Home 2012 April 24 (Page 2)

Day: April 24, 2012

Jason Tsitso: 37

By
Tsitso-Jason
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Project Manager, R & R Windows

Tsitso-JasonJason Tsitso has worked on countless projects large and small during his decade-long tenure with R & R Windows, but there was noting quite like the work undertaken at Springfield College last year in the weeks after the June 1 tornado roared through the campus.
Facing tight and extremely challenging deadlines, the Easthampton-based company, with Tsitso acting as project manager, played a critical role in enabling International Hall, a 12-story dormitory damaged extensively by the twister, to reopen on time for the fall semester.
The International Hall project, as well as Tsitso’s ongoing contributions to the company’s recovery from several years of struggle in the wake of the Great Recession, help explain why he is a member of this 40 Under Forty class and now part of several teams of spouses to earn the distinction (his wife, Sarah, was a member of the first class in 2007). But his exploits in business tell only part of the story.
Another intriguing chapter — one still being written — is his extensive work within the community. Perhaps the best example is his work to take his passion for bicycling and shape it into a successful fund-raiser he created and managed for Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity. Called Trails for Nails, the initiative, started in 2009, involves a mountain bike ride through Robinson State Park, with riders securing pledges for the miles they ride.
Through Tsitso’s leadership, the event has grown tremendously in each subsequent year, in terms of both ridership and dollars raised. In 2011, he took it to another level, creating a series of family-friendly activities known as Fitness for Families. These include the Hike for Habitat (to the top of Mount Tom); Trails for Nails, which now includes a 5K run as well as the 20-mile bike ride; and the Tour de Habitat, a 25-, 50-, and 100-mile road bike race. For all of this, Tsitso, now a board member for Habitat, was named the organization’s Volunteer of the Year for 2011.
Given the line of work he’s in, you could call all this a reflection of his strong commitment to the community.
— George O’Brien

James Welch: 36

By
Welch-James
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Massachusetts State Senator, First Hampden District

Welch-JamesThe tornado that roared through Western Mass. last June passed through several communities and neighborhoods. A common denominator for many of them is the fact that they lie in the First Hampden District.
That’s Sen. James Welch’s district, only he would never call it that. He contends that such positions belong to the people, not those who occupy them for two terms or even 20. And this is the attitude he’s taken with him through a career in public service that has also included stints as West Springfield city councilor, state representative (6th Hampden District), and as aide to former state Sen. Stephen Buoniconti before succeeding him in that role.
And while he’s seen and done a lot in public service, nothing fully prepared Welch for what transpired June 1, 2011 — although every career stop helped make him ready to effectively serve his constituents that were affected. And there were many of them. Indeed, the First Hampden District includes all of West Springfield, a community that was hit hard, as well as Springfield’s South End, Forest Park, and other sections that fell in the tornado’s path.
Welch said the twister and its aftermath provided many indelible images of devastation, but also innumerable — and inspiring — examples of people rising to the occasion and working together to help communities overcome adversity. And while he’s proud of the work he and others in the Legislature have done and continue to do to help people get back on their feet, he says his focus is always on the day-to-day aspects of his job description.
“What probably keeps me going every day is the interaction and constituent service,” he explained, adding that it’s been this way since he was a legislative aide. “And when I first got into public service, I didn’t necessarily understand what constituent service was. I’ve learned that it means being as accessible as possible to people when they do have an issue or a problem.”
Succeeding in that mission has made him an effective leader on Beacon Hill — and a member of the 40 Under Forty.
— George O’Brien

Edward Nuñez: 36

By
Nonez-Edward
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Business Development Officer, Freedom Credit Union

