Scenes from the 2025 40 Under Forty Event

By BusinessWest Staff June 20, 2025

40 Under 40 Class of 2025 Event Galleries Special Coverage

View the Photo Gallery of the June 19, 2025 Event Here:

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Event Photography by Underwood Photography

40 Under Forty was launched in 2007 to honor young professionals in Western Massachusetts, 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. 

Meet the class of 2025 and read their stories below.

You can view the interactive flipbook HERE

Photos by Leah Martin Photography

Presenting Sponsor:

Partner Sponsors:

Announcing BusinessWest’s 2025 40 Under Forty

By BusinessWest Staff April 24, 2025

Class of 2025 Cover Story Uncategorized

40 Under Forty was launched in 2007 to honor young professionals in Western Massachusetts, 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. 

Meet the class of 2025 and read their stories below.

You can view the interactive flipbook HERE

CELEBRATE THE CLASS OF 2025!

Join Us on June 19th at The Mass Mutual Center

Tickets on sale now!

Photos by Leah Martin Photography

Presenting Sponsor:

Partner Sponsors:

Janna White

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Director, Five College Center for World Languages: Age 39

Janna White

In explaining the importance of her organization, Janna White noted that the Five Colleges are known for language study, but while students are interested in a diverse array of languages, not all of them draw enough interest to be offered in the classroom.

“But they still wanted to make as many languages available as possible,” she said, which is why the Five College Center for World Languages was founded more than three decades ago.

“We complement rather than compete with the languages available on campus, and students can take as many languages as possible while they’re here,” she said — about 60 in all, among the highest number offered anywhere in the country.

White directs all aspects of programming for this element of the Five College Consortium, enabling 300 students per year to study these less commonly taught languages for college credit.

It was an intriguing opportunity for White when she took the job in 2018, as she has always had a love of language. As sole proprietor of Janna R. White Content and Editing from 2011 to 2018, she offered communications products and project-management services, including editing 28 books, 21 articles, and hundreds of reports, white papers, and webpages.

“I worked with a variety of different organizations and individuals, but I really specialized in academic work — academic presses and scholars and faculty. I was really enjoying that work, and I wanted to expand on the ways in which I was partnering with academic institutions. That’s how I wound up at Five Colleges.”

From 2016 to 2018, she served as Academic Programs coordinator before her current job opened up.

“Our particular focus on less commonly taught languages is really important,” she noted. “The reason why we say ‘less commonly taught’ and not ‘less common’ is that many have millions, if not billions, of speakers, like Cantonese, Hindi, and Urdu. But it’s not common for college students to have opportunities to study those languages. So we’re really broadening access and opportunity for students.”

Active in her community, White served two terms on the Northampton Community Preservation Committee and joined the Northampton Planning Board in 2018. Elected vice chair in 2022, she will become chair this year.

“Anyone who has volunteered in the community knows it can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding,” she said. “It’s been one of the great learning experiences of my personal and professional life. I take that responsibility very seriously.”

—Joseph Bednar

Dr. Allison van der Velden

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

CEO, Community Health Center of Franklin County: Age 39

Dr. Allison van der Velden

Like many Hampshire College students, Dr. Allison Van der Velden trod a winding path, first studying language and religion, then switching to microbiology, then landing on dentistry.

“I was interested in working with people, making a difference, working with my hands, learning a useful skill — being a doctor, but not having the same emotional load as, say, pediatric oncology. Just something where I could solve problems.”

After starting her career at Amherst Dental Group, then working in private practice, she did some part-time work Hilltown Community Health Center and immediately preferred that model of care.

“I realized the community health center movement was more my home, so I left private practice,” van der Velden said. “I really enjoy the healthcare aspect of dental. I prefer that to cosmetic dentistry. I don’t enjoy cutting down a perfectly healthy tooth and doing a treatment to look prettier for someone who was already beautiful. That never jived with me.

“What I find really satisfying is taking a person who’s afraid of the dentist, in pain, and putting them at ease and relieving their pain and discomfort and bringing them to a healthier place.”

She eventually landed at the Community Health Center of Franklin County and moved quickly up the ranks from dentist to dental director to CEO. The nonprofit, federally qualified health center provides primary medical care, dental care, behavioral health, and wraparound services like transportation, language translation, and health-insurance navigation, and recently opened its first pharmacy.

“One thing you notice in the community health center population is a lot of patients have been mistreated by the medical healthcare industry,” she explained. “They’ve been invalidated, haven’t had resources during their lives from the beginning, and have had a lot of trauma.”

Away from work, van der Velden has volunteered with numerous boards, including Amherst Survival Center, as well as Deerfield’s Capital Improvement Planning Committee and Finance Committee. At work, she leads a team that serves 9,000 people annually — a number that’s only growing in a rural region with fewer medical resources than other counties.

“I like to say community health centers are the least broken part of the healthcare system,” she said. “People face so many barriers to seeking their best quality of life and medical treatment. I’m passionate about healthcare and healthcare access and feel really good knowing I am working to be part of a solution to an enormous problem.”

—Joseph Bednar

Elizabeth Wambui

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Impact, Fontaine Brothers Inc.: Age 38

Elizabeth Wambui

Diversity in construction is important for a number of reasons, Liz Wambui said, while breaking down the elements of her multi-faceted job at Fontaine Brothers Inc.

“The first piece is making sure we’re doing everything we can to be compliant with the workforce goals on every public project — and we are lucky to be building a lot of public projects,” she explained.

“Another piece is workforce development. And we’ve been very intentional about talking to not just students and educators, but anyone considering a career change about all the opportunities within the trades. We need people, and we need them yesterday.”

That’s a common refrain among contractors, especially businesses looking to grow at a time when more people are aging out of the field than entering it. “With the retirements coming up within our industry, we’ve really been spending time on that,” she said. “It’s a huge piece of my work here.”

To that end, Wambui plays a critical role leading project teams to maximize opportunities for minority- and women-owned business enterprises, as well as attracting a more diverse workforce. The firm partners with unions, trade schools, and other community partners to more actively promote and provide opportunities for local residents.

