People on the Move
Marylou Fabbo
Skoler Abbott attorney Marylou Fabbo has been selected as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Go-To Employment Lawyers for 2025. This program recognizes top lawyers across the Commonwealth who are leaders in employment law and have a history of successful representation. Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly has a long tradition of recognizing accomplished lawyers in different areas of the law. For more than 60 years, Skoler Abbott has solely represented employers and management in employment and labor matters. Fabbo has been with Skoler Abbott for 30 years. In 2000, she was named a partner, and she heads the firm’s litigation team. She has successfully represented the firm’s clients in state and federal courts and agencies in all areas of employment law. She is also the firm’s immigration expert. Fabbo has also been recognized by Boston Magazine as a Super Lawyer and has been designated as one of the Top Women in Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
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Christopher Walker
LaPier, Dillon & Associates, P.C. announced the recent hiring of Christopher Walker as tax supervisor. Walker has been working in public accounting since 2013 and brings extensive experience to the firm, especially in partnerships, corporations, trusts, and not-for-profit taxation. Walker is a certified public accountant licensed in Massachusetts. He received his bachelor’s degree with a concentration in accounting and a minor in economics at Westfield State University, and went on to achieve his master’s degree in business analytics at Bentley University. He is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants. LaPier, Dillon & Associates, P.C. also welcomes Kara Stevens as an audit manager. She is the founding director of the master of science in accounting program at Bay Path University, where she is also still working as an educator. Prior to becoming a professor, she had worked in public accounting as an audit manager. She has extensive auditing knowledge serving clients in manufacturing, not-for-profit, and private sectors that require annual audits. Stevens is a certified public accountant licensed in Massachusetts. She received both her BBA and MBA in accounting at the University of Massachusetts, and received a doctorate with a concentration in finance at Pace University. She is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of CPAs, and the American Accounting Assoc.
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Berkshire Money Management (BMM), a financial and retirement-planning firm with offices in Dalton and Great Barrington, announced two new additions to its operations team: Sarah Curtiss and Jacqueline Ferry. As front office coordinator at BMM’s Great Barrington office, Curtiss strives to create a friendly, welcoming, and helpful atmosphere for visitors and callers alike. She brings to the team 22 years of experience in multi-tasking, customer service, and office administration developed while onboarding Snowsports instructors and managing the Reservations department at Ski Butternut. She earned her bachelor’s degree in wildlife and fisheries biology at the University of Vermont. As operations support partner, Ferry supports day-to-day operations and compliance efforts while providing key support to BMM’s chief operating officer. Before joining Berkshire Money Management, she honed her affinity for data analysis and sharp attention to detail during a seven-year tenure in program support and case management at Berkshire Health Systems. She earned master’s degrees in criminal justice and forensic psychology from Arizona State University.
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Reed Whitman
Hometown Financial Group, parent company of bankESB; bankHometown; North Shore Bank; Abington Bank, a division of North Shore Bank; and Hometown Mortgage, hired Reed Whitman as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Whitman joins Hometown Financial from Brookline Bancorp Inc., where he most recently was treasurer of the $11.5 billion holding company. Whitman brings specific expertise in community banking organizations that operate within the multi-bank holding-company structure, as well as more than two decades of experience that includes leading transformational mergers and acquisitions, balance-sheet restructuring, new business pitches, and process redesign and execution. Whitman assumed the position earlier this month, ahead of the retirement of Gilbert Ehmke, who served as Hometown Financial Group’s senior executive vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer for nearly 10 years.
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Mary Mazza
Elizabeth Norris Neu
American International College (AIC) appointed Mary Mazza vice president for Human Resources. In this role, she will oversee all aspects of HR operations, focusing on strategies that enhance workplace culture and support employee engagement. With more than 25 years of experience in human-resources leadership, she brings a wealth of expertise to AIC. Before joining AIC, Mazza served as senior vice president for Human Resources at Farm Credit Financial Partners, where she led HR initiatives and was a member of the executive leadership team. Before that, she spent 17 years as Human Resources director for HealthSouth, now Encompass Health. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in communications from Westfield State University. AIC also appointed Elizabeth Norris Neu vice president for Finance. With more than 15 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit and education sectors, Neu brings a forward-thinking approach to financial management that aligns with AIC’s mission of access and opportunity. In her new role, Neu will focus on strengthening the college’s financial position by enhancing financial controls, processes, and efficiencies. Her efforts will ensure that AIC maximizes its resources in support of students while maintaining long-term fiscal stability. Neu most recently served as chief financial officer at Project Adventure Inc., where she played a pivotal role in stabilizing the organization’s finances and achieving break-even performance. She was also part of the team that led the organization to year-end surpluses. She also held positions as director of Development and director of Finance at Project Adventure and previously worked as a middle- and high-school science and math teacher. She holds an MBA, a master’s degree in information systems, and a certificate in nonprofit management from Boston University Questrom School of Business. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Brown University and holds a Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
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The Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) recently introduced Robert Allingham as the new Marketing & Communications manager. With a strong background in community engagement and business development, he brings a passion for fostering connections and creating marketing strategies aimed at elevating Amherst’s downtown. Allingham has spent the past few years working closely with Amherst-area businesses, supporting their growth through strategic marketing, social media, and outreach efforts. His expertise spans hospitality, education, and nonprofit sectors, all with a focus on strengthening local businesses. With an MBA from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., he has learned to blend creative marketing with strong business strategy to drive meaningful impact. At the BID, Allingham will focus on enhancing outreach, strengthening partnerships, and promoting Amherst as a premier destination to live, work, visit, and explore. From special events to digital storytelling, he is eager to collaborate with local businesses, cultural partners, and community members to create impactful initiatives.