Nonez-EdwardAt Freedom Credit Union, Edward Nuñez said his primary role is working with the managers of the branch locations to maximize the offerings for their many types of customers, and also overseeing a program to offer benefits to member businesses for their employees. He loves the work that he does, but he said there’s another component that makes this the job of his dreams.
“One of my responsibilities here at Freedom is to oversee our financial-literacy program,” he explained. “What that allows me to do is go into various schools in Western Mass. and educate our young people about credit, the importance of making wise financial decisions, and how to budget. This is something that’s extremely important to me — not only that this message is coming to them, but that it’s coming to them from a member of the Latino community. They leave feeling empowered, and that they, too, can be successful.”
The schools he visits often have an overwhelmingly minority population, and he pragmatically noted that, often in our area’s cities, “a lot of our youths don’t always have good role models. So I’m very passionate about making a positive impression on these kids.”
His efforts in the region outside of his 9-to-5 job are tireless. He’s a vice chair of the Franklin and Hampshire County Regional Employment Board, a member of the advisory committee for the Finance and Marketing Program at Putnam Vocational Technical High School, and he participates in the Springfield School System’s Read Aloud program.
When asked what he enjoys most about his multi-faceted work within the community, Nuñez said it’s the ability to perhaps make a difference in a young life. “Some of these youths have no idea what to expect when they go into the ‘adult world,’” he noted. “So when a kid comes up to me and thanks me for teaching them something, that to me is the most gratifying thing about my job.”
And for those youths impacted by Nuñez’s financial-literacy programs, that makes a lot of cents.
— Dan Chase

Neil Nordstrom: 37

By
Nordstrom-Neil
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Practice Manager and Registered Nurse, Pediatric Services of Springfield

Nordstrom-NeilBeing the practice manager of a growing pediatric group — one that started in East Longmeadow in 1983 and added a second location in Wilbraham in 2005 — certainly keeps Neil Nordstrom busy. But he still craves something more.
“I basically run all facets of the business,” he said. “I do accounting, manage the personnel, basically all the day-to-day operations. I help the billers out. And then I’m a registered nurse, so I also help the nurses out. We have people in each department, but I’m the person they see to put out a lot of fires.
“I enjoy all those aspects of running a business. It’s very challenging, but I look forward to coming to work every day,” said Nordstrom, who has also spearheaded technological innovation in the practice, such as incorporating tablet devices in patient care.
What he craves, however, is more interaction with patients — and he’s doing something about it. “I enjoy the kids, and I love pediatrics, so I’m going back to school and finishing my doctorate as a family nurse practitioner,” he said. “I love business management, but now I’m actually going to get back into the clinical world, and I’ll start seeing patients in 2013.”
But his workplace isn’t the only venue Nordstrom has shown a commitment to young people. He has coached multiple sports in Wilbraham over the years, in addition to five years as baseball coach at Minnechaug High School and a stint as board member at the Scantic Valley YMCA.
When his three boys started growing up, he couldn’t devote time to all those activities, but he’s still active in youth sports, coaching his kids’ baseball and basketball teams.
“Over the past year, I’ve been helping the Wilbraham Recreation Department to build its baseball program,” he explained, including a clinic for coaches on teaching fundamentals to young athletes.
“That’s one of the things I love to do,” he said. “I love to coach, I love kids, and I love allowing kids to get better, getting them the skills they need to succeed.”
— Joseph Bednar

Kelli Nielsen: 30

By
Nielsen-KelliAnn
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Lead Interventionist, Springfield Academy Middle School