“We’ve been very intentional about is presenting the entire breadth of opportunities within the construction industry — getting to educators and caregivers and anyone in front of young folks, so they understand it,” she said. “These are life-changing opportunities.”

The third part of Fontaine’s role is executive director of the Fontaine Community Foundation, where she builds partnerships with organizations focused on the common good and connects the firm with worthy causes, especially those important to staff members.

Wambui is no stranger to accolades; in fact, she’s a rare double 40 Under Forty winner, having received that honor from the Worcester Business Journal in 2014, when she worked for the American Red Cross of Central Massachusetts. She then served as director of Advancement at Nativity School of Worcester before coming to Fontaine Brothers in 2021.

“I’ve been given so many opportunities to learn and try different things and be creative, and I like that because it definitely pushes me out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I love community engagement, to sit with an issue that affects us all and bring a lot of constituencies together to solve problems. Different perspectives are so important. We need them.”

—Joseph Bednar

Mydalis Vera

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Owner, Guerrera Writer LLC: Age 36

Mydalis Vera

As an author and social worker, Mydalis Vera lives an impactful life on two fronts, which often intersect.

The first is Guerrera Writer LLC, through which she provides editing and consulting services for a number of organizations, making research reports more clear, precise, and professional, and helping to develop culturally responsive educational content.

She also founded and facilitates a writing group for women aspiring to begin their writing journey. The group welcomed 34 women in 2024, with a goal of doubling that number this year.

As a social worker, she partners with agencies across Western Mass., with a special interest in the foster-care system; she has written more than 150 comprehensive adoption studies or child assessments for children in foster care, with the goal of facilitating adoptions.

“It’s a service I provide because the Department of Children and Families has been in overflow for a long time,” she explained. “So I come in and do adoption studies and assessments to make sure children can get adopted in a timely manner. Sometimes kids are in care longer than they should be because these reports are not completed in time. These reports have to be written so the judge can say this child can be adopted.

“This is my passion,” she added. “When it comes to social work and creating content, I took all the things I love and put them together.”

A dedicated civic leader, Vera has contributed to various organizations and initiatives aimed at empowering communities, including serving as a mentor and board member with Girls Inc. of the Valley, joining the board of Dress for Success Western Massachusetts, and volunteering with the O’Dell Women’s Center.

“I love working with communities,” said Vera, who draws inspiration from her mother, Mildred DeJesus. “We grew up in poverty, and I thought my mom was the smartest person I knew, but she never had the opportunity to really flourish and become what she wanted to be. And I always told myself, when I got older, I would try to give women who wanted an opportunity a chance to create that opportunity.”

That’s why much of her volunteerism centers on inspiring and helping girls and women.

“I’m trying to show women that there is possibility, that they can do it,” Vera added. “I want to demonstrate to women that there are people who care about them, and there is a way out of the darkness.”

—Joseph Bednar

Matt Waldrip

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Manager, Licensing & Permitting, Eversource: Age 36

Matt Waldrip

He calls it ‘Turtlepalooza.’

This is a program Matt Waldrip, manager of Licensing & Permitting for Eversource, now coordinates yearly. And, as the name suggests, it involves turtles — or turtle safety, to be more precise.

“We train our construction crews how to safely conduct their work when there are turtles present on site, so they can avoid direct harm to the species,” he explained. “And the way we do that is by training them and letting them know what to look for and methods they can use to move grass out of the way so they can see the turtles.”

That’s just one of many ways Waldrip works to bring construction and the environment together — in everything from his day job to his hobby, beekeeping.

A graduate of Westfield State University, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in environmental science and regional planning, and Fitchburg State, where he earned an MBA, Waldrip manages a team of 15 scientists responsible for licensing and permitting critical energy projects, everything from utility poles to lattice towers, to make the electric grid more reliable, resilient, and sustainable — work he finds rewarding on many levels.

“I find it interesting. I come from a family of scientists — my mom was a science teacher, and my dad is a farmer now, but he was a college professor,” he said. “I just came to realize how important the environment is, and I wanted to try to make a difference.”

He’s doing so on many levels, including in the community. He’s served, with others, as a captain for Eversource’s United Way campaign, as well as serving as an Eversource runner in a 5K race with Mass General Cancer Center and the Run for Boston Children’s Hospital.

He’s also a member of the Hadley Planning Board, chairs the energy resource committee for the Environmental Business Council of New England, co-chaired the 2025 annual conference of the Massachusetts Assoc. of Conservation Commissions, and coaches in the Amherst Youth Basketball Assoc., among other efforts.

As for the beekeeping … he had six hives, but unfortunately, a few died over the winter. He sells honey and wax to friends in what he described as an enjoyable side hustle inspired by his mother.

“She’s been a beekeeper for years,” he said. “I just got kind of hooked into it as I realized how beneficial bees are to the environment.”

—George O’Brien

Vadim Tulchinsky

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Partner, Director of Acquisitions, Urbanist Development: Age 39

Vadim Tulchinsky

While earning a master’s degree in real-estate development from Columbia University, Vadim Tulchinsky realized early on that he didn’t want to spend his career building skyscrapers or shopping malls.

“I wanted to find a place where I could make a difference,” he said. “And I was never super motivated by money. If I could exist in a place with a lower cost of living and make enough money to pay my mortgage, that was good enough for me.”

About 15 years ago, he visited Holyoke, explored the mill and canal area, and “it was love at first sight.”

He met two like-minded professionals, and they started discussing their vision for urban living, one that’s safe, dense, walkable, and bikeable. “We understood the value of a downtown where you can walk or bike to it; that’s the difference between a thriving place and a stagnant one.”

So they started Urbanist Development about eight years ago specifically to revitalize downtown Holyoke. Since then, they have purchased and redeveloped historically significant buildings in the High Street area, bringing them back to life with a mix of storefronts, offices, and much-needed residential units.

