Joseph Hartman

The board of trustees of Western New England University (WNE) announced the appointment of Joseph Hartman as the university’s seventh president. Hartman will assume the role on June 1. Hartman currently serves as provost and vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at UMass Lowell, where he has led Academic Affairs since 2019. In his current role, he oversees academic strategy, faculty affairs, and student success initiatives across the institution of nearly 17,000 students and 600 faculty. Under his leadership, UMass Lowell integrated academic and student affairs to better support the student experience, opened the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, developed new degrees in data science and engineering physics with the Faculty Senate, and initiated an Early College program in collaboration with the UMass system for aspiring high school students. Prior to becoming provost, he served as dean of the Francis College of Engineering at UMass Lowell, where he oversaw nearly 4,000 students and more than 115 full-time faculty. During his tenure, the college hired 54 full-time faculty; nearly tripled research expenditures; launched new degree programs in biomedical, environmental, and industrial engineering, as well as engineering management; expanded professional co-op and interdisciplinary senior design opportunities; and increased both the size and diversity of the faculty and student body. An industrial and systems engineer by training, Hartman’s research focuses on engineering economic decision analysis and applied optimization. He has published more than 100 scholarly papers and is the author of Engineering Economy and the Decision-Making Process. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, including a CAREER Award; the Office of Naval Research; and numerous industry partners. Hartman previously served as professor and chair of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida and held faculty and leadership appointments at Lehigh University, including the George N. Kledaras ’87 Endowed Chair. He has also held visiting academic positions at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Dortmund. A native of the Chicago area, Hartman earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology.

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Eric Nakajima

Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia appointed Eric Nakajima to head the Holyoke Office of Planning and Economic Development. Nakajima succeeds Aaron Vega, who has been appointed president and CEO of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council. Nakajima, 59, is an economic development consultant. He has held policy and innovation positions with the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and is the former director of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute. From 2020 to 2024, he was director of Government Relations for the Massachusetts Teachers Assoc. Nakajima earned a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in political science from UMass Amherst and a master’s degree in city planning from the University of California, Berkeley. He held a year-long fellowship for working professionals at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. The mission of Holyoke’s Office of Planning and Economic Development is business recruitment and retention, short- and long-range planning, and providing staff support to the Planning Board, Redevelopment Authority, Economic Development Industrial Corp., Licensing Board, and Tourism Advisory Committee, among other boards and commissions.

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Meghann Arnold

Greylock Federal Credit Union announced the hiring of Vice President, Controller Meghann Arnold. As part of the Finance team, she will ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and regulatory requirements, and as a strategic leader in the credit union, she will play a critical role in budgeting, financial planning, asset-liability committee participation, internal controls, audit coordination, and process improvement. Arnold, a certified public accountant (CPA), brings more than 15 years of progressive leadership in finance, accounting, and audit across both public and private sectors. She most recently served as a senior audit associate in PwC’s Asset and Wealth Management division, where she led complex, multi-entity audit engagements and advised executive teams on complex technical accounting matters, internal controls, and regulatory compliance. Arnold’s background spans investments, insurance, and banking, giving her a deep understanding of the financial services landscape.

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Vicki Baldyga

James Hagan, president and CEO of Westfield Bank, announced the appointment of Vicki Baldyga as retail banking officer and branch manager at its Ware office, located at 350 Palmer Road. Baldyga joins the bank with more than 25 years of banking experience. In her new role, she will be responsible for leading and managing the branch, including customer service, retail and business product sales, employee development, and overseeing general branch operations, as well as business and community development within the Ware market. Since joining the banking industry in 1999, she has held various management positions at other community banks across the local area. She holds several diplomas and certificates from the Center for Financial Training and is a 2024 graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies, completing an intensive two-year program for banking professionals. Active in the community, Baldyga is the treasurer and board member of the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce and has served in past roles for Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way of Hampshire County, and Crossway Clothing Outreach.

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Country Bank announced the addition of Victoria Scott and Tony Marini as retail banking officers. Each brings extensive industry experience, strong leadership qualities, and a deep commitment to customer service and community involvement. Scott brings 12 years of financial industry experience, including roles in customer service, private client banking, and wealth management. She holds advanced degrees in organizational leadership and business management as well as FINRA and insurance licensing. She is passionate about building relationships and helping customers achieve their financial goals. She has been involved with organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the United Way, and the American Heart Assoc. She looks forward to engaging with the Belchertown community. Marini joins Country Bank with 20 years of banking experience, progressing from customer service to branch leadership roles at regional institutions. He is known for his team-oriented leadership style and commitment to delivering exceptional customer experience. He is a board member of the South-Central Chamber of Commerce and was recognized with a 2020 CORE Award for exceeding customer expectations. He also contributed to community recovery efforts following the 2011 tornado, reflecting his long-standing dedication to service.

