People on the Move
Jeffrey Fialky
At the 19th annual 40 Under Forty Gala on June 19 at the MassMutual Center, BusinessWest announced that Jeffrey Fialky, managing shareholder at Bacon Wilson, P.C., is this year’s Alumni Achievement Award (AAA) winner. Fialky broke through on his fourth time as a finalist for the AAA, which, since 2015, has been awarded annually to the past 40 Under Forty winner who, in the minds of an independent panel of judges, has most impressively built on his or her record of professional achievement and service to the community since being named a 40 Under Forty honoree. Fialky was an associate with Bacon Wilson when he was voted to the 40 Under Forty class of 2008. Today, as managing shareholder, he is leading the firm through a time of change and challenge in that sector while also continuing to give back to community organizations and causes ranging from Springfield Museums to the Springfield Regional Chamber — which, just last week, awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award. The other four finalists for this year’s AAA award were Amelia Holstrom (40 Under Forty class of 2015), partner at Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C.; James Krupienski (class of 2010), partner at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; Ryan McCollum (class of 2012), owner of RMC Strategies; and Orlando Ramos (class of 2014), state representative for the 9th Hampden District. The Alumni Achievement Award was presented by Health New England.
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Catherine Rioux
David Viamari
Monson Savings Bank announced the promotions of Catherine Rioux to the position of assistant vice president, commercial loan officer and David Viamari to the position of vice president, controller. In her new role, Rioux will continue to serve the community by educating and assisting current and prospective borrowers with a variety of financing options, including commercial and industrial loans and commercial real estate lending. She brings nearly two decades of banking experience to her role, including 12 years specifically in lending. Rioux holds a bachelor of business administration degree from Western New England University, with a major in management and a minor in communications. She is also a graduate of the New England School of Financial Studies and the Springfield Regional Chamber Leadership Institute. She was recently named to BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty class of 2025. In the community, she serves on the town of Monson’s scholarship committee, volunteers at St. Patrick’s Church, supports Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts, and is a member of the Monson Free Library finance committee. In his new role, Viamari he will be responsible for overseeing the bank’s accounting and financial reporting functions, playing a critical part in maintaining the institution’s financial health and regulatory compliance. He brings more than 15 years of experience in the finance and accounting field, including four years in banking and 11 years in public accounting. Before joining Monson Savings Bank, he served as assistant vice president, assistant controller at bankESB, managing the bank’s financial statements and regulatory reporting requirements, assisting in the monthly financial close process, and overseeing the General Accounting and Accounts Payable departments. He also supported executive leadership and the board of directors by delivering accurate and timely financial reporting. Viamari holds both a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting and a master’s degree in accounting from UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management. In the community, he serves as treasurer on the board of directors for the Lathrop Home of Northampton. He is also a member of the Boston chapter of the Financial Managers Society.
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Carla Carnevale
Monson Savings Bank announced the promotion of Carla Carnevale to Community Relations manager. In this role, she will lead the bank’s community engagement and public relations efforts. A key focus of her new role will be identifying and understanding the evolving needs of the communities the bank serves. By working closely with local organizations and residents, she will help ensure that Monson Savings Bank’s outreach and charitable efforts are aligned with the areas of greatest need, maximizing the bank’s positive impact. Carnevale joined Monson Savings Bank in July 2020 and has held several roles within the Marketing department, including marketing intern, marketing assistant, and marketing & public relations coordinator. Her dedication and creativity have played a key role in the bank’s marketing and outreach initiatives. In her new position, she will manage the bank’s community relations strategy and partnerships with community organizations. She will also serve on the bank’s community outreach and donations committee and the community reinvestment & fair lending committee, and continue her contributions as an active member of the marketing committee. Carnevale holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing & small business development from Bay Path University and will begin her studies at Western New England University School of Law in August. She is actively involved in local initiatives, including serving on the board of directors for the Cedar Ridge of Wilbraham Homeowners Assoc., being a member of the Michael J. Dias Foundation’s capital campaign committee, and volunteering her time with various local nonprofits.
