John Anz
Jack Brown
The Northampton Jazz Festival has welcomed two new board members who bring broad skills and experience in marketing, design, music production, and fundraising: John Anz, who joined in January, and Jack Brown, who came on board in January 2025. Anz is currently director of Development & Community Engagement for the Loomis Communities. An alumnus of Williston Northampton School and Trinity College in Hartford, he moved permanently to Western Mass. in 2002 from his native New York City and deeply involved himself in the local music, arts, and culture scene. He has served on several boards of arts organizations, including the Northampton Community Music Center and the South Hadley Cultural Council, including two years as chair. He has also created, produced, and presented live music in the area as co-chair of the SHOWCASE South Hadley arts and culture festival and, under JAzz Productions, produced Music Mondays Cafe at the Gaylord Memorial Library in South Hadley. After careers in college coaching and real estate management, Anz has been in the development and philanthropy fields of nonprofit fundraising for more than 20 years, including music and arts organizations such as Springfield Symphony Orchestra and Berkshire Hills Music Academy. Brown is Marketing director at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce and the Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council. He has worked in Northampton’s cultural circles for three decades as an artist, writer, and musician, and promotes the region in his current role. He creates and executes the strategies for marketing to constituents of both organizations across all digital, social and print communications channels. Brown’s expertise also includes content creation, graphic design, and setting and analyzing marketing metrics across all channels. He is also a musician (guitarist), illustrator, and graphic designer, having earned a bachelor of fine arts degree at the University of Hartford’s Hartford Art School.
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Anthony Casabianca
Laurel Williams
Ashlie Baker
Robert Knight
Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) announce the following new hires: Anthony Casabianca, associate; Laurel Williams, associate; Ashlie Baker, senior associate; and Robert Knight, CPA, manager. Casabianca started his career in public accounting as an administrative intern during the 2025 tax season and recently transitioned into his new role as an associate in MBK’s audit and accounting department. He brings fresh perspective to his engagements as a recent college graduate and believes customer service starts with listening to clients’ unique needs so that he can better understand their business and help them achieve their goals. Casabianca received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Springfield College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in accounting with a concentration in forensic accounting at UMass Amherst. Williams recently joined MBK as an associate focusing on bookkeeping and taxation. In addition to her experience in bookkeeping and taxation, she also brings expertise in operations, financial planning, and customer service. Her approach to customer service combines open communication with a focus on longterm relationshipbuilding. By clarifying expectations early and staying accessible and supportive, she creates a dependable and welcoming experience for every client she engages with. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University. Baker recently joined the team as an a senior associate in the audit and accounting department. She brings her Big 4 experience in the insurance field to her work in public accounting with MBK. From her experience, she has developed strong communication and time management skills, and brings a high level of attention to detail and experience working with complex data. She approaches customer service by listening carefully to understand the individuals needs, then following through with clear communication and a reliable completion. She views customer service as creating a positive and trustworthy experience that reflects well on long-term relationships and on the organization. Baker holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Scared Heart University. MBK recently welcomed Knight to the firm as a manager. He practiced public accounting from 2017 to 2021, and in recent years, his professional focus has been in financial planning and tax advising for high-net-worth individuals. His experience has made him a strategic partner to individuals, helping them grow while developing thoughtful solutions to the challenges they face. Knight holds a bachelor’s degree in corporate finance and accounting from Bentley University and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Michigan’s Stephan M. Ross School of Business. He is also a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.
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Bulkley Richardson recently welcomed Joshua Weatherwax to the firm as an associate in the Business Department. “We welcome Joshua to our busy practice, where he will focus on all areas of transactional work, including mergers and acquisitions,” said Scott Foster, chair of Bulkley Richardson’s Business Department. “In addition to his law degree, Joshua’s past business experience allows him a better understating of our clients and how their businesses operate.” Weatherwax earned his juris doctorate in 2025 from Western New England School of Law, where he was an Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. scholar and CALI award recipient. He also earned a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State University in 2019 and an MBA from Western New England University in 2024.
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Kerri Jarzabski
Bay Path University announced the appointment of Kerri Jarzabski as its new dean of Retention and Advising. She brings more than two decades of leadership experience in higher education and a deep commitment to student success. Jarzabski most recently served at UMass Amherst in the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Life while completing her doctoral work. Prior to that, she spent more than 20 years at Western New England University, where she held a series of increasingly senior leadership roles, including vice president for Student Affairs. In her new role at Bay Path, she will lead the university’s efforts to strengthen retention and advising strategies across its newly unified institution (Bay Path University and Cambridge College), with a focus on leveraging data, enhancing the student experience, and supporting student success at every stage of the academic journey. Jarzabski earned her PhD in higher education from UMass Amherst. Her doctoral research focused on the first-year experience and supporting neurodivergent students, reflecting her dedication to inclusivity and holistic student support. She also holds a certificate of advanced graduate study in higher education leadership from UMass Amherst, a master’s degree in higher education: student personnel administration from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree in English literature and communications from Western New England University, where she graduated magna cum laude.