“The once-vibrant Holyoke downtown area has seriously gone into decline since the July 1979 opening of the Holyoke Mall,” said Helene Alderman Florio, president of the Holyoke Taxpayers Assoc., one of 14 people who nominated Tulchinsky for 40 Under Forty. “Vadim has recognized the value in getting people back into the central downtown of Holyoke.”

Tulchinsky not only serves on the board of that organization, but also on the board of directors of Holyoke Preservation Trust, and he has worked to create a business improvement district downtown as well.

An immigrant from Russia — his family fled in the early ’90s when the Soviet Union was collapsing — Tulchinsky grew up in Boston, but is gratified to be working on meaningful projects in a smaller city, projects the size of which many larger developers won’t touch.

“Somebody has to do it for these little buildings, relatively speaking, that otherwise might get torn down. It’s heartbreaking to see these beautiful assets of the city get wasted,” he said. “We have the patience, we have the wherewithal, and we feel like we can make a difference here. If all we do is turn around one block, that will move the needle. We believe we can change the perception of Holyoke.”

—Joseph Bednar

Tori Thompson

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Vice President, Head of Internal Audit, PeoplesBank: Age 38

Tori Thompson

Tori Thompson calls her role “the third line of defense for our bank.”

Management is the first, setting controls and policies, while the second line comprises risk and compliance, she explained. Internal audit is the third line of defense, examining the controls the bank has in place. And it’s important work.

“Her business acumen has resulted in our having successful audits and examinations, without any major findings, from a very wide variety of state compliance and regulatory agencies,” said PeoplesBank President Brian Canina, who recruited Thompson based on their prior tenures at Wolf & Co., an accounting firm in Springfield.

“I got my foot in the door there because we did a lot of financial audit statements for banks,” she explained. “It was like Banking 101; I got to see the inner working of banks.”

Thompson was selected in December as Volunteer of the Month from among 325 PeoplesBank colleagues — a notable achievement at an institution that prioritizes civic engagement.

“They’re very supportive of everyone taking time out of their day to help the community around us, and I’m proud to be part of a company that’s supportive of that,” she said.

For example, as board treasurer for the Hitchcock Center for the Environment since 2019, she chairs the finance committee and serves on the executive committee.

“Their mission is to foster environmental awareness and environmental awareness through educational programs,” she said. “They live and breathe sustainability every day and do work every day to help the community.”

Rhea Banker, president of the Hitchcock Center, noted that Thompson has “led the board and staff in working together with vital information about best working practices. In addition, she was at the forefront of redefining our investment practices, helping to sustain our critical climate education moving into the future.”

Thompson — whose family includes husband Devon and children Carter, Liam, and Ellery — has also volunteered with the Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts Teen Reality Fair, Revitalize CDC’s #GreenNFit builds, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Massachusetts, Safe Passage, Girls Inc. of the Valley, Valley Educational Associates, the United Way of Hampshire County, and Gateway Youth Athletic Assoc., where she serves as board secretary.

“That’s an all-volunteer group of parents who get together, offer sports programs, and promote physical activity and teamwork among everyone,” she explained. “We want to get the kids away from screen time, active, and out in nature as much as possible.”

—Joseph Bednar

Kerri Tichy

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Senior Director of Philanthropy, Shriners Children’s New England; Age 38

Kerri Tichy

Kerri Tichy doesn’t see her role as senior director of Philanthropy at Shriners Children’s New England as work, instead calling it a “passion.”

Actually, it combines two passions.

One involves philanthropy, and the other involves the Shriners, its many organizations, its children’s clinics, and especially the one in Springfield, where her daughter, Kelsi, is a patient.

“My father was a Shriner, and I grew up in the daughter organization called the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, and from that, I went into the Ladies of the Oriental Shrine of North America — the ladies with the white fezzes,” Tichy said. “Shriner’s Children’s is my passion and my purpose; it’s part of who I am.”

As for fundraising, Tichy has made it a significant part of her career.

Indeed, she worked in the private sector — for Aero Fastener Co. in Westfield and also MassMutual and Babson Capital — before joining the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, managing more than 430 philanthropic funds and driving strategic donor-engagement efforts.

She enjoyed that work, but when there was an opportunity to join Shriners Children’s New England, she jumped at it. And since arriving in 2022, she has excelled, while also moving up in the ranks, from Development officer to associate director to director, and now senior director.

Last year, for example, she oversaw the team that raised just over $8 million, 272% above the goal of $3 million, an achievement she attributes largely to one large, anonymous $10 million donation split with the Boston clinic, but mostly to hard work.

“There were a lot of events, a lot of speaking engagements, and meeting with donors,” Tichy said, adding that she spends most of her days hitting the pavement and spreading the word about the organization’s mission.

“When you’re mission-oriented, that speaks authentically to the donors and engages them, so it creates a deeper impact all the way around,” she said. “The other key is building on that relationship. Yes, the dollar matters, but at the end of the day, if you don’t have the rapport and the relationship with the individuals, the money isn’t going to continue.”

While doing all this, she is also active in the community, with organizations ranging from the PTO at her daughter Kelsi’s school to the Ladies of the Oriental Shrine of North America to Easter Seals of Western Massachusetts.

—George O’Brien

Davis Snow

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Program Supervisor, Hampden County Sheriff’s Office: Age 37

Davis Snow

It’s called the Sheriff’s Shuffle.

That’s the name given to an annual run at Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke that has raised more than $200,000 to support the YWCA of Western Massachusetts and survivors of domestic violence.

Since 2019, Davis Snow, program supervisor at the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, has been chair of the committee that oversees the event, handling a wide array of details and contributing in myriad ways to its continued growth and success. And that’s one of many reasons why he’s a member of the 40 Under Forty class of 2025.

The primary reason is his work at the Sheriff’s Department, where he has risen in the ranks and now supervises the Employment Program, part of the department’s larger All Inclusive Support Services. In this wide-ranging role, he oversees everything from Prison Industries (work training within the jail) to the work-release program to community-based programs facilitated by area community colleges to help inmates, and others, secure work at area businesses.