Nielsen-KelliAnnThere is nothing Kelli Nielsen enjoys more than immersing herself in a challenging environment and making a difference.
“My favorite quote is ‘the heart is what makes it great,’” said Nielsen, who is passionate about travel, working with students, and community service. She is lead interventionist at Springfield Academy Middle School and has been moved to progressively more difficult classrooms due to her ability to reach students labeled ‘unteachable’ in a mainstream environment.
“The ones who present the most difficult challenges are the ones who need the most support,” she said, adding that she helped change the environment to a place focused on academics rather than behavioral issues. “The students my team works with have a lot of social and emotional needs. But I love working with this population and have grown along with them. If I could, I’d like to get them out into the world to do community service, because being able to step outside of your environment is an incredible experience.”
It’s something she has done with students at her alma mater, Westfield State University. Nielsen recently co-instructed a Westfield State Global Service Learning Class in Nicaragua where students built a technology classroom in a destitute area in a week. And in 2007, she served as chaperone to university students who helped rebuild a musicians’ village in New Orleans with Habitat for Humanity. “The growth our teams experienced is immeasurable,” she said.
She is also chair of the Membership and Diversity Committee at Westfield State, and the youngest president-elect of the 37,000-member alumni organization. Nielsen served as site coordinator for the Assoc. of College and University Housing Officers International study tour of campuses in New England and Montreal, is a volunteer at the Westfield Soup Kitchen, serves as an aide to the Westfield’s Business Improvement District coordinator, and was progressively promoted at Brantwood Camp for Girls in New Hampshire, where she helped facilitate a creative learning environment.
“Working with a group of students and seeing them learn and grow really motivates me,” she said.
— Kathleen Mitchell

Michael Fenton: 25

By
Fenton-Michael
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Law Clerk, Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin, P.C.; Springfield City Councilor

Fenton-MichaelMichael Fenton has wanted to be an attorney since he was a young child. “I have a passion for justice and truth and a desire to fight for those ends,” he said.
The Springfield native is an Oliver Wendell Holmes Scholar at Western New England University School of Law and a member of its prestigious Law Review panel. He earned an MBA in December and will graduate with a juris doctorate degree in May. He plans to take the bar exam in July, and currently works as a law clerk at Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin, P.C.
“I have been developing my legal skills through different pathways with the end goal of becoming an effective business/corporate attorney,” Fenton said.
That effectiveness is put to use in a variety of volunteer and civic arenas as Fenton is determined to use his knowledge to make a difference in the community.
At the age of 22, he was elected to the Springfield City Council, then re-elected to a second term in Ward 2, where he has lived for most of his life. He is a trustee at his alma mater, Cathedral High School, and has dedicated countless hours to help rebuild the school, which was heavily damaged by last June’s tornado. “I really believe in Cathedral’s mission,” he said.
Fenton also belongs to the Ward 2 Neighborhood Council in Springfield and is a graduate of the Springfield Citizens Police Academy.
“The opportunities I’ve had have helped me to become more savvy about local issues,” he said. “I want to help people solve problems and achieve desirable results, whether I’m working as an elected official serving constituents, an attorney serving clients, or as a volunteer giving back to the community. I’ve been given a lot, and I’m incredibly fortunate to have had so many academic and professional opportunities at such a young age, and want to help others have the same opportunities.”
— Kathleen Mitchell

Tim Fisk: 38

By
Fisk-Tim
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Executive Director, the Alliance to Develop Power

Fisk-TimTim Fisk was asked to provide a concise explanation of what the Alliance to Develop Power (ADP) does, and, more importantly, how it goes about that assignment. He chuckled at first, because explaining it isn’t easy, but then he managed to effectively sum up this grassroots organization, now with more than 5,000 members in low-income areas and communities of color in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.
“What ADP has done is develop an alternative economic model,” he noted, “that puts power in the hands of those who have historically been cut off from civic life.”
Elaborating, he quoted the ADP mission — to “create a sustainable community economy that leverages power, relationships, and resources,” and said this work manifests in many different ways.
“ADP addresses racial and economic inequalities,” he explained, “ and we do it in three very distinct ways — first, through community organizing, changing policy locally, statewide, and nationally on many issues such as workers’ rights, affordable housing, immigration, and more. And we also do it through community-building initiatives, whether it’s youth-tutoring programs, peer groups, access to health resources, our four food cooperatives, and others.
“And then, the one that’s getting a lot of national attention is our economic-development initiatives,” he continued, adding that ADP owns a number of assets, including 770 units of affordable housing, worker cooperatives, and its most recent initiative, the Bodega Project, which involves neighborhood grocers that will open across the region.
Fisk brings to his job boundless energy, imagination, and skills honed through years of work in the arts, first with the Foundry Theatre in New York City, where he tripled revenues, and later with On the Boards, a renowned contemporary performing-arts facility in Seattle, where he managed the bottom line while also handling marketing, branding, development, and creation of new revenue streams.
Today, he’s taking center stage himself, through innovative, nationally acclaimed work to create and maintain local wealth. In other words, his achievements have always been a work of art.
— George O’Brien