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American International College (AIC) has named Rob Kearney to the position of director of Athletics, effective July 7. Kearney brings more than a decade of athletic training and leadership experience to this role and will oversee the college’s portfolio of NCAA Division II athletic programs. The appointment follows his prior tenure as assistant athletic director for sports medicine and performance, in which he oversaw a transformational restructuring of the department and rebuilt all aspects of the college’s athletic training and strength and conditioning programs. Before arriving at AIC, Kearney served as an athletic trainer at Springfield Central High School and was head athletic trainer for the men’s club ice hockey program at UMass Amherst from 2014 to 2024. He has held roles at a number of local institutions, including the Williston Northampton School, Deerfield Academy, and Palmer Public Schools. Kearney and his husband, Joey, also own and operate CrossFit Iron Legacy in East Longmeadow. Beyond his experience in athletic training and coaching, Kearney’s record includes a 15-year career of professional competition. In 2023, he finished third in the America’s Strongest Man competition and has a personal record of 961 pounds in the deadlift. He has competed in the World’s Strongest Man competition five times and the Arnold Strongman Classic three times. In 2020, he was awarded the title of Pound for Pound Strongest Man in the World by Official Strongman. Kearney currently serves on the executive board of the OUT Foundation and previously was the Massachusetts state representative for the National Athletic Trainers’ Assoc. LGBTQ+ advisory committee. He holds a master’s degree in advanced athletic training with a concentration in athletic rehabilitation and a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Springfield College, and is a Massachusetts-licensed athletic trainer.
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Krupa Kotecha
The Royal Law Firm announced attorney Krupa Kotecha as its new chief strategy and advancement officer. In this role, she leads strategic initiatives centered on attorney development, operational consistency, and sustainable growth. A former Big Law attorney with expertise in compensation and employment law, she brings a business oriented, results-driven approach to both client service and firm leadership. Kotecha has advised employers on compensation design, compliance, workforce transitions, and complex disputes, while also mentoring attorneys, setting firm-wide standards of excellence, and ensuring a consistent, high-quality client experience, making her strategic insight and leadership essential to advancing the firm’s mission and long-term success.
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Sharon Czarnecki
James Hagan, president and CEO of Westfield Bank, announced the promotion of Sharon Czarnecki to vice president, Business Banking manager, and CRA officer. Her responsibilities continue to include small business loan development and commercial loan portfolio management, as well as management of the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) program. Czarnecki joined Westfield Bank 33 years ago and has served in many different roles. She started her career as a teller in 1992 and, over the years, has held positions in deposit operations, loan servicing, commercial credit analysis, and credit management. In 2007, she became the bank’s first female commercial lending officer and was promoted to assistant vice president in 2010 and to vice president in 2019. She has more than 25 years of experience with CRA and is familiar with matters of regulatory compliance. Czarnecki is a graduate of Holyoke Community College with an associate degree in business studies, and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Westfield State University. She is an integral part of her community, serving on several nonprofit boards that include the Westfield State University Foundation, the Albert & Amelia Ferst Operating Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield, and the trustees of Westfield Academy. She also serves on the finance committee for Holy Trinity Church in Westfield, where she is involved in the religious education program.
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Country Bank announced the appointment of David Thibault as first vice president, Institutional Banking. In this newly created role, he will focus on serving municipalities and nonprofit organizations throughout the bank’s footprint, bringing nearly three decades of experience in commercial and institutional banking. Thibault joins Country Bank with 26 years of industry experience from PeoplesBank, with a well-established track record of success in serving commercial, nonprofit, and government clients. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and engineering and an MBA from Western New England University. He is also a graduate of the American Bankers Assoc. Stonier School of Banking. He holds multiple professional certifications, including accredited ACH professional (AAP) and national check professional (NCP). Throughout his career, Thibault has demonstrated a passion for leveraging technology to improve customer outcomes. He has led initiatives such as the implementation of online banking platforms, positive pay systems, lockbox services, and remittance capture. His expertise in cash management and payment systems, combined with a strong commitment to customer service and employee development, make him an asset to the Country Bank team. Thibault is also an active community member, currently serving as secretary of the board of directors for Access Care Partners and trustee for the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation. A dedicated volunteer, he supports organizations such as 4-H and the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce. He has participated in programs like Leadership Pioneer Valley and Leadership Springfield, serving as both mentee and mentor.
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Christina Reynolds
UMassFive College Federal Credit Union announced that Christina Reynolds has been promoted to assistant vice president of Account Operations. She began her career at UMassFive 15 years ago as a part-time online banking specialist in the Contact Center. Since then, she has taken on a variety of roles, including positions in branches, as Card Services manager, and, most recently, as Digital and Payments manager. In her new role, Reynolds will oversee several key areas: Digital Banking (including online and mobile banking), Payments (ACH transactions, wires, and checks), Card Services (debit and credit cards), and Account Services (focused on fraud prevention, compliance, and risk management).