It’s a three-phase program, he said, adding that it involves employment readiness, such as work with résumés, cover letters, and interview skills; a job-search program, where interviews are arranged; and employment retention.

“Not only do we help individuals get jobs, we help them hold onto those jobs,” Snow explained. “We stay in communication with them once they start working, check in with them to see how everything’s going, and check in with employers, when it’s appropriate, to see how these individuals are doing.”

Much of his work comes down to networking within the business community, talking to HR directors, business owners, and operations managers, telling them about the program and the people it serves, and, ultimately, forming partnerships.

Indeed, many have been forged, he said, adding that employers across many sectors have become involved in the program, including Baystate Medical Center, Casella Waste Management, International Container, and others.

“Davis has devoted his entire life to helping others,” wrote Elizabeth Dineen, CEO of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts in nominating him for this award. “He’s constantly challenging himself to grow and learn more about why people commit crime and how his team can help inmates redirect their lives to become contributing members of society.”

When not working, or running the Sheriff’s Shuffle, Snow likes doing things outdoors — skiing, travel, hiking, or the beach — with his wife Emily, daughter Willa, and son Cody.

—George O’Brien

Savannah Taylor

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Director of Editorial, EBONY: Age 26

Savannah Taylor

When Savannah Taylor was a child, she used to create her own magazines.

“Writing was my superpower,” she recalled. “I’ve always known I’d be a writer. I had faith and confidence that I could tell a great story. So part of what I’m able to do every day, in a sense, is the fulfillment of my childhood dream.”

But it’s much more than that, too, the editorial director at EBONY magazine said.

“I’ve always been passionate that storytelling and communication can bring people together, and I still believe that. And I strongly believe there’s a place for journalism, even in today’s time.”

In her role, Taylor spearheads content strategy, media engagement, and storytelling for one of the most iconic Black media brands, leading a team of writers, editors, and digital strategists at the 80-year-old publication.

As assistant editor before ascending to her current role, she was given plenty of opportunities to broaden her experience.

“We’re a small but mighty team, so I became super involved in a lot of different capacities — culture, entertainment, politics, technology. It allowed me to become super rounded, and I was able to apply that work ethic and be prepared to step into the role of director of Editorial last year.”

Beyond EBONY, Taylor’s entrepreneurial spirit — and her love of community — is evident in a number of ways, starting with her leadership of the Silhouette Brand, a platform she founded to empower Black creatives through media training, branding, and professional development.

As part of that role, she launched Field Fest in 2021, a two-day virtual conference that drew dozens of speakers and about 500 attendees across Western Mass., aimed at inspiring young people and empowering them to succeed. And last year, she was the keynote speaker for Springfield Partners for Community Action’s annual gala.

“Growing up in Springfield, my parents exposed me to a lot of different opportunities,” Taylor said. “There’s such talent in this community; you don’t have to go to Boston or New York to have access to opportunities.

“I’ve always understood Springfield has challenges, but those challenges are not unique to this city. Once I went away to college, I developed a deeper appreciation,” the Syracuse University graduate said. “There’s so much talent here, so much potential. It just needs to be underlined and highlighted in the best light and given a chance to shine. It’s just about opportunity and how we position ourselves in order to be successful.”

—Joseph Bednar

Nicole Taylor

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Senior Marketing Specialist, Trinity Health Of New England: Age 32

Nicole Taylor

Nicole Taylor’s primary influences come from the foundational values instilled by her family, faith, and life experiences.

While notable public figures have certainly influenced her over the years, her family gets the credit for molding her into the person she is today, guiding the way she serves her community.

Her journey began with a love for sports, earning her degree in sports and recreation management from American International College, where she also earned her MBA. Soon after graduating, she took on the role of Business Development & Special Events executive for the Springfield Thunderbirds, where she secured strategic partnerships, and, among other things, led the planning and execution of the team’s first sensory-friendly game.

In 2021, Taylor joined Trinity Health Of New England, where she serves as senior Marketing specialist. This is a broad role, involving everything from shaping the marketing strategy for both Mercy Medical Center and the Trinity Health Of New England network — particularly in the women’s health, cardiovascular, and cancer service lines — to building and sustaining high-value partnerships.

“I work on a variety of projects across these service lines, partnering with providers to thoughtfully promote their services to the community, with the goal of encouraging residents to choose Trinity Health Of New England as their preferred healthcare system,” she said.

“It’s important to be detail-oriented and have a strong understanding of people — that psychological piece of marketing,” she went on, adding that she’s applied lessons from sports and higher education to her current role.

And in this setting, as in those before it, she’s achieved results — such as marketing efforts that have led to 8,000 new patient leads, 5.5 million website visits, and 1.8 million earned media impressions.

“Nicole continuously leverages her expertise in digital marketing, community relations, and event planning to launch initiatives that not only drive business success, but also create meaningful, long-term impact,” wrote Amy Ashford, regional vice president of Marketing & Communications for Trinity Health, who nominated her for the 40 Under Forty award.

Active in the community, Taylor was instrumental in forging a partnership between Mercy Medical Center and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. — she’s an active member of the Western Mass. alumnae chapter — to promote Black Maternal Mental Health Week in 2024. She has also spearheaded initiatives like Swim 1922, providing area residents with water-safety skills through instruction from Olympic silver medalist Maritza McClendon.

—George O’Brien

Kashawn Sanders

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

President and CEO, Follow My Steps Foundation Inc.: Age 29

Kashawn Sanders

Kashawn Sanders says the inspiration for the Follow My Steps Foundation, the nonprofit organization he co-founded and now serves as president, CEO, and board chair, came from an experience in a class he was taking during his senior year at UMass Dartmouth.

“The professor tasked us with going out and getting an internship. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, we could hear our fellow students say, ‘I’m going to reach out to this person, or my uncle, or my cousin’ … we didn’t have any of those connections,” he said, referring to himself and classmate Tyrone Williams.