Elizabeth Ginter: 37

By
Ginter-Elizabeth
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
President, Ellis Title Company

Ginter-ElizabethElizabeth Ginter believes that, if a person is successful, he or she has an obligation to give back to their community. It’s a code of ethics she lives by, and her involvement in the community is impressive.
She loves Springfield, and although her family moved to Pennsylvania when she was a freshman in high school and she earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Pittsburgh, she couldn’t wait to return to the City of Homes. “It is a unique community with a lot of diversity, and I think it’s a really good place to live,” she said. “There are so many things to do in the area.”
Ginter’s career at Ellis began before she graduated from Western New England University School of Law. Although she wanted to become a tax attorney, she answered an ad that contained the word ‘taxes,’ and was hired by the title company as a law clerk. She worked full-time there while studying for the bar exam, and discovered an immediate affinity for the work.
“I found the perfect job. I was a history major in college, and it suits me well,” she said. In fact, she did so well that she was promoted to president before the age of 30.
Ginter is also on the board of directors for the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, and serves on a committee that is rewriting YPS’ mission and vision statement. “Part of my quest is to get young professionals to stay in the area and want to work here. It’s important to me,” she said.
She has taken part in a number of charitable endeavors connected to YPS that include Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, and Keep Springfield Beautiful. “I’m on the community outreach committee and co-chair of the golf committee. If there is a committee that needs help, I feel compelled to volunteer. I get a good feeling from it,” Ginter said.
“I am not the loudest person in the room,” she added, “but I am always behind the scenes helping.”
— Kathleen Mitchell

Eric Hall: 38

By
Hall-Eric
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Sergeant, Westfield Police Department

Hall-EricBeing a police officer in your hometown has a lot of challenges, said Eric Hall. “It can be easy for police officers to get cynical,” he explained, “because 90% of the time you’re dealing with 10% of the population.”
Five years into his job with the Westfield Police Department, Hall was a member of the Community Police Unit (CPU), which has a mission “to get out into the neighborhoods, have them set the agenda for which direction the police need to go — and do the will of the people.”
During that time, he successfully organized small, local crime-prevention units, established a Neighborhood Day event, worked closely with the Westfield Youth Detention Center to assist in job placement, and frequently could be found having lunch with students at the elementary school in his neighborhood — all with the intent to give back to the city which held such prized childhood memories for him. “Being in the CPU reminded me that there were people who wanted to make a difference, to make their town a nicer place to live, and that struck a chord.”
Hall calls himself “a Y man through and through,” and, indeed, most of his fondest memories as a boy were at the YMCA of Greater Westfield. “I had a great family structure growing up, but I still spent a lot of time at the Y when I was younger. And if I can help further an organization that will give other kids the same opportunity, I should be doing that.”
Currently, he’s the chairman of the board at his hometown Y, and for his efforts there, Hall has been awarded the organization’s Character Award. For his community outreach, he has been honored by American Legion Post 454 with its Outstanding Dedication to the Public Award.
For Hall, it all comes back to childhood, though. He remembers the Westfield where he grew up, and with his wife, Dena (herself a 40 Under Forty award winner in 2007), and their two small children, he wants the city to be the same place for them.
— Dan Chase

Brendon Hutchins: 39

By
Hutchins-Brendan
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Senior Vice President, St. Germain Investment Management