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Callie Flanagan
Florence Bank recently welcomed Callie Flanagan as vice president and small business lender in the Commercial Originations department of the Florence headquarters. She has 13 years of small business lending experience and most recently worked at the U.S. Small Business Administration as lender relations specialist and Springfield branch manager. Skilled at building relationships, credit analysis, underwriting, portfolio management, and SBA lending, Flanagan has also served as a loan officer and director of lending at Common Capital. While in the latter role, she led a small lending team to achieve top lender in the state with the U.S. Small Business Administration for multiple loan products over multiple years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Fordham University and is vice chair of the Holyoke Economic Development and Industrial Corp. and a member of the Ladies’ Ancient Order of the Hibernians.
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Polish National Credit Union (PNCU) announced the promotion of Martha Brosnahan to vice president of Loan Servicing & Collections. In her new role, she will continue to lead and oversee all aspects of the credit union’s loan servicing operations. With more than a decade of service at PNCU, she has consistently demonstrated leadership and expertise in managing complex loan servicing and collections functions. Prior to this promotion, she served in the Loan Servicing department, where she played a pivotal role in developing procedures, training staff, and overseeing the servicing and collection aspects across all loan portfolios. Brosnahan began her career in financial services more than 20 years ago and has held key positions in loan operations and compliance at institutions including Connecticut River Bank. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Franklin Pierce University, and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking in Colorado. Her professional development also includes certifications in business management, business foundations, supervisory leadership, and value stream management.
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Jacquelyn Matthews
Queenie Miao
Sadie Woolstenhulme
Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that Jacquelyn Matthews, Queenie Miao, and Sadie Woolstenhulme have been accepted into the firm’s law clerk program for the 2025-26 school year. Matthews is currently pursuing her juris doctorate at Western New England University School of Law, with an expected graduation date of May 2026. Jacquelyn earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations and Arabic, along with minors in science, technology, environment, and public policy from Michigan State University in 2023. In addition to her role as a law clerk at Bacon Wilson, she is an active member of the Western New England Global Justice Clinic. Before joining the firm, Matthews participated in a summer associate program in Connecticut, served as president of Empowering Women in Law in East Lansing, Mich., and founded the International Law Students Assoc. at Western New England. She has a strong interest in corporate law and trusts and estates. Fluent in Arabic and Spanish, she spent eight weeks in Amman, Jordan in 2021 as part of the Jordan Language Academy Study Abroad Program, where she enhanced her proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking three Arabic dialects. Miao is currently a juris doctor candidate at the University of Illinois College of Law in Champaign, with graduation expected in May 2026. She will be completing her final year of law school remotely while working at Bacon Wilson. She earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy, with a minor in legal studies, from Brandeis University in 2021. Before joining the firm, Miao served as a teaching assistant for the University of Illinois Legal Writing and Introduction to Advocacy courses. Additionally, she gained experience as a law clerk at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and as a student attorney at the University of Illinois Immigration Clinic. A passionate animal welfare advocate, she also volunteered at a rescue ranch in Champaign, Ill. She has a strong interest in tax law. Originally from Nanjing, the historic capital of China, she is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Woolstenhulme is currently a juris doctor candidate at Western New England University School of Law, with plans to graduate in May 2026. She holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies with a minor in religious studies from Utah State University, earned in 2020. She is actively involved in law school life as a member of the Student Bar Assoc. judicial advisory board, the Public Interest Assoc., and the Women’s Law Assoc. She also serves as a senior staff member of the Western New England Law Review and a teaching assistant in criminal law, constitutional law, and contracts. Before joining Bacon Wilson, Woolstenhulme spent several years at the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office and most recently interned for a Massachusetts Trial Court judge. She is particularly interested in litigation and family law, areas that allow her to connect directly and meaningfully with clients.
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The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission recently elected its executive committee for FY 2026, which will help guide the organization’s strategic direction and regional planning efforts from June 2025 through June 2026. Executive committee members represent communities across Hampden and Hampshire counties and bring a wide range of professional and civic experience. They include William Dwyer, chairman (Hadley); George Kingston, vice chairman (East Longmeadow); Douglas Albertson, secretary/clerk (Belchertown); Marilyn Gorman-Fil, treasurer (Monson); T.J. Cousineau, assistant treasurer (Blandford); and at-large members Peri Hall (Goshen), James Whalen (Holland), Jack Jemsek (Amherst), and Jack Luttrell (Wilbraham). The PVPC executive committee is elected annually by commission members and is responsible for guiding organizational governance and fiscal stewardship. The group also plays a key role in advancing PVPC’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and other regional initiatives.