To help ensure that future generations of young people would not suffer that same experience, Sanders, a Springfield native, and Williams, from Boston, created Follow My Steps, which is dedicated to empowering youth through mentorship, career readiness, financial-literacy programs, scholarships, and more.

Summing it all up, Sanders, a financial advisor by trade, said the agency, founded in 2020 during COVID when he and Williams were thinking about what to do next and how to give back, is about providing resources to those who simply don’t have as many as those who are more fortunate.

“We created a customizable mentorship program that centers around the youth and their aspirations,” he noted. “We also work with them when it comes to financial literacy, we make sure there’s a health component that addresses both physical and mental health, and we add on additional resources, teaching them the importance of networking, the importance of getting out there early and understanding that there are people in the community they can look up to and talk to.”

Dawn Creighton, Community Outreach officer for Liberty Bank, who nominated Sanders for the 40 Under Forty, has worked with him on the agency’s Cultural Steps event, which provides participants with a diverse range of foods and introduction to various cultures, as well as a Credit for Life course, a financial-literacy module through which students embark a simulated journey through life.

She also appreciates that the mission of Follow My Steps is “personal” to Sanders.

“Having personally navigated the same challenges his organization seeks to address, he brings a lived understanding of the systemic obstacles that underserved youth face,” Creighton said.

While doing that, he spends the rest of his time reading, working out, and spending time with his partner, Kenia, and son KJ.

—George O’Brien

Lidia Rodríguez

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

CEO, Rewarding Insurance Agency: Age 37

Lidia Rodríguez

Lidia Rodríguez and her husband, Miguel Rivera, first began selling insurance in Puerto Rico in 2009, focusing on life and health products, mainly for an older clientele.

When they moved to Massachusetts, they continued that model when they launched Rewarding Insurance Agency in 2018.

Today, as the company’s CEO, Rodríguez has spearheaded the company’s growth to serve more than 1,500 clients in multiple states with insurance, underwriting, and claims, and the main customer base remains Hispanic seniors. The agency started with life insurance, then added Medicare Advantage, and has since moved into auto, home, and business insurance.

“I also do tax preparation because it’s fun for me, something different, and I love to help my community as well,” she said. “I like to sit down and explain everything step by step.”

The company has also expanded its visibility, moving from rented space at the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce to its own office and storefront on Maple Street in downtown Holyoke in 2023.

“Now we are focused on growing the agency to be more successful,” Rodríguez said. Now that we have this experience over 15 years, I’m ready to train new agents. We want to expand our agency and open new offices, maybe in Worcester or the Berkshires.”

In the community, Rodríguez is a board member with Enlace de Familias and president of the Central High School swimming and diving booster club. She also co-founded Rewarding Community Partners Corp., a nonprofit that supports families and professionals, and designed a 10-week boot-camp program that trains young professionals in sales and insurance.

Meanwhile, the Greater Holyoke Chamber honored her and Rivera as its 2024 Business Persons of the Year and Rewarding Insurance Agency as its Business of the Year in the annual Grow Holyoke Awards.

“I didn’t imagine in my life I’d be nominated for those awards. That was a surprise; I cried when I heard that,” she said, quickly adding that she and Rivera have a strong partnership. “I never in my life thought, moving from Puerto Rico to here, that it was going to be this amazing experience. And I wouldn’t be Business Person of the Year or 40 Under Forty if it wasn’t for my husband. He has always supported me.”

She added that it makes her happy when clients trust them. “You don’t create a business in one day. It takes time, and seeing the results, for me, has been extraordinary.”

—Joseph Bednar

Jennifer Reynolds

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Project Manager, Tighe & Bond: Age 36

Jennifer Reynolds

Growing up, Jennifer Reynolds was always interested in math and science, particularly their intersection in chemistry. But while studying chemical engineering in college, she struggled with potential career applications of that degree.

“A lot of chemical engineers go into oil and gas or even pharmaceuticals, and none of those felt quite right,” she recalled, but when she started taking classes in environmental engineering and the water and wastewater field, something clicked.

“Those are also chemistry, but applications that felt better to my heart and soul,” Reynolds said. And she never forgot that. After earning degrees at the University of Connecticut and UMass Amherst, she worked in the power industry in Washington, D.C. for a time, but when she and her husband returned to New England, she saw the projects Tighe & Bond was working on and found her true niche with the regional engineering stalwart.

As project manager and team leader of the firm’s Water Business Line, working out of its Westfield headquarters, Reynolds oversees a team of water engineers and manages several multi-disciplinary projects for municipalities and utilities across the Northeast.

Her experiences include design and construction of drinking-water storage tanks, new chemical feed systems for drinking-water treatment, and infrastructure upgrades, with expertise in treatment, distribution, and storage of clean drinking water.

“There’s a lot of variation, which is what I love,” she said. “Working with utilities just gives me so much more appreciation of the fact that water comes out of my faucet and I can drink it, and the lights come on; that’s just amazing to me. People work so hard to improve those systems and make them reliable, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Outside of work, Reynolds chairs the committee that organizes the annual Granby Road Race in Connecticut, which raises funds for the YMCA of Greater Hartford.

Meanwhile, as co-chair of the education and program committee for the Connecticut Section of the American Water Works Assoc., she has worked to further educational opportunities for industry professionals, including young people just starting out. The association recognized her as its Rising Star Young Professional in 2024 for efforts to train colleagues and improve their skill sets.

“Also, folks like treatment-plant operators need their coursework to maintain their licenses and make connections, which makes it easier to solve problems,” she said. Because that’s how the clean water flows and the lights stay on.

—Joseph Bednar

Catherine Rioux

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Assistant Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer, Monson Savings Bank: Age 34

Catherine Rioux

Catherine Rioux is a textbook example, pun intended, of how internships, at both the college and high-school level, can not only introduce young people to careers, but help businesses keep talent in the pipeline.

Rioux interned in the Human Resources department at Monson Savings Bank (MSB) while in high school as part of a class in business and entrepreneurship, an initiative called ‘work-based learning.’