Hutchins-BrendanWhen Brendon Hutchins considers the view from the window of his office on the 25th floor of Tower Square in downtown Springfield, he is inspired to change the landscape.
He dedicates countless hours of professional and personal time working to make a difference, because he is concerned about the number of businesses that have left Springfield over the past 25 years due to the economic environment. “I have sought out projects to help Springfield change that trend,” said the father of three. “My wife and I grew up in Longmeadow, and we love the people and everything about the area. So, I have structured my career and charity work around causes I feel are most important to Springfield.”
He is a board member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, which he believes is the “cornerstone” of Springfield. He is also active on the board of Springfield School Volunteers, recently joined the board of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, and serves on the board of the March of Dimes. “Since I have joined, about a dozen people I know with premature babies have benefited from the organization,” Hutchins said.
He takes great pride in his work at St. Germain Investment Management as a certified financial planner and senior vice president, and is proud that the company focuses on doing business in the area. “I love helping people, and one of the greatest feelings I have is watching people learn about their finances. It is a very difficult concept that can overwhelm people.”
Hutchins is also grateful to his employer for encouraging his charitable endeavors. “They have created an environment,” he said, “where giving back to the community is fostered.”
The Longmeadow native lived in Cincinnati, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles before choosing to move back to Western Mass. “I could work anywhere, but this community is special,” he said. “When there is a tragedy, like last year’s tornado, everyone stands together. It’s something I have never seen anywhere else, and I would hate to lose that, so I am working to help the area thrive.”
— Kathleen Mitchell

Kevin Jennings: 39

By
Jennings-Kevin
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
President, Jennings Real Estate

Jennings-KevinLooking back nearly a decade, to the day he decided to open his own business, Kevin Jennings recalls that it was an exciting, but also quite scary, time.
He had one young child, and a second on the way. Meanwhile, the commercial real estate market, which had been enjoying relative prosperity 10 years after its precipitous fall, was in what amounted to a holding pattern after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“It probably wasn’t the ideal time to leave the comfort of a job and go out on your own,” Jennings told BusinessWest. “But I had that entrepreneurial spirit within me; this was something I thought I could do — and something I had to do.”
So he left the comfort of the R.J. Greeley Company, and has never had any reason to look back. And while this entrepreneurial spirit is one of the big reasons why Jennings is a member of the 40 Under Class for 2012, there are many others, including his success with that venture he called Jennings Real Estate.
Indeed, starting with the sale of a small bakery building in downtown Holyoke within just a few weeks of setting up shop ‘— a modest sale that nonetheless provided Jennings with the needed cash flow to get a firm footing — he’s enjoyed steady growth, and had his best year in 2011, when the market was still struggling to recover from the lingering aftereffects of the Great Recession. He’s also handled  a number of significant transactions, including the deals that brought Home Depot and Preferred Freezer to the Campenelli Industrial Park in Westfield.
But there’s also his contributions of time and talent to the community, especially his work on the board of directors for Gray House in Springfield’s North End, an organization that provides services ranging from literacy programs to a food bank; from after-school programs to citizenship preparation. He’s also on the board of the Alden Credit Union, and supports a number of charitable organizations, including the American Cancer Society and Chicopee Boys & Club.
— George O’Brien

Kristen Kellner: 39

By
Kellner-Kristen
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Founder and President, Kellner Consulting, LLC