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Wanda Mooney
Wanda Mooney, a real-estate professional with Coldwell Banker Community REALTORS with 30 years of real-estate experience, has completed the Luxury Home Marketing training offered by the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. This independent authority provides training and designation for real-estate agents specializing in the upper-end residential market. By completing this training, Mooney has also earned membership in the Institute, granting her access to exclusive resources and benefits that enhance her ability to market upscale residential listings. This membership allows her to connect with qualified buyers seeking properties. In addition to this achievement, Mooney is a Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Home Specialist, adding another level of premier marketing to showcase her clients’ properties at the highest level.
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Springfield Partners for Community Action, an anti-poverty agency, announced the hiring of Ramona Matos as SNAP Outreach and Enrollment coordinator. She will provide outreach services to recruit, enroll, and assist clients in recertifying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Additionally, she will build relationships with external agencies and establish connections within the community to promote Springfield Partners’ services. Prior to joining Springfield Partners, Matos was a senior clerk for Springfield Public Schools, providing daily data entry and customer service, while assisting with any school-related issues. Prior to that, she was an outreach worker for the city’s Department of Elder Affairs, offering support and outreach services such as wellness calls and assistance with benefits. She received her associate degree in science from Holyoke Community College.
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Vincent Gaffney
Greenfield Savings Bank (GSB) announced the addition of Vincent Gaffney as vice president, senior trust officer within the bank’s Wealth Management & Trust Services division. With more than 12 years of experience in banking and trust services, Gaffney brings a deep understanding of wealth management, trust administration, and estate settlement. Prior to joining GSB, he served as vice president, trust officer at Two Rivers Bank & Trust and Hills Bank and Trust Co. He holds a juris doctorate from the University of Iowa College of Law and has built a strong career helping individuals and families navigate complex financial and estate-planning needs. In his new role at GSB, Gaffney will focus on serving customers across the region, guiding clients through estate planning, investment management, and trust administration.
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Kuhn Riddle Architects and Designers announced that three of its architects have achieved the prestigious designation of PHIUS certified passive house consultant, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to sustainable and energy-efficient design. Thom Barry, Brad Hutchinson, and Ruoqi Zhong recently completed the rigorous training and certification process required by the Passive House Institute United States (PHIUS). Passive house design principles focus on dramatically reducing energy consumption while maximizing indoor comfort and air quality. These high-performance buildings will also meet the Massachusetts stretch and opt-in energy codes. By integrating passive house principles into residential, commercial, and institutional projects, Kuhn Riddle is at the forefront of designing cutting-edge, high-performance buildings that are both environmentally responsible and cost-effective in the long term.
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L. Alexandra Hogan
Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy, P.C. (DWPM) announced that the firm has elected L. Alexandra Hogan as a new shareholder. Hogan, who was previously a partner with Sabella Hogan, P.C. in Springfield, became a firm shareholder as of Jan. 1. She brings extensive experience in representing businesses, receivers, insurance companies, and individuals across a variety of legal disciplines. With a strong background in business law, civil litigation, and commercial real estate, she has built a reputation providing strategic, results-oriented advice in complex legal matters. Hogan’s practice includes civil litigation, such as shareholder disputes, derivate claims, contract enforcement, employment claims, land disputes, commercial evictions, bankruptcy contested and adversary proceedings, federal and state receiverships, will contests, and fiduciary disputes. Her general business practice includes formation, contract negotiations, leases, licensing, financing, and real-estate transactions. Hogan earned her juris doctorate from Western New England University School of Law in 2008 and her bachelor’s degree in legal studies from Bay Path University. She is licensed to practice in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
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1Berkshire announced its 2025 slate of newly re-elected board members and officers, as well as the addition of new board members.These individuals will each help support the work of 1Berkshire as the region’s marketing and economic-development organization. The officers include Lori Gazzillo Kiely (chair), vice president and director of Berkshire Bank Foundation; Jonathan Butler (president), president and CEO of 1Berkshire; Colleen Taylor (vice chair), partner at Bay State Hospitality Group; Peter Stasiowski (vice chair), director of Communications at Interprint Inc.; Margaret Keller (treasurer), executive director of Community Access to the Arts; and Jesse Cook-Dubin (clerk), partner at Cohen Kinne Valicenti & Cook. New board of directors members include Cook-Dubin; Ellen Kennedy, president of Berkshire Community College; Harry Monti, president of Berkshire Life Insurance Co. (Guardian); Yina Moore, founder and artistic director of Adams Theater LLC; and Gina Puc, special assistant to the president at Williams College.
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Clare Higgins
Clare Higgins will retire in the summer of 2025 after nearly 14 years as executive director of Community Action Pioneer Valley (CAPV). Higgins assumed directorship of CAPV, the region’s federally designated anti-poverty agency, in September 2011 after serving six terms as mayor of Northampton. Higgins’s first job with a Community Action agency was as a teacher in a preschool classroom; from there, she became a staff representative for a daycare and human-services union. After that, she was the childcare teacher director for Sojourn Inc., a teen parent childcare program. There, she got her first major taste of budget management and grant and proposal writing. CAPV offers nearly 40 different programs to support individuals and families across Franklin and Hampshire counties. In 2023, the agency served more than 28,000 people in the Pioneer Valley.
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Bulkley Richardson recently welcomed Bridget Harrington to the firm as a litigation associate. Harrington earned a juris doctorate from Suffolk University Law School in 2023, where she was a content editor of the Journal of High Technology Law. She also earned a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from UMass Dartmouth with a double major in finance and accounting. Prior to joining Bulkley Richardson, she worked as a law clerk at a litigation firm outside Boston.