The experience left her intrigued by the financial-services sector, enough to make her want to stay at the bank, even though she wasn’t old enough to even work on the teller line.

“I continued to learn and just be a part of it, and earning a little bit of money was cool, too, when I was 15,” she said, adding that she answered phones and handled other duties after school. “My grandma would pick me up from school and drop me off for my shift, and either she or my mom or dad would pick me up.”

Rioux kept working at MSB through high school and again while earning a business degree at Western New England University, leaving the company for a short time her senior year. But when she graduated, she returned to MSB as a loan servicer receptionist, then worked her way up to her current role as assistant vice president and commercial loan officer.

“I don’t want to say it just happened,” she said of her career. “It was a lot of organic growth and organic learning; I always wanted to learn more and do more and stay busy. The bank gave me a lot of opportunities because I showed the initiative to take on projects, big or small.”

Active in the community, Rioux serves on the town of Monson’s scholarship committee and the Monson Free Library committee. She has also volunteered her time to build bikes for local disadvantaged youths, fill backpacks in support of the United Way’s Stuff the Bus campaign, and work with the Revitalize Community Development Corp. program known as #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild. Previously, she served as a Lighthouse advisory board member for I Found Light Against All Odds, and with the Ludlow Rotary Club Charitable Foundation.

Rioux said she’s looking forward to bringing her son with her on a #GreenNFit assignment or some of her other work so he can get involved and understand the importance of giving back. That’s another thing she learned on that internship.

—George O’Brien

Kerry Parsons

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Service Operations Manager, Colonial Life: Age 39

Kerry Parsons

Kerry Parsons knows she’s not dealing with people in their best moments. But she said it’s gratifying to help them through those times.

“People only call on their worst day, or a really bad day, and when somebody is hurt or going through a stressful time, they don’t want to talk insurance,” she explained. “So I like being able to help people navigate that and give them some positive news on a day that’s probably not so positive for them.”

In her role at Colonial Life’s Western Mass. office, Parsons assists with billing and claims and coordinates meetings between benefits counselors and employees. She started there with a summer job in 2005 and never left. “I just worked in the office, got my license, and I’m still here.”

She’s still active in the community as well. For example, she’s been volunteering for the Miracle League of Western Massachusetts, which offers youth with disabilities the chance to play baseball, since 2015. She led a golf tournament that raised funds to build an accessible playground in Holyoke where everyone, including children with mobility devices and physical challenges, can access all equipment with their peers.a

In addition, Parsons spearheaded a $60,000 fundraising campaign for the Holyoke Public Library, leading a committee that raised the funds with golf tournaments over three years.

She’s also a committee member with Magic for Maddie, a nonprofit formed in memory of her best friend’s niece, who died in 2022 at age 8 from a rare form of pediatric brain cancer that very few survive.

“Seeing Maddie and her family go through that, we wanted to give back to the families that are in the fight,” Parsons said. “We donate to families that are going through that. And it shouldn’t be less than a 1% survival rate. They need more research. So we’re giving them funds for research as well.”

The list goes on, from volunteering in her younger daughters’ schools (her eldest is in the U.S. Navy) to supporting local libraries, food pantries, arts and culture organizations, and, as noted, accessible recreation. In fact, she and her mother, Maureen Ross O’Connell, were honored by the Holyoke Rotary Club in 2024 with the Paul Harris Fellow Award for their service.

“I grew up watching my mom give back,” Parsons said. “I saw what people can do and what the community needs, and it really got to me. I wanted to be involved.”

—Joseph Bednar

Brigid Owino

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Birth and Postpartum Doula and Childbirth Educator, Perinatal Wellness Partners: Age 38

Brigid Owino

Brigid Owino’s journey into the field of perinatal care is a deeply personal one.

She gave birth to her first child during the early days of the pandemic, while also dealing with a difficult separation from her partner, and the isolation contributed to a challenging battle with postpartum depression.

“It was a very lonely, painful journey going through the birth process,” she recalled. “During that time, you weren’t even allowed to have a person in the room with you at the hospital.”

But when she became pregnant with her second child, with the support of compassionate professionals and loved ones, the birth experience was healing and transformative.

“I was present this time. I was ready. I took childbirth classes with a doula. And I wondered how many women go through this themselves and don’t have that support.”

Owino wound up doing some volunteer work in perinatal care, then began working in the field professionally and, eventually, launching her own company, Perinatal Wellness Partners.

Her mission is to create a nurturing, supportive environment where women feel informed, confident, and empowered throughout their journey through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. She said she provides trauma-informed, mindful care tailored to each client’s needs, whether navigating a routine pregnancy or facing complexities such as maternal-fetal medicine cases, cesarean deliveries, medical emergencies, or harm reduction during pregnancy.

Having earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at UMass Amherst and worked in the mental-health field before her current career, she’s also pursuing a master’s degree in mental health at Framingam State University.

“Mental health, especially in perinatal health, can be very taboo,” she noted. “Often, women are afraid to say, ‘I’m experiencing problems. I’m not feeling well. I’m not bonding with my baby.’ That’s why I wanted to be very honest with my journey. As someone who had PTSD, I wanted to show people that you can go through this and still love your baby and still thrive as a mother.”

Owino also serves a peer mentor doula with Moms Do Care, where she connects families to resources and community supports from pregnancy through postpartum. She is also a board member with the Green River Doula Network, which fosters community for doulas, midwives, and birth workers.

And she remains grateful to keep telling her story.

“No matter what your journey, I want you to know that you’re seen and heard, and you’ll be better off for it.”

—Joseph Bednar

Geoff Naunheim

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Executive Director, United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region: Age 35

Geoff Naunheim

Geoff Naunheim has a heart for nonprofits, so when a position at the United Way of Hampshire County opened up in 2017 — specifically, Community Investment director, where he advocated for and collaborated among numerous United Way program partners — he jumped at it, and excelled in that role for more than four years.

