in 2018. The award-winning fitness studio has contributed more than $100,000 in donations and in-kind support to more than 90 Western Massachusetts nonprofits.
Her honors include the 2019 Amherst Area Chamber MVP Award, Franklin County’s inaugural Young Professional of the Year in 2020, and BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty in 2021. She later judged the program in 2023 and emceed the event in 2024.
Deane lives in Bernardston with her husband, Danny, their three children, and their goldendoodle named Potato. She coaches youth soccer and girls’ basketball, and enjoys family adventures, outdoor recreation, strong coffee, and cheering from the sidelines.
Deane earned a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication, with a concentration in public relations and a minor in writing, from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York.
John Ciolek
Vice President of Sales, Finance & Administration at Associated Builders, Inc.
John Ciolek joined the team at Associated Builders in South Hadley in early 2023 and manages its sales, finance, and corporate administration efforts. He also manages the day-to-day activities across the Ciolek family’s commercial real-estate interests, as well as staying active in the family’s charitable activities and has served on several board of directors over the years.
Associated Builders (AB) is a third-generation, family-owned, design-build general contractor that has served the Pioneer Valley for more than five decades. Founded by his father in the early ’70s, John’s three brothers — Michael, Paul, and Tom — have led AB for the past 30-plus years. This is a return to the company of sorts for John, as he worked with the field crews with his brothers throughout his high-school and college years, gaining practical knowledge of the construction business. The company has grown significantly since then and has completed projects across New England with a focus on Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut.
John brings extensive experience in finance and strategy garnered over a nearly three decades long career in finance and corporate strategy. Prior to joining Associated Builders, he was head of Strategic Initiatives at NGL Energy, a NYSE listed energy company. Reporting to NGL’s CEO, he was responsible for the company’s M&A activities, its divestiture program and for initiating its sustainability effort. Prior to that, he had a decades-long career on Wall Street, over the course of which he served as a managing director in Investment Banking for some of the world’s largest financial institutions including, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, and Citigroup. Over the course of his investment banking career, John provided strategic advice to numerous companies and sourced and executed a wide variety of equity and debt capital transactions. He started his banking career as a corporate lender for Shawmut Bank in Hartford, Connecticut before attending the University of Michigan, where he received his MBA with distinction. He received a bachelor’s degree in Political Economy from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts and graduated from Northfield-Mount Hermon School in Northfield, Massachusetts.
John splits his time between Western Massachusetts and New York City, where he lives with his physician wife, Lisa Mandl, three college age children and a miniature poodle named Lola. In his free time, John enjoys traveling with his wife and kids, watching Formula One with his daughter, reading historical fiction and working on his beginner golf game.
John Page
Executive Director, Amherst Business Improvement District, Inc.
John Page is the Executive Director of the Amherst Business Improvement District (BID), where he works to strengthen Downtown Amherst’s economic vitality, arts and cultural activity, and tourism. He leads business recruitment and retention, marketing and events, beautification and placemaking projects, strategic partnerships, and advocacy efforts that support businesses, residents, students, and visitors.
John’s previous experience spans hospitality and events, local government, community development, and housing advocacy. This includes roles as Assistant Director for University Events in the UMass Office of Community Relations & University Events and Marketing Director for the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. He has also supported Amherst’s affordable housing trust and helped found the Amherst Affordable Housing Coalition. His local engagement includes service on boards and committees, such as the Pelham Cultural Council, Amherst Education Foundation, and Amherst Pride.
John lives in Pelham and has deep family roots (seven generations) in the Amherst area. Outside of work he enjoys hiking, traveling, spending time with his partner, family, and friends, and staying actively engaged in civic life.
John earned a BBA in Operations and Information Management from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with a minor in political science.
Joshua Faller
Co-Executive Director, Just Roots
Joshua Faller is Co-Executive Director of Just Roots, a nonprofit community farm and regional food hub based in Greenfield, Massachusetts. He helps lead the organization's strategy, operations, and partnerships while advancing a vision for regional food systems that improve community health, strengthen local farms, and expand equitable access to fresh food.
Joshua has helped grow Just Roots into a statewide leader in Food is Medicine, developing partnerships that connect healthcare providers, community organizations, and more than 100 local farms. His work focuses on building the systems that allow healthcare dollars to support both healthier communities and thriving regional farm economies. He has played a central role in developing Massachusetts' first statewide farm-based Food is Medicine network and serves on multiple state advisory groups working to shape the future of nutrition services and healthcare integration.
Before joining Just Roots, Joshua managed ecological restoration projects with Abound Design, led the farm and agricultural education program at North Country School in New York, and directed farm production and educational programming at Alaska Pacific University, where he also co-founded South Central Alaska CRAFT, a collaborative network supporting beginning farmers.
Joshua regularly speaks on Food is Medicine, regional food systems, and agricultural market development at state and national conferences. He serves as Chair of the Community-Based Organization Task Force for the Food is Medicine Massachusetts Association and contributes to statewide efforts to strengthen connections between agriculture, healthcare, and community organizations.
Joshua lives in Easthampton, with his partner and two young children. Outside of work, he's usually tending the garden, fixing something broken, working on small stone masonry projects, or adding another old book to his collection.
Joshua holds a M.A., Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems from Alaska Pacific University; Certificate in Ecological Horticulture from University of California, Santa Cruz; and a B.A., History from University of California, Santa Cruz.
Kisha D. Morgan, Ed.S.
Co-Executive Director, Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership
Kisha D. Morgan is Co-Executive Director of the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP), a nonprofit partnering with Springfield Public Schools and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to transform outcomes across a network of secondary schools. In this role, she provides executive oversight of SEZP schools and principals, with a strong focus on teacher and administrator development.