Kellner-KristenBefore embarking on her own business, Kristen Kellner said that her professional history was long and varied. “I worked pretty much in the media and finance industries,” she explained, from Wall Street to NBC, where she was an operations manager, to producing special projects for Star Jones.
After a stint in the venture-capital world, another of those career twists and turns, Kellner was recruited to be billionaire businessman Ted Forstmann’s personal project manager, where she oversaw many facets of his estate. “It was a pivotal point in my career to work for someone like him,” she remembered. “He was a brilliant businessman and leader, and that’s where I first got my sense of how powerful philanthropy is, in finding a passion and then doing something with it.”
During that time with Forstmann and in her first years back in Western Mass., Kellner experienced a series of life-altering events. She was misdiagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, and was one day away from chemotherapy before she discovered the truth. “I realized then that life is too short,” she said.
Working at MassMutual, she and her husband were looking forward to their first child, but, “14 weeks into my pregnancy, we found out that our son had Trisomy 18 — three chromosomes. It’s not compatible with life,” she said.
But, Kellner proudly added, “I’ve been able to take adversity and traumatic experiences and turn them into something positive, by finding their special meaning.” What that translated into was an enduring involvement with the March of Dimes, where she is now vice chair of the board, and the successful implementation of an internal program at MassMutual designed to help with issues of pregnancy in the workplace.
She noted that her desire to help others wasn’t learned from Forstmann alone. She gives credit to her parents, Anne Marie and Ralph Ferraro of Springfield, 2003 winners of the Servian Award from the Italian Cultural Center for services to the community. “I’ve learned so much from their example,” she said. “I want to acknowledge them for who I’ve become.”
— Dan Chase

Dr. Ronald Laprise: 38

By
Laprise-Ronald
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Chiropractor and Owner, Laprise Chiropractic & Wellness

Laprise-RonaldDr. Ronald Laprise was raised with strong moral values and believes that, if everyone did the right thing, the world would be a better place. He became an Eagle Scout at age 15, and his mission is to help people live healthier lives.
Laprise enjoyed watching James Bond and Indiana Jones flicks when he was younger. “The good guys always win, and when you do the things that are right and noble, the Hollywood ending can occur, and life can be happy,” he said.
He has a logical mind, graduated 10th in his high-school class, and decided to become a chiropractor at age 16, which he considers “the best decision of my life.” Laprise is in the process of becoming a board-certified wellness practitioner, and is passionate about health and wellness. “Chiropractic is a holistic profession, and I talk to people about their entire body and how the choices they make influence its function,” he said.
He is also dedicated to civic and charitable endeavors. Laprise is a second-term board member of the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield. He serves on its Ambassador’s Committee and financial task force, and is the co-creator, organizer, and an event sponsor of the group’s annual dodgeball tournament, which raised more than $4,000 last year for nonprofits.
He is an active member of the Business Networking International Profit Partners Chapter, received several of its Notable Networker Awards, and has numerous professional affiliations. He serves on the Rotary Club, has volunteered at the Friends of the Homeless shelter, and is on the Trails for Nails committee of Habitat for Humanity, where he was the top fund-raiser in 2010 and 2011.
His newest venture came after his son, Massimo, was born with Down syndrome. He organized a team that raised more than $2,200 for the Down Syndrome Resources Group of Western Mass. during its 2011 Buddy Walk.
It’s a cause that Laprise, who is married with twin 4-year-old daughters, knows he will be involved with into the future. But today, like every other day, he is “doing my part to help others in a way that is right and noble.”
— Kathleen Mitchell

Danielle Lord: 29

By
Lord-Danielle
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Vice President of Operations, O’Connell Care at Home & Staffing Services