“That’s the program side of the United Way, the part that engages with the nonprofit community and works on how we can invest in the nonprofit sector,” he explained. “That was a real interest of mine. And I loved it.”

And when a bigger role opened up in 2022 at the now-combined United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region, he didn’t hesitate, serving as interim executive director for seven months before being offered the permanent job.

“We’re trying to build the shelf, trying to create a strong network of social-service organizations in Hampshire and Franklin County,” Naunheim said. “How do we strengthen those services, and how do we invest in programs that are best-positioned to deliver the best services? It’s really gratifying work.”

It’s challenging work, too. Over the past few years, he noted, homelessness has risen across the region, food-insecurity rates are up, and housing costs are way up.

“I like engaging with people in the nonprofit community who are doing incredible and inspiring work in Western Mass. and often working in tough circumstances on some really challenging problems — and making people’s lives a little bit better,” he said.

He has tackled these trends while managing the merger of the former United Way of Franklin County and United Way of Hampshire County into one organization. “I worked on making sure our processes and cultures aligned and blended in the spirit of the United Way.”

In his spare time, Naunheim is an avid hiking enthusiast — and he’s not satisfied with level ground. He and his wife just finished the New Hampshire 48 last summer, which are all 48 peaks above 4,000 feet in that state. He’s now working through the 100 highest peaks in New England.

“If you had told me 10 years ago that I’d be waking up at 5 a.m. to drive to a trailhead, I would have said you were crazy,” he laughed. “But it’s fun. I love getting into the woods. It gives me some space to think and decompress.”

And then get back to work surmounting some truly pressing problems.

—Joseph Bednar

Marc Murphy

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Co-owner, Lock and Key Realty: Age 39

Marc Murphy

Marc Murphy’s trajectory in the real-estate world has been impressive, to put it mildly.

After graduating from Western New England University in 2008, he entered the real-estate world in 2011, then launched Lock and Key Realty with a business partner in 2019. Starting with three agents, the firm has grown to 60 agents and recorded $230 million in sales last year, with a portfolio of commercial and residential properties, including apartment complexes, commercial offices, and industrial sites.

“We continue to be in the top five in Hampden and Hampshire County. We’ve definitely been very busy,” Murphy said, crediting much of that success to the team he’s built and the work environment he’s tried to cultivate.

“We’re able to attract a lot of the top talent in the area through our training of agents and our culture,” he told BusinessWest. “We believe in top-tier service for our clients, whether it’s a first-time homebuyer or an investor or a commercial client. We have resources to solve any problem and make the process as easy as possible with attorneys, lenders, insurance brokers, accountants, and so forth.”

In short, he added, “when we split off, we wanted to create a company with a win-win culture. Every scenario we create should be a win-win for agents, customers, everyone involved.”

Murphy gives back to the community through an annual golf tournament the firm started four years ago, with all proceeds donated to nonprofits; over the last four years, the event has given $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity and the Hartsprings Foundation.

“They’re both heavily involved in real estate, and they’re great organizations; we’ve become close with them over the years,” he said. “We’re trying to do our part.”

Meanwhile, most of his free time centers around his wife, Danielle, and three children, all under age 9. “That keeps me very busy, from traveling to practices to spending time with them. It’s very enjoyable.”

So is real estate, even though it’s been more challenging the past few years, he explained. “Inventory has been the biggest challenge in this area. And there have been a lot of law changes and rule changes around real-estate transactions. We’ve been at the forefront of training our agents in how to deal with it.”

That’s one aspect of what Murphy enjoys most about this career — the people he works with. “They’re awesome. We’re able to problem-solve using our resources and experience, and that’s the fun part.”

—Joseph Bednar

Dr. Divya Mudumba

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Practice Owner, Smileworks Family Dentistry and Palmer Smiles: Age 37

Dr. Divya Mudumba

Dr. Divya Mudumba’s life is a story of turning a negative into a positive.

“I’m from an Army background. My dad was always posted in places where there was not much access to dental care, so I grew up with bad dental experiences,” she explained of her early life in India. “After a few years, I met a female dentist who was serving in the Army, and she made me feel so comfortable in the chair that I decided to become like her.”

She wound up volunteering at that practice, which grew her interest to the point where she decided to pursue a dental career. Today, Mudumba owns two practices, in Pittsfield and Palmer, where she specializes in pediatric and family dentistry, with an emphasis on compassionate, comfort-centered care.

“Eventually, I became more inclined toward kids,” she said. “That’s where long-term anxiety comes from. If you have a bad experience growing up as a kid, it stays with you. It makes you more scared of going to the dentist. That’s why I decided to be a pediatric dentist.”

She also prioritizes patients from underserved populations, including the Medicaid population and veterans in Pittsfield.

“I’m blessed with the ability to change people’s lives, giving them a beautiful and healthy smile, and helping anxious patients get over their anxiety and learn to love — or at least have a level of comfort toward — seeing a dentist for their checkup.”

Mudumba, who was honored last year as a 40 Under 40 dentist by Incisal Edge magazine, is also community-minded, including a breast-cancer donation drive at Smileworks each October. “So many patients have gone through breast-cancer treatment or know someone who has,” she said.

She also frequently speaks on dental health at local schools and daycare centers, reinforcing oral-health awareness among young people, and is working on a collaboration between YWCA and Smiles for Success (a sister organization to the American Assoc. of Women Dentists) so women in YWCA programs can access dental care and rehabilitation.

“Women dentists volunteer their time and practice resources to help women whose background may be one of domestic violence or sexual abuse; they have suffered some dental neglect and trauma, and they’re trying to get back in the game, get ready for a job,” she explained. “We find these women and help them rehabilitate their oral health to a level that they feel confident.”

—Joseph Bednar

Jason Moran

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

President, Morduct LLC: Age 39

Jason Moran

Jason Moran started working in his family’s heating and air-conditioning business at age 15, but eventually decided he wanted to step out on his own. So, in 2017, he found a retiring contractor looking to sell his operation and hit the ground running.