Kisha is passionate about developing educators and leaders and currently leads this work across the Zone, serving as Adjunct Professor and Program Director for the Elms College/SEZP MAT Program, where she teaches educators pursuing licensure and a master's degree in Moderate Disabilities. She develops graduate-level coursework in inclusive education grounded in a Liberation Lens framework that centers equity and anti-racism in teaching and learning.
She previously served as SEZP's Chief of Teaching and Learning and Chief of Student Support and Services, where she designed and built the Zone's special education model, systems, and programming from the ground up while also providing executive oversight of MTSS, Multilingual Learners, Family Empowerment, Anti-Racism/Equity, and Discipline. Prior to joining the Zone, Kisha brought more than 20 years of experience in historically under-resourced urban school districts in Atlanta, Georgia, and Rochester, New York, serving in roles including Special Education Teacher, Principal, Special Education Director, Executive Director of Special Education, and Chief of Special Education and Alternative Programs, with a track record of strengthening systems, turning around challenged programs, and closing opportunity gaps for students.
Kisha believes that lasting school improvement is built by investing in people, developing leaders, strengthening systems, and creating equitable opportunities for every student to thrive. She holds professional licensure as a Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent and Special Education Administrator in Massachusetts and is expected to graduate with a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership in December 2026.
Born and raised in New York, Kisha enjoys spending her free time with family and friends. Whether she's watching a great movie, hosting a game night, or taking walks with her dogs, she values the moments that help her recharge.
Kristen Joyce
Program Director of the Bridge to Prosperity Cliff Effect Pilot at Springfield WORKS
Kristen Joyce is the Program Director of the Bridge to Prosperity Cliff Effect Pilot at Springfield WORKS, an initiative of the Western Mass Economic Development Council. Bridge to Prosperity is a statewide initiative designed to address benefits cliffs—a barrier that penalizes income growth by abruptly reducing public assistance. Kristen oversees all aspects of the pilot program, including partnerships with several non-profit organizations and employers, a third-party evaluation, and policy and system change efforts. Before joining Springfield WORKS, Kristen was a researcher at Mathematica for ten years, building the evidence about what works to help families achieve economic success. At Mathematica, she was the lead evaluator for the Western Mass MOMS PartnershipSM, a program designed to reduce depressive symptoms and improve the social connections and labor market success of caregivers with low incomes in Holyoke and Springfield. She has also held positions at the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC working to improve public benefits programs.
Kristen lives in Longmeadow with her partner Dan. She enjoys spending time with their dog, Harvey, playing tennis, and expanding her gardening skills.
She holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Kristin DeBoer
Executive Director, Kestrel Land Trust
Kristin DeBoer serves as the Executive Director of Kestrel Land Trust, leading conservation efforts across the forests, farms, wetlands, and trails of western Massachusetts' Connecticut River Valley. Since stepping into the role in 2006, Kristin has guided the organization through a powerful evolution, transitioning Kestrel from a volunteer-led group into a professionally staffed regional land trust. Under her leadership, the trust has dramatically scaled up its conservation capacity and forged vital community partnerships to protect critical regional lands across the Valley.
Deeply committed to the broader conservation movement, Kristin serves on the Land Trust Alliance National Leadership Council and recently concluded a nine-year term on the board of the Northeast Wilderness Trust. Her extensive background in advocacy spans non-profit work in recycling, toxics-use reduction, endangered species recovery, and wilderness restoration.
Kristin lives in Pelham alongside Amethyst Brook and a 1,200+ acre forest protected by Kestrel and partners. She has been happily married for 31 years, raising two children, now in their early twenties. When she isn't protecting land, Kristin can be found hiking, paddling, practicing yoga, or watercolor painting.
She holds a BA in Economics and Environmental Science from Bucknell University and an MS in Environmental Studies from Antioch University.
Lev BenEzra
Executive Director, Community Action Pioneer Valley
Lev BenEzra is the Executive Director of Community Action Pioneer Valley (CAPV), the region’s largest anti-poverty and economic security organization, serving 25,000+ people annually across Franklin, Hampshire, and Western Hampden counties. She brings 16 years of senior nonprofit leadership experience, including ~8 as a chief executive, and has focused her career on advancing economic justice through strategic leadership, program development, advocacy, and resource building. Collaboration has been a focus throughout her career, knowing we go farther together.
Before joining CAPV as Executive Director in 2025, Lev led the Amherst Survival Center for seven years, growing revenue and tripling program reach while guiding the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, she spent roughly a decade at CAPV as Director of Youth & Workforce Development, growing this aspect of the organization’s work substantially.
Lev serves on the Boards of Rural Development Inc. and Massachusetts Association for Community Action, and on the Governance Committee of the Blue Ridge Institute for Leaders. She was a 2024 BusinessWest 40 Under 40 honoree.
Lev lives in Greenfield, MA, with her wife, Keleigh, and their two young adult children. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, canoeing and kayaking, and getting lost in true crime podcasts.
Lev holds an M.S. in Management of Mission-Driven Organizations from Marlboro College Graduate School, where she later served as adjunct faculty, and a B.A. in Environmental Education from Warren Wilson College. She is also a proud alum of Greenfield Community College.
Lindsay Barron LaBonte
Branch Manager, Applied Mortgage Team at HMA Mortgage
Lindsay Barron LaBonte is Branch Manager of the Applied Mortgage Team, the Massachusetts branch of HMA Mortgage. With more than 20 years in residential lending, she leads a team dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve homeownership through education, personalized guidance, and creative financing solutions. Under her leadership, the Applied Mortgage Team has become known for combining high-level mortgage expertise with an unwavering commitment to customer service and community engagement.