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Debbie DePaola
Freedom Credit Union announced that Debbie DePaola has been appointed branch officer for its West Springfield location. DePaola joined Freedom in 2023 as an assistant branch manager, bringing more than a decade of experience in the banking industry. In her new role, she leads the daily operations of the branch with a focus on service, efficiency, and member satisfaction. She oversees branch performance, coaches and develops staff, ensures regulatory and compliance standards are consistently met, and supports business development and community relations efforts throughout the region. A graduate of the College of Central Florida with an associate degree in business administration, DePaola has been recognized for her dedication, leadership, and commitment to Freedom’s mission. In 2025, she received the Freedom Credit Union President’s Award.
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Monson Savings Bank (MSB) announced the recipients of its 2026 President’s Award, the highest honor presented by the bank, which recognizes employees who exemplify the bank’s mission and values through outstanding customer and community service, teamwork, professionalism, and integrity. This year, two employees have been selected from peer nominations: Melanie Garcia, senior commercial loan administrator; and Terry Poloski, vice president, residential lending officer. Employed with Monson Savings Bank since November 2013, Garcia has long been a pillar of excellence within the Commercial Lending department. Chosen from 22 nominees in the non-officer/manager category, she received five heartfelt nominations highlighting her expertise, organization, communication skills, and the positive influence she brings to the team. Colleagues describe Garcia as knowledgeable, humble, and exceptionally dedicated, consistently strengthening customer relationships and enhancing the bank’s reputation. Her commitment to her role, her team, and the bank’s partners is both remarkable and inspiring. Since joining Monson Savings Bank in December 2011, Poloski has been a trusted leader within the Residential Lending department. Selected from 16 nominees in the officer/manager category, she also received five nominations, each recognizing her professionalism, compassion, and significant impact on both customers and colleagues. Poloski is described as humble, hardworking, an outstanding mentor, and a leader who consistently prioritizes the bank’s success over personal recognition. Her dedication has helped shape the strength and reputation of the bank’s mortgage department and continues to set the standard for exceptional customer care at MSB.
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Ashik Mubarak
Caolo & Bieniek Associates Inc. announced that Ashik Mubarak has officially passed all of his architectural exams and is now a registered architect, awaiting the arrival of his license. “We are proud to announce that Ashik has successfully passed his final architectural registration exam,” the firm stated. “This significant achievement marks the culmination of years of dedicated study, professional experience, and commitment to excellence in design. Ashik represents the next generation of architectural talent, bringing creativity, technical expertise, and fresh perspective to our team. We congratulate him on this outstanding accomplishment and look forward to his continued contributions to our projects and the communities we serve.”
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Ashley Menard
The Irish Cultural Center of Western New England announced the hiring of Ashley Menard as general manager of the Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub. Menard has been working in restaurants since 2002, most recently in the beverage distribution industry. She is excited to share her passion and knowledge within this new role. “I am thrilled to join the Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub as it has built a strong reputation for quality and hospitality,” she said. “I appreciate the opportunity to work alongside this team as we continue to grow and successfully meet the needs of our guests.”
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Springfield Prep Charter School, a free charter public school, announced Meghan Wagner as its new executive director starting April 1. Wagner has served as a senior operations and finance leader for more than a decade, and currently serves as the school’s chief operating & financial officer. The move comes after an extensive, months-long hiring process by the board of trustees after Springfield Prep’s founder and current Executive Director Bill Spirer, announced plans to pursue a new professional chapter early this fall. Wagner, a leader with more than 16 years of experience in public education, is celebrated for her collaborative approach to problem solving, ability to unify people, and unwavering dedication to achieving positive outcomes for students and families. Over the past decade at Springfield Prep, she has been instrumental in the school’s success, leading operations, finance, and human resources. Her contributions have been key to the school’s expansion, encompassing management of the school budget, oversight of the new school building’s construction, and leadership of critical initiatives for teachers, staff, and students. Furthermore, she has consistently empowered instructional leaders to implement student-centered, data-driven approaches to learning.