Lord-DanielleA friend and colleague of Danielle Lord called her “a dangerous business person with a very big heart.”
Laughing as she explained that dichotomy, Lord admitted, “I’m very no-nonsense, and I’m not shy about getting to the point.” But, she added, as the director of an organization overseeing the home health care needs of hundreds of clients, with an out-call staff of 250 nurses, “we have a big responsibility; we’re taking care of people at the end of their lives. It’s very important to be doing the best you can.”
Lord arrived at O’Connell upon completion of her master’s in Health Care Management from Springfield College. “But I never thought I’d work in elder care,” she said. “When you’re getting that type of degree, you’re expecting to work in a hospital. I didn’t even know something like this existed. And now I basically run the whole company!”
And runs it quite well. Under her leadership, O’Connell’s has doubled both its visiting nurses and administrative staff. Once a presence only in the Greater Holyoke area, the company has branched out to Hadley, and there is currently an office getting underway in Franklin County.
The company’s president and CEO, Fran O’Connell, has high praise for Lord. “Whether it’s an employee, customer, or patient, Danielle never forgets that these folks are people, and that they deserve respect and dignity. She has the amazing ability to balance the needs of the business with the needs of the individual.”
Balance is a word that figures prominently in Lord’s life as well. While advancing her career in the health care field, she is also becoming more active in the community; she’s currently vice president of the Holyoke Rotary Club, which means she’ll lead that organization next year.  “We’re active globally,” she said of that organization, “but also very invested in the Holyoke community.”
Meanwhile, her home life is important to her as well. Lord and husband, Brett, have two dogs, Boggs and Layla, with whom she chose to share the spotlight at her 40 Under Forty photo shoot.
— Dan Chase

Waleska Lugo-DeJesus: 35

By
Lugo-DeJesus-Waleska
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Director of Multicultural Affairs and Executive Assistant to the President, Westfield State University

Lugo-DeJesus-WaleskaThat colorful tree in the painting Waleska Lugo-DeJesus took with her to her photo shoot is called a flamboyan in Puerto Rico, and she joked that it’s “colorful and bold, just like me!”
Many roles have defined her professional career, she said, in both the public and private sector. But it was her grandmother who inspired her on the path she now treads. As the matriarch of her extended family, who moved them from Puerto Rico to Springfield, her grandmother instilled in her children and grandchildren a sense of personal responsibility.
“In my family, some are teachers, some are civil service, some are police officers,” Lugo-DeJesus said. “Every one of us in some type of role is giving back to our community because of what she taught us.” Such inspiration gave her the goals of becoming active in education, civic engagement, and diversity. Fortunately for many, her role at WSU gives her a chance to shine in all three.
“As the director of Multicultural Affairs, I am now lucky enough to use the skills and knowledge that my education provided me to help others have the same opportunities,” she said. “And a community is only as good as the relationships we develop. For me, community is enriched when people move beyond their differences to contribute, help make positive change, and inspire others. In my life and in my career, I have come to understand how a community is enriched when the similarities and differences of others are acknowledged and celebrated.”
The number of boards, committees, and charities to which Lugo-DeJesus devotes her time is so lengthy that she laughed and said, “I need to write things down on a chart, so I can know how to invest my time!”
Responding to her 40 Under Forty award, she called it a mark of great pride. “I’ve been recognized by Latino groups,” she explained, “but this recognition is special to me because it helps in making me more of a role model to other aspiring leaders.”
— Dan Chase

Trecia Marchand: 35

By
Marchand-Trecia
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Vice President of Marketing, Member Services, Pioneer Valley Federal Credit Union

Marchand-Trecia“Empowerment” is the word that best describes the driving force behind Trecia Marchand’s personal and professional accomplishments. Her 12-year-old son, Tremar, is her priority, and she wants to empower him so he knows he can achieve anything he is willing to work for.
Marchand has achieved a great deal herself, and takes pride in helping others succeed. She dispenses knowledge gained in her profession by speaking about financial literacy at venues that have included Bay Path College, Westover Air Reserve Base, and Holy Tabernacle Church in Hartford, where she is a member. Faith is key to Marchand, and she is on the board and organizational development committee there. “The church provides my spiritual compass, and it is very important to me to be able to give back to it,” she said. “I enjoy working with organizations that try to meet the greater good of society and empower people.”
Marchand has worked in credit unions for more than 13 years, and is proud to be employed “at a place that gives so much and helps people put their best financial foot forward.” She graduated from the One Day program at Bay Path College while fulfilling her duties as a full-time employee and single mother. “I think Bay Path is amazing; it changed my life and is such a supportive environment.”
Marchand serves on the college’s Board of Trustees, Audit Committee, Student Life Committee, and Alumni Association Council. In turn, Bay Path has recognized Marchand in various ways; she was selected to represent graduate-student alumni in 2011, was highlighted as a success story, represented One Day and graduate students on the Search Committee for the College Provost in 2010, was selected to represent the One Day alumni via a special address to the board in 2009, and was named an Innovation Award winner in 2008 as well as being recognized for her service excellence.
She believes everyone has a purpose in life, and she has clearly found hers. “Your authenticity comes across to others,” she said, “when they see you truly excited about what you can offer the world.”
— Kathleen Mitchell