Consistently ranked among the top mortgage originators in Western Massachusetts, Lindsay has helped thousands of buyers, homeowners, investors, and real estate professionals navigate the home financing process. She is a nationally recognized Scotsman Guide Top Women Originator, a Banker & Tradesman Top Loan Originator, and was named one of the Mortgage Banker Association of Massachusetts Loan Originators of the Year in 2026.
Beyond lending, Lindsay is passionate about strengthening her community. She most recently served on the Board of Directors for United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region and actively supports many local nonprofit organizations through the Applied Mortgage Team's community initiatives. She is also the creator and host of the Real People, Real Estate podcast, which highlights the people, businesses, and organizations making a positive impact across Western Massachusetts while providing practical education about housing and homeownership.
Lindsay lives in Southampton, Massachusetts with her husband, Sam, and their two daughters, Charlie and Penny. Outside of work, she enjoys strength training, traveling with her family, supporting local businesses, and finding new ways to bring people together through community events.
Lindsay holds a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an M.B.A. from Western New England University.
Liz O’Gilvie
Convenor/Director of the Springfield Food Policy Council
Interim Director of Springfield based Gardening the Community (GTC)
Liz serves as the convenor/director of the Springfield Food Policy Council and the interim director of Springfield based Gardening the Community (GTC). GTC is a food access organization centered in urban agriculture and youth development with one owned farm site, several leased sites and the only farm store in Massachusetts’ 3rd largest city. The GTC farm store is a social enterprise.
The Springfield Food Policy Council serves as a partner, advisor and driving force behind efforts to build a healthier food system in Springfield, Hampden County and statewide.
A produce farmer in her own right, Liz works with an advisory committee to further develop and manage 40 Acres and a Mule Farm which began operating on scattered ¼ acre sites across Springfield and was recently awarded a land licensing contract by the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture for 16 Acres of farmland located on land owned by the State’s carceral system for the development of an incubator farm for immigrant, refugee farmers and new farmers who were formerly justice involved.
Liz was appointed to Governor Healey’s Anti-Hunger Task force and is a staunch advocate for marginalized families and children. In the local collaboration and policy world, Liz serves on the Statewide Advisory Boards of the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, and as a member of the Transformative Farm Bill Campaign Committee and formerly the White House Conference on Nutrition Subcommittee and Massachusetts Farm to School Advisory Board.
Matt Abramovitz
President of NEPM
Matt Abramovitz joined New England Public Media as president in 2022, building on a long career in broadcasting and leading the NPR and PBS affiliate at a critical moment.
Under his leadership, the station moved into its new Springfield headquarters, launched separate news and music radio services, and focused on elevating the unique voices and stories of the region with shows like The Fabulous 413 and The Rundown with Carrie Saldo.
Most recently, he helped lead NEPM through federal defunding and a merger with GBH in Boston, protecting and strengthening access to trusted local news, music, and community storytelling for western Mass. and building a network that serves the entire Commonwealth.
His more than three decades in media started at the renowned jazz station WBGO in Newark, New Jersey. He later joined Sirius Satellite Radio, where he was a member of the original music team that launched the service. He spent more than 12 years with New York Public Radio, helping to establish WQXR as a public classical station and serving as its head of programming.
Abramovitz currently lives with his wife, children, dog and gecko in a co-housing community in Western Massachusetts. He enjoys cooking, birding, woodworking and playing guitar. He holds degrees from Wesleyan University and Cornell University.
Max Fripp
Executive Director, Playworks New England
Max Fripp is the Executive Director of Playworks New England. Playworks is a national non-profit with a mission to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for safe, meaningful play. Prior to Playworks, Max worked at Greenfield Community College where he focused on re-imagining Franklin County's rural entrepreneurship ecosystem. Through this work he launched a ten-week entrepreneurship accelerator, revamped the Take The Floor business pitch competition, and developed an alternative high school program that used entrepreneurship as a hook to keep at-risk students enrolled in high school and on a pathway for success.
Max grew up in Orange, MA, in Franklin County, and left the region in 1996 for college and to build his career. After living in Boston and Portland, Oregon, Max moved to Shelburne Falls in 2019 to raise his two sons closer to family, and in a smaller, slower community.
A first-generation college graduate, Max did his undergraduate work at the University of New Hampshire, and received a Master's in Education from Lesley University, while also serving as an AmeriCorps Teaching Fellow. Max currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Franklin County Community Development Corporation and the United Way of Franklin & Hampshire Counties.
Megan Burke
President and CEO, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
As President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Megan Burke leads the organization in its philanthropic and community impact services – to help enrich the quality of life of people living in Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties. Megan became the Foundation’s fifth President and CEO in January of 2023 and has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, strategic planning, and philanthropy.
Megan began her career working on international peace and security issues at the Ford Foundation and through the United Nations. She also lived in Nicaragua for several years, where her work supported the emerging LGBTQ+ movement and the development of a nation-wide campaign to advance human rights. Prior to her most recent position at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Burke led the Nobel Peace Prize winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines, an international network of nonprofits engaged in advancing a ban on antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions worldwide. She served as the director of community impact grantmaking at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving where she oversaw a $25 million annual foundation-directed grantmaking budget and lead a transition to trust-based grantmaking.
Megan earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Wellesley College and a master’s degree in International Relations from Yale University. She serves on the board of the Western MA Economic Development Council, the Springfield Regional Chamber and Philanthropy MA, the Commonwealth’s statewide philanthropy association. Currently, she resides in Wilbraham, MA with her family.
Nancy Robinson
Senior Director of Operations, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Inc.