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Drew Dawson has joined the team at Eastern States Exposition (ESE) as Hooplandia general manager. In this role, he will oversee overall operations for the event and strategize leading up to festival weekend. Dawson holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and business as well as English from Lafayette College in Easton, Penn. He earned his master’s degree in sports management from East Stroudsburg (Penn.) University, and an executive certificate of completion in foundations of business planning from the University of Hartford Entrepreneurial Studies program in West Hartford, Conn. In college, he played NCAA Division I basketball for Lafayette College. He was inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the 2000 NCAA Tournament team. Dawson’s past roles include lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at both Lafayette College and the University of Hartford, formerly a member of the America East Conference. He is currently an adjunct faculty member and head prep coach at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Conn., and founder of 3×360 Sports, a basketball-based event management and brand activation platform dedicated exclusively to the growth of FIBA 3×3 basketball. He is also a FIBA-certified coach and member of the Ireland U20 National Team coaching staff. The U20 Irish National Team advanced to the Elite Eight while finishing seventh at the 2025 EuroBasket Championships in Armenia. His other relevant experience include director of Development and program advisor with the Global Sports Academy in West Chester, Penn., and contributor to College Chalktalk through Fox Sports Digital. Hooplandia takes place June 19-21 this year, and registration is open now at hooplandia.com.

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Ted Hebert

Kathleen Bronner

David Rudder

HCC Foundation Inc., the nonprofit fundraising arm of Holyoke Community College, recently welcomed three new members to its board of directors, including two alumni. Ted Hebert, owner of Teddy Bear Pools and Spas and a 1971 HCC alumnus; Kathleen Bronner, a retired fundraising professional and a 1977 HCC graduate; and David Rudder, dean of the Division of Professional Studies at Regis College in Weston, were appointed at the HCC Foundation’s annual meeting on Dec. 9. Hebert recently completed two terms on the HCC board of trustees and has served for the past 10 years as the trustees’ representative on the foundation board. Through the foundation, he and his wife, Barbara, set up the Ted and Barbara Hebert Teddy Bear Pools Scholarship for Working Students, reflecting their passion for supporting working students who balance education and employment. Retired from full-time work in 2021, Bronner is now a fundraising consultant for small nonprofit missions both in Western Mass. and the Cape Cod area. During her career, she worked for 25 years on behalf of her alma mater, Mount Holyoke College, and also for a short time at HCC before being recruited into the healthcare field with leadership roles at the Cape Cod Healthcare and Baystate Health foundations. Rudder holds a PhD in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware and brings more than 20 years of higher education leadership experience to the HCC Foundation board. At Regis College, he oversees workforce development initiatives and has secured significant grants, including a $268,000 Donnelly Workforce Development award. Previously, he spent more than a decade at Springfield College in various leadership roles, including chair of the Human Services Department and associate dean, where he led the development of the college’s first online degree programs and expanded student support services.

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Judy Nevarez

Judy Nevarez was officially installed as the 2026 president of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley (RAPV), a nonprofit trade association representing more than 1,800 real estate professionals throughout Western Mass. She has more than 22 years of experience as a Realtor and is licensed in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. She is highly active in the community, serving on the board of directors for Western Massachusetts CYO and as a co-founder and advisory board member of Save Our Youth Inc. In 2025, Nevarez was recognized by the National Assoc. of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) as one of the Top 250 Latino Agents nationwide and ranked among the Top 100 Latino Agents in the Northeast. Within RAPV, she has served on the board of directors since 2023 and has been an active member of several committees, including scholarship, professional development, and finance. The following individuals were installed as 2026 RAPV officers: Nikki Serafino, Keller Williams Realty, president-elect; Don Thompson, NextHome Elite Realty, treasurer; and Sue Drumm, Coldwell Banker Realty, immediate past president.

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Jeremy Casey

SR Commercial announced that Broker/President Jeremy Casey has earned the SIOR designation, one of the most selective and respected credentials in the commercial real estate industry. SIOR, the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, recognizes top-performing brokers who meet rigorous production standards, demonstrate strong ethical practices, and receive peer recommendations from established industry leaders. Fewer than 3,300 professionals worldwide currently hold the designation. Casey’s SIOR membership provides immediate strategic advantages for SR Commercial’s clients, including access to a global network of vetted, high-performing brokers; faster connections and collaboration on complex assignments; strengthened credibility in negotiations with institutional groups, national companies, and out-of-market partners; and validated production standards that place Casey among the region’s top performers. SR Commercial is a boutique commercial real estate brokerage based in West Springfield, serving Western Mass. and Northern Conn. The firm specializes in industrial, retail, office, and investment properties.

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Great Barrington Public Theater (GB Public) announced that Associate Artistic Director Judy Braha will join Jim Frangione at the helm as artistic director. Braha joined the GB Public artistic leadership team in 2023 as associate artistic director after two years directing for the company. She has since then been collaborating with Frangione on the selection of new work for readings and full productions in the summer season. Her impressive portfolio of credits and accomplishments strengthened GB Public’s creative programming and offered new perspectives to the body of works and events produced each year. Braha has been a career director, actor, teacher, and artist for social justice for more than four decades, with directorial credits in theaters and universities throughout New England. She is well known for having led the master of fine arts directing program at Boston University’s School of Theater, retiring in 2022 after 29 years of service at BU. Her work frequently takes on issues of human rights, with titles including To Kill a Mockingbird; Emilie, La Marquise du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight; Othello; I Am Lear, a devised piece on aging; and Golda’s Balcony. She also is a longtime member of the Society of Directors and Choreographers and a founding board member of Stage Source, a New England theater resource that was committed to connecting theaters, artists, and their communities.