Ryan McCollum: 33

By
McCollum-Ryan
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Owner and Principal, RMC Strategies; Marketing Consultant, Get Set Marketing

McCollum-RyanRyan McCollum wants to make the world a better place, and uses much of his time to that end. “It is the driving force behind everything I do,” he said.
He said he’s been inspired by strong leaders since he was a child, which led him to the political arena. “I want to help people get elected who will make our lives better and make our communities a better place to live.”
After working on a number of political campaigns in Boston and serving as legislative director for the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, he returned to Springfield and established his own full-service consulting and government-relations firm.
However, when he discovered many young professionals were leaving the city, he became a founding member of the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield. “In order to retain and attract young people, you need to have social things for them to do and a place where they can network, whether they’re looking for a job, starting a business, or want to move up the career ladder,” he explained. “Plus, having the society here is a great tool for companies looking to attract and retain young professionals.”
He believes in synergy and collaboration, and his involvement in YPS led to a second job as marketing consultant for Get Set Marketing.
McCollum also serves on the board of the Boston-based Irish International Immigration Center and is on the advisory board for Best Buddies of Western Massachusetts, established to create lifelong partnerships between people with and without intellectual disabilities. “I like to be able to help people at the board level,” he said, adding that his parents always stressed the importance of public service.
That passion extends into his online presence. He has almost 3,000 friends on Facebook and uses the social medium to put forth messages about issues he believes in.
And he spends his days — and nights — working to make a difference behind the scenes. “I want to leave the world I better place than I found it.”
— Kathleen Mitchell

Karen Woods: 37

By
Woods-KarenMarie
40 Under 40 The Class of 2012
Director of Public Relations, Yankee Candle Co.

Woods-KarenMarieIn her nine years at Yankee Candle, Karen Woods has worked in a number of capacities, from human resources to wholesale to public relations. It’s that current role, she said, that most lights her fire.
“I have the opportunity to share the company’s history and products, and create campaigns that resonate with consumers,” Woods said, adding that she also oversees Yankee Candle’s charitable and philanthropic efforts.
“I truly believe I represent a product that evokes memories; it’s an emotional product that makes people feel good. Candles bring light and fragrance, and so many consumers say Yankee Candle fragrances hold real meaning for them. It’s not just a product on the shelf, but it actually brings happiness to people.”
Woods brings that same spirit to her civic involvement, particularly in her extensive work for the American Heart Assoc., including leadership in the annual Go Red for Women luncheon.
“Although I sit on the executive leadership team, I’m more than just a person sitting there,” she said. “It’s not just something for my résumé; it certainly has meaning to me, and I take pride in it.”
That’s because heart disease runs in her immediate family, and that of her husband. “A lot of people have been touched by heart disease in my family. And, although I can’t change my genetic makeup, I can make changes in myself,” she said, which is why she makes an effort to promote a healthy lifestyle both through the AHA and in her own life. “Most people don’t know that heart disease is the number-one killer of women, and they don’t know their numbers and their risks.”
She’s also involved in Link to Libraries, promoting early literacy, and autism-awareness efforts, among other activities.
“Giving back to the community is who we are as a family,” said Woods, who welcomed her first child with her husband, James, earlier this year. “If I can make a difference in one person’s life, it’s worth all the time and effort. It’s not a job, or just a meeting I have to go to; it’s part of my lifestyle.”
— Joseph Bednar