Nancy Robinson is the Senior Director of Operations at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts (FBWM), a member partner of Feeding America. FBWM provides food assistance support to the four counties Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire, distributing food and providing programs to support community members experiencing food insecurity. In this capacity, Nancy oversees operations and administrative support departments. Before working for the FBWM, Nancy’s career began in healthcare operations where she transitioned over time from a clinical role to a director of systemwide operations leading a team that developed improved access to care across the organization. She assumed expanded roles including oversight of Food and Nutrition which led to work with Food in Medicine, Healthy Food in Health Care, and other wellness programs. In 2016, Nancy participated in a regional committee led by the FBWM, the Task Force to End Hunger. This launched her career with the FBWM, where she developed successful partnerships between healthcare and food assistance programs for improved health outcomes.
A native of the western New York area, Nancy relocated to Hampden Co. where she and her husband raised their two daughters. Nancy spends time with her family and can be found working in her gardens, reading, painting, or planning her next trip, traveling the world to experience cultural foods, people and art.
Nancy graduated from State University of Buffalo (S.U.N.Y. Buffalo) with a B.S. in Medical Technology and is a registered M.T. (ASCP). After moving to Massachusetts, Nancy completed studies at University of Connecticut for her M.B.A. She recently served on the board of the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, supporting women and girls, and participates in Food in Medicine initiatives across Massachusetts.
Nayroby Rosa
Executive Director, OneHolyoke Community Development Corporation
Nayroby Rosa serves as the Executive Director of OneHolyoke Community Development Corporation in Holyoke, Massachusetts. She provides strategic leadership for the organization's operations, finance, fundraising, housing initiatives, community engagement, and neighborhood revitalization efforts. Over the past two decades, Nayroby has built a career dedicated to strengthening communities through resident leadership, collaborative partnerships, and equitable community development.
Prior to becoming Executive Director, she served as OneHolyoke's Chief Operating Officer and Director of Community Engagement & Resident Services, where she led neighborhood engagement strategies, grant development, volunteer leadership, and resident services. Her previous experience includes leadership and management positions with Beacon Communities, Wayfinder’s formally HAP Inc., the YWCA of Western Massachusetts, and other human service organizations. She currently serves on the Holyoke Community College Board of Trustees and the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Board and has served on numerous local advisory committees focused on health, education, housing, and community development.
Nayroby lives in Holyoke, Massachusetts. She enjoys spending time with family, traveling, dancing, and giving back to her community through volunteerism and civic engagement.
Nayroby holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership & Negotiation from Bay Path University, a bachelor's degree in Child & Youth Services from UMass Amherst, and an associate degree in Human Services from Holyoke Community College.
Patricia Duffy
Massachusetts’ Fifth Hampden District
Patricia Duffy represents Massachusetts’ Fifth Hampden District (which consists of Holyoke and Chicopee Ward 3B) in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. She currently serves on the Committees of Ways & Means and Veterans Affairs, and as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Cannabis Policy. Her priorities include equitable access to healthcare, healthy food, and excellent public education.
She was born in San Pedro, California, the youngest of five children of Air Force officer Robert Duffy and his wife Elizabeth. The family followed her father’s assignments until he retired as Brigadier General and they settled in Concord, Massachusetts.
After working in publishing in Boston for several years, Pat went back to school and received a Masters in Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She settled in the Oakdale neighborhood of Holyoke and immersed herself in community organizing. She’s served on the board of Nueva Esperanza (which serves the neighborhood of South Holyoke), was Governor Deval Patrick’s appointee to the Holyoke Redevelopment Authority, and has managed and volunteered for many local electoral campaigns.
In 2014, then State Rep. Aaron Vega hired Pat as his legislative aide and, upon his announcement that he would not run for re-election in early 2020, Pat decided to run for the seat, winning the election in the Fall of 2020. She lives in her 100+ year-old bungalow with her husband Joe and their dogs JoJo and Milo. They enjoy long walks, travel, and Pat is learning to play golf.
Payton A. Shubrick
CEO & Founder, 6 Brick's LLC
Payton Shubrick is the CEO and Founder of 6 Brick's LLC, a family-operated, four-time award-winning recreational cannabis dispensary in downtown Springfield, MA (NECANN Best MA Adult Use Dispensary 2023, MassLive Reader Raves 2024 and 2025, North Central News Best Dispensary 2024). Inspired by Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow, Payton launched 6 Brick's in 2018 with her parents and sister to engage a Springfield community disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition. Guided by “people, plant, and purpose,” she oversees
strategy, operations, compliance, and community engagement while advocating for women, people of color, and aspiring entrepreneurs entering the cannabis industry.
Before founding 6 Brick's, Payton spent nearly seven years at MassMutual in research and development and technology strategy roles, where she founded design thinking workshops for home office employees and helped grow the company's patent portfolio by thirty-five percent. She also served as an Adjunct Professor at American International College and Clark University, teaching graduate cannabis business courses and human-centered design methodology.
Payton is deeply engaged in civic leadership across Western Massachusetts. She serves as Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Cannabis Coalition, President-Elect of the College of the Holy Cross Alumni Association, and Chair of Nominations and Governance on the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Her past board service includes the Connecticut River Conservancy and Springfield Museums.
Born and raised in Springfield, MA, Payton still calls the city home. The oldest of four children, she enjoys cooking, spending time with her family and close circle of friends, and diving into personal development books and podcasts.
Payton holds a BA in Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross, where she competed on the Division I Women's Track & Field team, and a Master of Information & Communication Management from Bay Path University. She completed Leadership Pioneer Valley in 2018.
Richard Griffin Jr.
Vice President of Community Investment, MassDevelopment
Richard Griffin Jr. serves as Vice President of Community Investment at MassDevelopment, where he leads initiatives that advance economic development, community revitalization, and equitable investment throughout Western Massachusetts. He oversees grant and financing programs, partners with municipalities, nonprofit organizations, developers, and business leaders, and works to strengthen communities through strategic investments that promote economic opportunity and neighborhood revitalization.
