Twenty Years of Excellence
Wrestling icon Ric Flair was a special guest at the 40 Under Forty gala in 2015, pictured here meeting honoree Eric Devine, then Information Technology Services officer at Country Bank.
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In 2007, Sarah Tsitso was more than a decade away from her current role as executive director of the Zoo in Forest Park, where she leads year-round efforts in the realms of animal conservation and community education.
Back then, she was an editor for Turley Publications, not sure where her road would take her. But she does remember a big moment of encouragement — being named to the inaugural class of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty.
“Receiving this award in 2007 — its first year — was so unexpected and so humbling,” Tsitso said. “At the time, I was a newspaper editor and the mother of a young daughter, just slogging through, doing my best at both jobs. I had no idea why anyone would want to honor my accomplishments.”
“That 40 Under Forty recognition is still one of my proudest moments. I am forever grateful to have been an inaugural member of this amazing, ever-expanding club.”
Some years later, she was back on stage as a 40 Under Forty gala co-emcee — she calls it “a banner, full-circle year for sure.” Meanwhile, each June, dozens of former winners attend the gala to celebrate yet another class and stay close to a community of young professionals who impact Western Mass. in countless ways through their career success and community involvement. This year, the 20th such class will be chosen — and the nomination deadline of Feb. 24 looms (more details on that later).
“In the years since 2007, I have seen so many incredible, talented people from this region cross that stage,” Tsitso said. “Looking back now, with my daughter grown and my journalism days behind me, that 40 Under Forty recognition is still one of my proudest moments. I am forever grateful to have been an inaugural member of this amazing, ever-expanding club.”
There’s a reason the 40 Under Forty trophy is one of the most coveted prizes in the region, and certainly a badge of honor for a club that will soon comprise — after the class of 2026 is revealed in our April 27 issue — a whopping 800 young professionals.
Well, mostly young. Some of the earlier winners are in their late 50s now, and have gone on to build even more successful careers. Some have even been honored by BusinessWest again as Difference Makers, Women of Impact, or Healthcare Heroes.
Tara Brewster, an honoree in 2009 and a co-emcee in 2022, will return to co-emcee the 20th edition of 40 Under Forty this June..
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And 13 have won the prestigious Alumni Achievement Award (called the Continuing Excellence Award in its early years), which, since 2015, has been given to the previous 40 Under Forty honoree who has most built upon his or her accomplishments. Those winners, starting with the most recent, include Jeff Fialky, Meghan Rothschild, Amy Royal, Anthony Gleason III, Anthony Gulluni, Carla Cosenzi, Peter DePergola, Cinda Jones, Samalid Hogan, Scott Foster, Nicole Griffin, Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, and Delcie Bean — a regional who’s who in a number of fields, from law to technology to healthcare.
On the Map
For Tara Brewster, being chosen as a 40 Under Forty honoree in 2009 was an impactful moment, and one she still thinks about often. Now vice president of Business Development and Philanthropy at Greenfield Savings Bank, she then co-owned the men’s clothing shop Jackson & Connor in Northampton.
“We started planning for our business in 2007, and we opened the doors in 2008. In some ways — in many ways — I had no idea what I was doing,” she recalled. “As a first-time business owner after recently moving back from New York City to my hometown, I realized that, to be successful, you had to be all in on your business, your customers, and on the community that you are serving.
“Being recognized by BusinessWest and the community, for my work and role in the region, in 2009 was unexpected, and completely launched who I was and who I would become,” she went on — and as she built an impressive career and became a force in community philanthropy and volunteerism, she was later honored by BusinessWest as a Difference Maker in 2022 and a Woman of Impact in 2025.
But thinking back on that first honor, Brewster noted that “regional awards like this one not only put an individual and a business on the map, they also give someone a pathway toward destinations of higher achievement and success. I want to thank BusinessWest for taking chances on up-and-coming professionals in Western Massachusetts. It makes other people take notice and see opportunity where they may easily not have seen the potential for greatness.”
Brewster will return to the 40 Under Forty stage for the third time this June at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. She co-emceed the event in 2022 with White Lion Brewing Co. owner Ray Berry, and will co-emcee this year again with BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar, who co-emceed the event every year from 2010 through 2021, as the magazine’s then-senior writer.
“I’m excited about the 20th,” Bednar said. “The short profiles we write about the honorees are my favorite assignment of the year — it’s fun trying to get to the essence of someone in 400 words. And the event itself is always a great time; the energy in the room is electric. I turned over emceeing duties to former winners a few years ago, but I really wanted to be part of the presentations for the 20th. And to share that stage with Tara, one of this region’s true stars, makes it even better.”
Brewster, for her part, is thrilled to return. “For me, being involved in the 20th 40 Under Forty is a true homecoming. It feels like returning to who I was at 30 years old. In the past 17 years, I have learned so much about myself, this community, grown my professional network, and worked hard to make others proud of the investments that they made in me.
“I hope that other 40 Under Forty alums will join me that evening in giving their former selves a hug and their current selves a high five for still being in the world, playing the game, and making a difference for others,” she added. “Thank you, BusinessWest, for the continued opportunity to shine brighter than I did yesterday.”
Time Is Running Out
As noted earlier, BusinessWest is now accepting nominations for its 20th annual 40 Under Forty awards. As usual, honorees are chosen not only for their career achievements, but for their service to the community. Winners hail from a host of different industries; many are advancing the work of long-established businesses, while others have created their own entrepreneurial opportunities.
Both 40 Under Forty and Alumni Achievement Award winners are chosen by independent panels of regional business leaders who will be announced soon.
40 Under Forty nominations must be submitted by Feb. 24 at businesswest.com/40-under-forty-nomination-form. Alumni Achievement Award nominations must be submitted by April 9 at businesswest.com/40-under-forty/alumniachievementaward.