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Aaron Vega
Aaron Vega, president and CEO of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council, has been appointed to the Holyoke Community College (HCC) board of trustees by Gov. Maura Healey. Vega attended his first HCC board meeting on March 24, and his five-year term runs until March 2031. Until the end of 2025, Vega was director of the Office of Planning & Economic Development for the city of Holyoke. From 2013 to 2021, he represented the 5th Hampden District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He started his career in public service in Holyoke as a two-term city councilor at large. No stranger to HCC, Vega is a 1990 alumnus and received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the college in 2015. He is the son of the late Carlos Vega, the Holyoke social activist and co-founder of the nonprofit Nueva Esperanza, himself a 1971 graduate of HCC who was honored with a Distinguished Service Award at Commencement in 2004. Vega’s daughter, Courtney Joaquin, graduated from HCC in 2018. Vega’s work for Holyoke as a city councilor and director of Planning & Economic Development has also kept him in close contact with the college through the years. After HCC, Vega transferred to Keene State University, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and film studies. He spent the first part of his career as a documentary filmmaker, working for Ken Burns’ Florentine Studios. He and his wife, Debra, are the owners of Vega Yoga & Movement Arts in Holyoke. Aside from the HCC board of trustees, Vega serves on the boards of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Mass Humanities, and New England Public Media, and is chair of the Carlos Vega Fund for Social Justice.
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Margaret Nugent
Greenfield Community College (GCC) announced the appointment of Margaret Nugent to its board of trustees. A seasoned leader in vocational education and workforce development, Nugent brings a wealth of experience in bridging the gap between secondary technical education and higher learning. Nugent’s appointment reinforces GCC’s commitment to strengthening regional educational pathways and fostering a resilient, skilled workforce in the Pioneer Valley. As the current vocational director at Franklin County Technical School, she is well-positioned to align the college’s strategic vision with the needs of local industry. Before transitioning into education, Nugent spent two decades in the hospitality and food service industry. In the early 2000s, she began teaching culinary arts at Putnam Vocational Technical High School, sparking a passion for vocational training that led her to earn a master of education degree from Westfield State University. Over the past 15 years, she has served in diverse administrative roles, including cooperative education coordinator, adult education administrator, and grant writer.
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Two Holyoke educators were recently honored by the city and state for their work engaging students in civic learning. During a Civics Learning Week ceremony at Wistariahurst Museum on March 9, Vanessa Martinez, professor of Anthropology at Holyoke Community College (HCC), and Nicholas Cream, an Ethnic Studies and History teacher at Dean Technical High School, received proclamations recognizing their work from Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, the state House of Representatives, and the state Senate. Martinez, a health anthropologist, is co-founder of the Springfield-based Women of Color Health Equity Collective and coordinator of Community-based Learning at HCC. In 2023, Martinez’s students began collecting stories from Holyoke residents for two oral history projects, one on the COVID-19 pandemic and another that examines living conditions in the city and their impact on public health. Those interviews have become part of the Wistariahurst Museum’s permanent archives, and those projects continue. Cream is president of the Holyoke Teachers Assoc. and an advocate for civic participation and for teachers striving to improve education in Holyoke.
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Ben Lamb
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) announced that Berkshire-based economic development expert Ben Lamb has been appointed to BAV’s board of directors. Lamb is vice president of Economic Development at 1Berkshire, where he works to support a broad range of rural businesses and industries across the region. His local leadership roles include serving as a trustee of MASS MoCA, board vice chair for the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, clerk of the board of the North Adams Partnership, and co-founder of the NAMAzing Initiative, a community group committed to creative placemaking and grassroots economic development initiatives in North Adams. Other public service positions include four terms as a North Adams city councilor. A graduate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Lamb holds a master’s degree from the College of Saint Rose and a PhD in higher education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His diverse professional background encompasses ecotourism, historic landscape restoration, and café ownership in downtown North Adams.
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DJ Nicki Nell
DJ Nicki Nell, president of Visual Sound Productions Inc., an entertainment and event production company, was selected to perform at the Boston Celtics game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 27 at TD Garden. The performance is part of the Celtics’ annual Pride Night celebration, an event that highlights and supports the LGBTQ+ community within the sports and entertainment space. The initiative is supported in part by the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, whose partnership has been instrumental in shaping the evening’s programming and community impact. Nell brings prior experience performing in high-profile sports environments, including two seasons performing with the Miami Heat, further reinforcing her ability to deliver in front of large-scale, high-energy audiences. Known for her ability to read a crowd and keep the energy high, Nell brings a performance style that fits seamlessly into the fast-paced world of live professional sports.
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The Applied Mortgage Team of HMA Mortgage announced that Lindsay Barron LaBonte, branch manager and senior loan officer of the Applied Mortgage team, received the Peter V. Kocot Community Service Award from the Northampton St. Patrick’s Assoc. This recognition celebrates a chosen person who has distinguished himself or herself through substantial community service contributions in Western Mass. LaBonte was recognized for her outstanding commitment to community service and local impact. Through her leadership and volunteer efforts across Western Mass., she has consistently invested her time, resources, and voice in initiatives that strengthen families and expand opportunity. Her dedication reflects the spirit of the award: uplifting others, building meaningful partnerships, and creating lasting change in the communities she proudly serves.