Prior to joining MassDevelopment, Richard served as a Senior Project Manager and Brownfields Coordinator for the City of Springfield, where he managed environmental redevelopment projects and secured funding to transform underutilized properties into productive community assets. His earlier experience in nonprofit financial administration provided a strong foundation in fiscal management, strategic planning, and organizational leadership.
Richard is widely recognized for his commitment to civic leadership and community service. He serves on the Board of Directors of Valley Community Development Corporation (Valley CDC) and is a member of the UMass Amherst Campus Council, a collaborative group of regional leaders working with the university to advance economic development, regional growth, and cross-sector partnerships throughout Western Massachusetts. He previously served on the Massachusetts East-West Passenger Rail Study Advisory Committee. Richard also serves as Basileus of Delta Chi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; Senior Warden of Richard Allen Lodge #30, Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons; Secretary of the Western Massachusetts Divine Nine; Vice President of the Acacia Travelers Consortium; and Treasurer of Suez Temple #114, Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of North and South America and Its Jurisdictions, Inc.
Richard resides in Western Massachusetts with his wife, Janet. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family, mentoring emerging leaders, staying active through fitness, creating custom fragrances, and volunteering in organizations that strengthen and serve local communities.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Tuskegee University. Richard has also completed extensive professional development in economic development, community investment, grant administration, workforce development, and nonprofit and public-sector leadership.
Rod Motamedi
Assistant Director, Economic and Public Policy Research, UMass Amherst Donahue Institute (UMDI)
Rod Motamedi helps lead the two-dozen staff of the Economic and Public Policy Research group (EPPR) at UMDI. The institute carries out its public service mission through applied research and evaluation, education and training, capacity building, and direct services to strengthen our impact. As one of nine units within the institute, EPPR provides unbiased analyses on the economic, demographic, workforce, and other public policy issues in Massachusetts, New England, and beyond. Prior to joining the Donahue Institute, Rod was a senior economic associate at Regional Economic Models, Inc. in Amherst where, for over seven years, he led client training and support, business development, and consulting efforts. Examples of his previous work include the economic impact of casinos, immigration, energy and environmental policy, housing, economic and workforce development, and fiscal policy. Rod was a board member of the Association for University Business and Economic Research and is now the president-elect.
Originally from Lawrence, KS, Rod has lived in western Massachusetts since 2004 after stints in Tehran, Phoenix, and Cambridge, MA. He and his partner Tonya have lived in Easthampton since 2020. In his free time, Rod enjoys riding his motorcycle, listening to music, and working with his hands.
Rod received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a focus in business analytics and a Bachelor of Arts in economics also from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Rod Anderson
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Sarah Barr
Advisor to the Provost on Campus Initiatives and Director of Community Engagement, Amherst College
Sarah Barr is the Advisor to the Provost on Campus Initiatives and Director of Community Engagement at Amherst College, where she works with faculty, staff, students, and community partners to link learning inside and outside of the classroom. Her work sits at the intersection of community engagement, town-gown relations, and institutional strategy. In recent years, she has helped strengthen Amherst College’s relationship with the Town of Amherst, supported the negotiation and implementation of a strategic partnership agreement, worked on emerging issues related to workforce housing, and led cross-divisional efforts to redesign summer programs to better support students pursuing internships and research opportunities.
Sarah is deeply involved in the local community. She currently serves as Vice President of the Amherst Business Improvement District and Secretary of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. She previously served as board president of the Amherst Survival Center, a nonprofit organization working to reduce food insecurity and social isolation in the region, and as campaign manager for Mindy Domb, who was elected State Representative for the 3rd Hampshire District. She also serves on the Mead Art Museum Advisory Board.
Sarah lives in Northampton, Massachusetts with her husband and stepson. In her free time, she enjoys bringing friends, family, and the occasional stranger to the Mead Art Museum, knitting, running, and spending time with her family, especially her dog, Violet.
Sarah received a B.A. in Global Policy Studies from Chatham University and an M.A. in Theology and Ethics from Hartford International University for Religion and Peace.
Shannon Martineau
Director of Finance & Administration, Franklin County Community Development Corporation
Shannon Martineau is the Director of Finance & Administration at the Franklin County Community Development Corporation, where she supports the organization’s finance, human resources, operations, and compliance functions. She works closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to oversee a $3 million annual operating budget, manage more than $10 million in organizational assets, and strengthen the financial and operational systems that support FCCDC’s mission of advancing small businesses and fostering a more vital rural economy.
With more than 20 years of experience spanning nonprofit leadership and financial services, Shannon has built her career around helping individuals, businesses, and organizations achieve greater financial stability and sustainability. Prior to FCCDC, she developed financial capability and tax assistance programs at Community Action Pioneer Valley, expanding access to financial coaching, community lending, and free tax preparation for hundreds of households.
Before transitioning to nonprofit leadership, Shannon built a successful career in credit union and retail banking. She supported individuals and small businesses through lending, financial analysis, and relationship-based banking while leading branch operations, developing teams, and designing regional onboarding and staff training programs. These experiences continue to shape her collaborative, people-centered approach to leadership and community impact.
Outside of work, Shannon serves as an elected Town Meeting Member where she lives in Montague, MA and enjoys supporting local businesses and community initiatives. She spends her free time enjoying New England’s four seasons outdoors with her husband and their two children.
Shannon graduated from Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management, Shannon also completed the Accounting Transitions Program, including advanced coursework in taxation and financial accounting.
Shannon M. Rudder
President and Chief Executive Officer, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services
Shannon M. Rudder, originally from Buffalo, NY, has been a vibrant part of the Western Massachusetts community since 2013. With over 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, Shannon is a transformational leader known for her visionary approach and is deeply committed to social and economic justice; a champion for equity, belonging, and anti-oppression; a staunch community collaborator and strong organizer.
Her notable contributions to Western Massachusetts include her roles as Deputy Director of Teach Western Mass, where she advanced educational equity in collaboration with local schools, and Executive Director of MotherWoman, which has since evolved into the Women of Color Health Equity Collective, focusing on support and advocacy for mothers. Additionally, Shannon served as Executive Director of Providence Ministries, Inc., addressing essential needs such as food security, addiction recovery, housing, clothing, and workforce development for marginalized populations.
Shannon holds both a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Medaille College. In March 2023, she was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services. In this role, Shannon is committed to advancing the organization’s 45-year legacy of promoting Dr. King’s vision of a “beloved community.” The mission of Martin Luther King Family Services is to nurture and empower individuals, families, and youth towards achieving peace, social and economic justice, self-determination, self-actualization, and self-sufficiency reflected in their impactful programs, which address food security, family stabilization, college readiness, youth enrichment, and mental health awareness. This mission aligns deeply with Shannon’s core of compassion-centered daily acts of service to uplift the communities she is blessed to be a part of.
Inspired by her ancestors to use her gifts for community impact, Shannon lives in Springfield, MA, with her husband, Dr. David Rudder, and their two beautiful daughters, Egeria and India. She is also a proud lifelong member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, and an active participant in the Western Massachusetts Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated. Shannon further contributes to the region through her involvement on various boards Including: EduCare Sprinfield, Provider’s Council, Springfield Cultural Partnership and the Springfield empowerment Zone Partnership; and in educational settings. Recent awards and professional accomplishments include: 2025 Women of Color; and 2024 BusinessWest Difference Maker.
Solomon Baymon
Director of Western Massachusetts for Roca, Inc.
Solomon Baymon is the Director of Western Massachusetts for Roca, Inc., where he oversees operations in Springfield and Holyoke, leading violence intervention, workforce development, reentry, behavioral health partnerships, and community engagement initiatives for young adults at the highest risk of violence. He works closely with law enforcement, courts, healthcare providers, schools, employers, and community organizations to strengthen public safety and improve outcomes for youth and young adults.
Solomon brings more than 18 years of leadership experience in public safety, criminal justice, nonprofit leadership, and youth development. Before joining Roca, he served with the Connecticut Department of Correction, where he rose through the ranks to Deputy Warden, leading complex operations, supervising multidisciplinary teams, and managing public safety initiatives.
Outside of Roca, Solomon has owned Elite Nation Fitness, a sports performance training business, for more than 15 years. He also serves as a high school football coach and Head Coach of the Neighborhood Generals Youth Football Program, where he mentors young athletes and promotes leadership, discipline, and character on and off the field.
Solomon lives in Springfield, Massachusetts, with his wife, Amanda, and their children. Outside of work, he enjoys coaching football, training athletes, spending time with family, and giving back to his community through mentorship.
Solomon holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, with continued executive leadership and professional development in public safety, violence intervention, and nonprofit leadership.
Tania M. Barber
President & CEO, Caring Health Center, Inc.
Tania M. Barber is the President/CEO at Caring Health Center (CHC), the only Federally Funded Health Center (FQHC) in Springfield, MA. Tania has been at CHC for 29 years and was steadily promoted before stepping into her current role in 2013. CHC employs a staff of more than 300 and provides over 21,000 patients per year with affordable, accessible comprehensive care.
Under her leadership, CHC has grown from a $13 million to a $46 million business that offers services such as primary care, pediatrics, urgent care, behavioral health, wellness, research, WIC, dental services, patient transportation, and an on-site pharmacy to name a few. Most recently, inspired by her vision, CHC launched the Tania M. Barber Learning Institute, an equity model committed to addressing systemic barriers affecting Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), immigrant and refugee communities and the commitment to hire from the community to respond to workforce shortages and disparities.
Boards: Ms. Barber serves on Boards at Florence Bank, Springfield Regional Chambers, and the Community Care Cooperative (C3). She also serves as a member of the Health Equity Compact (HEC). Barber formally served on the MassHire Board (7 years), Bay Path University Board of Trustees (6 years), the BeHealthy Partnership ACO Joint Operating (5 years), Springfield Partners for Community Action (4 years), Mission Church of the Living God in Christ (6 years), Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (2 years, as Treasurer), Health New England (8 years).
Ms. Barber is a devoted wife, mother of four, and grandmother to several. She shares 30 wonderful years with her husband, Lester Barber III. A longtime resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, she is deeply committed to her community. In her spare time, Ms. Barber is dedicated to creating opportunities for advancement among her employees and community stakeholders. At CHC, she champions educational achievement and diversity across the organization's executive, leadership, and healthcare teams.
Ms. Barber's Christian faith is a driving force behind her passion for serving those in need. She is the former Pastor and Founder of Living Water Global Ministries Inc., where she led a congregation for nine years before pivoting after the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Barber is the Founder of EST. HER, LLC, a leadership consulting firm, which was divinely inspired and birthed from the biblical book of Esther. The mission of EST. HER is: Establishing “Pillars/PillHers”:
Purposely Impacting Lifestyle Leaders Helping Each Reach Success. EST. HER is dedicated to empowering women by fostering growth and building confidence. The organization prepares and positions women to become pillars in today’s leadership landscape, encouraging them to step confidently beyond their comfort zones.
Barber earned a Bachelor of Administration in Organization Management from UMASS Amherst and a Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurial Thinking and Innovative Practices from Bay Path University. Most recently, she completed a Doctor of Religious Philosophy at Tabernacle Bible College & Seminary, accredited by the Transworld Accrediting Commission—a non-traditional, non-government program dedicated to preparing individuals for work in the Kingdom of God. Notably, over a hundred colleges, including Princeton and Harvard (founded by Reverend John Harvard), began with a Christian foundation to educate clergy, though most have since moved away from these roots.
Tanisha Arena
Executive Director, ARISE for Social Justice
Tanisha Arena serves as Executive Director of ARISE for Social Justice, a Springfield, Massachusetts-based nonprofit advancing racial, economic, environmental, housing, and civic justice. She leads the organization's strategic vision, fundraising, community partnerships, organizational development, and policy advocacy while overseeing programs that address the systemic causes of inequity and empower historically marginalized communities.
With more than 20 years of leadership across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors, Tanisha is recognized for building cross-sector collaborations, facilitating difficult conversations, and designing strategies that drive organizational and community change. She is a consultant with Growing A New Heart, where she facilitates leadership development, anti-racism, compassionate accountability, and dialogue across differences for nonprofit, government, higher education, and corporate partners. She is also the award-winning host of the Unapologetic podcast, exploring the historical and contemporary intersections of race, power, identity, and justice.
Tanisha serves as Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, following previous service as Finance Chair after her appointment by the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators. She also serves on the Advisory Board of A Call for Change, an intimate partner abuse prevention helpline, and teaches with the Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership. Earlier in her career, she worked extensively in anti-violence advocacy and LGBTQ+ community organizing. She is a published author, keynote speaker, and facilitator committed to cultivating courageous leadership and lasting systems change.
Tanisha lives in Springfield, Massachusetts. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, photography, gardening, reading, and exploring the intersections of history, leadership, and social change. Her greatest joy is spending time with her three grandchildren—Penelope, Jaalan Jr., and Kyle Jr.
Tanisha holds M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy from Bay Path University; a B.S. in Social and Behavioral Sciences and Health in Diverse Populations from Central Connecticut State University; and a Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, University of South Florida.
Tara Brewster
Vice President of Business Development and Director of Philanthropy at Greenfield Savings Bank
For Tara Brewster, community impact has never been a side project. It's been the focus of her life's work.
As Vice President of Business Development and Director of Philanthropy at Greenfield Savings Bank, Brewster helps connect nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations to resources and opportunities that strengthen Western Massachusetts. She serves on the boards of Double Edge Theatre, Riverside Industries, Cutchins Programs for Children and Families, and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.
A recognized community leader, Brewster has been honored by Business West as a 40 Under Forty, Difference Maker, and Women of Impact recipient, and has received the United Way Kay Sheehan Spirit of the Community Award, the Best Buddies Spirit of Friendship Award, the Greenfield Community College Campaigner of the Year Award, and the CHD/Big Brothers Big Sisters Laurel Kahn Award.
She lives in Florence with her husband, Matt, daughter, Maddie, and son, Charles.
Terrell Joyner, MBA, CFP®
Certified Financial Planner, Charter Oak Financial
Terrell Joyner is a Certified Financial Planner® and entrepreneur dedicated to helping individuals, businesses, and communities thrive. As a Financial Planner, he partners with clients to simplify complex financial decisions and build strategies that create long-term financial confidence. As Founder and CEO of The Consulting Web Inc., he is building a collaborative network that equips independent consultants with the strong relationships, resources, and support they need to grow successful businesses while strengthening the communities they serve.
A graduate of Western New England University, Terrell believes meaningful change happens through collaboration. Throughout his career, he has focused on connecting people, developing leaders, and expanding access to opportunity. His work spans financial education, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and community leadership, with a focus on creating opportunities and systems that empower others to succeed.
Terrell currently serves as Board Chair of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, where he works alongside the organization's board and staff to expand JA's impact by equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed through financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness. He also serves on the Philanthropic Services Committee for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, the Advisory Committee for the Center for Social Justice at Western New England University, the CFP® Advisory Board for Elms College, and the Steering Committee of Western Mass CORE, an initiative dedicated to expanding educational opportunities for justice-impacted individuals who are currently or were formerly incarcerated.
His leadership and commitment to community have earned him numerous recognitions, including being named a BusinessWest 40 Under 40 honoree and receiving the Mentor of the Year award from the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, accompanied by a Governor's Citation recognizing his mentorship and community leadership.
Outside of his professional and community leadership roles, Terrell finds his greatest joy in spending time with his husband, Dustin, and their son, Nicklaus. Whether they're traveling to a new destination, exploring the outdoors, or simply making memories together, family is at the heart of everything he does. He is passionate about mentoring others, building meaningful relationships, and leaving every person and community a little stronger than he found them.
Tony Maroulis
Executive Director of Economic Development on the Government Relations Team at UMass Amherst
Tony Maroulis is the Executive Director of Economic Development on the Government Relations Team at UMass Amherst. He co-leads the campus’s Economic Development Initiative, which is a campus-wide effort to catalyze innovation, entrepreneurship, corporate engagement, and community partnerships to drive economic growth and amplify the university’s impact. EDI aligns academic strengths, external partnerships, and place-based strategies through coordinated governance, shared metrics, and targeted “quick win” initiatives that translate research and education into real-world economic and societal outcomes.
A New Jersey native, Tony started his career in arts administration in the mid-1990s, working in various positions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art before moving to Amherst with his family in 2002. He had stints with the Emily Dickinson Museum, Museums10, and as co-founder and director of Wünderarts—a commercial art gallery for contemporary and conceptual art in Amherst. From 2008–2014, Tony was executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and, in 2010, was founding co-director of the Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council. He was a 2009 BusinessWest 40 Under 40 honoree, is an alum of Leadership Pioneer Valley’s 2011–2012 inaugural class, and a 2020 recipient of the Helen Mitchell Community Service Award by Family Outreach of Amherst. He currently serves on the boards of the Amherst Business Improvement District, Amherst Cinema, Friends of the UMass Fine Arts Center, the Downtown Amherst Foundation, Explore Western Mass, and many, many committees.
Tony and his wife, Nora, are proud parents of Sofia, a 2023 UMass grad, and Mickey, a 2026 graduate of Syracuse University.
Tracy Rogers
Director of Emergency Management, Franklin Regional Council of Governments
Tracy Rogers is Director of Emergency Management at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, where she leads regional preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for Franklin County’s towns. Over her years at FRCOG, she has overseen regional programs and staff, managed strategic planning and budgets, coordinated an ASPR-funded healthcare coalition, supervised a 24/7 duty officer program, written and exercised emergency plans, and led after-action reviews and resilience initiatives. She works closely with municipal officials and first responders to improve multi-jurisdictional response, helps public safety agencies regionalize services, and supports a 24/7 emergency response function serving four counties in western Massachusetts. She also teaches as a virtual instructor for the Northeast Emergency Management Training and Education Center.
Tracy also brings utility and municipal leadership experience from her time as a senior analyst in Emergency Planning at National Grid and earlier service as a town administrator in two Franklin County communities, where she oversaw department heads, personnel and procurement, grants, and liaison work with state and federal agencies.
Her volunteer leadership includes service as deputy team leader and finance section chief for the Northwest Massachusetts Incident Management Team, supporting blue sky team operations and gray sky deployments to major emergencies in Massachusetts, New York City, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico. She also served two terms as an elected Northfield Selectboard member.
Tracy lives in Northfield with her husband, Kevin, while her two adult daughters pursue their lives in Seattle and Philadelphia. In her spare time she helps others across the country recover from disasters, and unwinds with knitting, cross stitch, and quilting, hiking, and stepping up to the mic for karaoke.
Tracy is a doctoral candidate in Emergency Management at Jacksonville State University, building on a Master of Public Administration from Clark University, with focused study in organizational leadership, public budgeting, and policy analysis.
Tricia Canavan
CEO, Tech Foundry
Tricia Canavan serves as the CEO of Tech Foundry, an IT-focused workforce development and digital literacy organization which serves the residents and employers of Western MA. She brings a background in management, recruiting, education, and workforce development to her role, including experience as a business owner, nonprofit executive director, human resources executive and as a high school and community college instructor at schools in Massachusetts and Mexico, where she taught English as a Second Language, history, and career skills. She is passionate about innovative and collaborative approaches to learning, training, economic and community development, and is excited about using her varied experience to help Tech Foundry expand its positive impact. Tricia believes in the power of collaboration to create new ideas, strategies, and progress on important initiatives, and sees tremendous opportunities in working together with Tech Foundry’s team, members, and partners around the region. Tricia’s role as CEO focuses on organizational leadership, including strategy, operations, community and partner/corporate relations, and resource development.
A graduate of Trinity College, Hartford, Tricia serves on several boards including the Economic Development Council of Western MA (immediate Past Chair), Mass Business Alliance for Education (Executive Committee member), Associated Industries of Massachusetts (Vice-Chair), and the Springfield Public Forum (Treasurer). She is a former Member of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Yasmin Chin Eisenhauer
Executive Director, Amherst Cinema
Yasmin Chin Eisenhauer is the Executive Director of Amherst Cinema, a nonprofit arthouse and education center recognized for its world-class and community centered programming. Under her leadership, the Cinema is dedicated to storytelling without conditions and to being a place of curiosity, imagination, and artistic expression in its fullest form. Prior to joining the Cinema, Yasmin enjoyed a 15-year career in media education. She co-authored over 400 online lesson plans for The New York Times Learning Network and served as director of distribution at Film Life (producers of the American Black Film Festival). Most recently, she led Smith College's Learning and Design team in the exploration of new media and emerging technologies. Committed to service at the national and local levels, she serves on the boards of Art House Convergence and the Downtown Amherst Foundation (which operates The Drake, a live music venue).
Yasmin is a graduate of Smith College and earned her master's degree from New York University. She resides in Amherst, Massachusetts and enjoys getting lost in a good story.
Yves Salomon-Fernández, Ph.D.
President, Urban College of Boston
Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernández is the President of Urban College of Boston, a primarily online multilingual college offering two-year degrees and micro-credentials aligned with workforce needs. Urban College prepares adult learners for a future that is human-centered and technology-enabled. Yves previously served as President of Greenfield Community College. Yves is a staunch advocate for keeping the American Dream within reach for all and achieving an inclusive economy.
Yves is a TEDx speaker and an Aspen Institute President's Fellow. In 2024, Dr. Salomon-Fernández was named a Boston Business Journal Power 50 Leader, and in 2026, the Boston YWCA inducted her into the Academy of Women Achievers. Yves is a scholar-practitioner who speaks and publishes on topics related to innovation in higher education, women’s career mobility, access and equity, and the future of work. She serves as a peer reviewer for Johns Hopkins University Press and is a member of the Editorial Board of Wiley Publishing’s New Directions for Community Colleges. She also serves on the boards of Immigrant Family Services Institute and ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, and is a former member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Community Development Advisory Committee.
Originally from Haiti, Yves’ primary residence is in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she resides with her husband and two children. Yves and her family believe in service to the community. Their most cherished organizations include Double Edge Theater, a rural cultural cooperative based in Ashfield, Twice As Smart, Hilltown Youth Recovery Theater, and local cooperative farms.
Yves Salomon-Fernández holds a Ph.D. from Boston College, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts Boston. In her spare time, Yves enjoys exploring the outdoors in western Massachusetts and marine life in the Caribbean with her family.