It turned out to be a good decision; today, as president of Morduct LLC, Moran has scaled up his company dramatically, now employing more than 10 associates.

As an HVAC and sheet-metal contractor, most of his clients are heating and AC contractors or mechanical contractors.

“It’s a fulfilling career,” he said. “You’re always at a different location, not just sitting on your hands. Maybe you’re in a commercial space or an office space one day, and in a hospital the next day, and maybe working at an aerospace facility the next day.

“I enjoy working with my hands, even though, as the boss, I shouldn’t be working as much as I do in the field,” he added. “And I like resolving clients’ problems. Maybe they’ve had four other companies there, and then we figure it out and take care of it for them.”

As a member of Associated Builders & Contractors, Moran collaborates with industry leaders to promote best practices, support vocational programs, and advocate for policies that strengthen the trades.

He’s also deeply involved in local workforce-development efforts, partnering with technical high schools and apprenticeship programs to give aspiring tradespeople hands-on experience, mentorship, and professional guidance.

“I strongly encourage young people to get into the trades, especially this trade,” he said. “I like meeting different people and feeling a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. We’re the only trade that takes a raw material and turns it into something. Plumbing is a manufactured product; you can only use it how it’s manufactured. In our trade, the sky’s the limit; you can make anything.”

In one burst of creativity, he crafted a metal ductwork heart and put it in front of his house during the COVID pandemic, a tribute to local doctors and nurses. It has since been donated to a church in Westfield.

Moran said he’s inspired by his wife, Jess, and son, Archie, calling them “big motivators in my life.”

For Jess, who nominated him for 40 Under Forty, the feeling is mutual. “His entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to workforce development, and contributions to the trades exemplify the qualities of a true leader.”

—Joseph Bednar

Kate Minifie

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Farm & Food Products Program Director, Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center: Age 34

Kate Minifie

Kate Minifie was candid when she talked about everything it takes to be an entrepreneur and bring an idea for a new food or beverage product from conception to the store shelf — and about how she doesn’t possess all those ingredients herself.

“I’m way too risk-averse,” she said with a laugh, adding quickly that, in her role as Food & Products Program director for the Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center at Franklin County Community Development Corp., she works closely with those who are not.

And she finds it quite rewarding to help these individuals navigate a broad array of challenges and issues — from recipe development to regulatory compliance to general business planning — to bring a product to the marketplace.

“I like working with entrepreneurs and being part of their story,” she told BusinessWest. “My favorite thing is that every day is different, and the other thing that’s really cool is seeing someone be successful over time, someone who comes to us with an idea, and three or five years later, you can find their products in stores all over the region.”

She cited several success stories, including a Greenfield woman who created something called ‘fire cider,’ what Minifie described as a “preventive medicine.”

Minifie graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in public health, but soon decided she was more interested in food systems, and has since worked “across the supply chain,” as she put it, meaning farms, restaurants, and a farm-to-school program in Vermont.

She then moved on to the Food Processing Center, where she initially worked in the farm-to-institution realm, running a program called Valley Veggies, whereby local produce was sourced, then frozen and sold to schools across the region.

She progressed to her current role, in which she assists entrepreneurs with products across a wide spectrum — sauces, baked products, condiments, beverages, and more.

“These are early-stage businesses,” she explained. “We counsel on all the things they need to bring a product to market — legally, safely, and in a way that’s going to get them noticed.”

Active in the community, Minifie serves on the Board of Health in Colrain and has also co-chaired the Franklin County Food Council.

When not doing all that, she likes to run with her dog in the woods and enjoys outdoor activities with her husband, Ben, and children Maeve and Miles.

—George O’Brien

Jessica Menard

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Advanced Practice Clinician Manager of Care Delivery, Education, and Training, Commonwealth Care Alliance: Age 38

Jessica Menard

Jessica Menard started her nursing career in the emergency room and has worked in that setting for a number of area hospitals during her career.

Early in her training, she said, “I thought I wanted to do labor, delivery, and pediatrics, and then I did a rotation in the emergency room, and it turns out I loved it.”

But she didn’t take a narrow view of that work; she saw early on the “connecting dots,” as she put it, between the ER and home care, and the gaps in care many patients experience between the two.

In her current role with Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA), Menard fills those gaps and helps patients navigate what can often be an overly complex, frustrating healthcare system.

“I started here as an advanced practice clinician. We take care of Medicaid patients, the chronically ill, the sickest of the sick. We have a unique model — we’re not just an insurer, but we also deliver care into the home and take care of whatever needs to be done: medical, behavioral health, socioeconomic stuff, housing. There are a lot of arms to it.”

Now in a management role, she still helps patients, but guides the professionals, too. She also actively mentors and precepts nurse practitioner and registered nurse students from UMass Amherst, Westfield State University, and American International College as they prepare to tackle this complicated world.

The Boston Globe honored Menard in 2021 with its Salute to Nurses Award, recognizing her contributions to nursing and patient care. In addition to her work at CCA, she has played a public-health role by educating people about critical health issues, including media interviews on topics such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus. She’s also a member of the Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners, supporting legislative efforts to expand NP practice and improve healthcare delivery.

“It’s truly heartbreaking to see individuals suffer as they navigate this complex healthcare system,” she said. “If I can be the person that can help them get where they need to be and see their lives change for the better, health-wise — for example, getting diabetics who aren’t controlled to a spot where they’re better controlled and their quality of life is better — that’s so gratifying to me. It brings me a lot of gratitude when I see firsthand the difference we can make.”

—Joseph Bednar

Mia McDonald

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Senior Associate, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.: Age 24

Mia McDonald

It’s a good thing Mia McDonald likes her employer so much, as she’s never worked anywhere else in her professional career.

With a lifelong aptitude for math, she figured her best career options, while studying at Westfield State University, were math teacher and actuary, and she leaned toward the latter, but once she began taking some accounting courses, she was hooked.

While still in college, she secured an accounting internship at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) and never left, handling a wide variety of responsibilities today in the audit and assurance realm.

“I love how you’re never working with the same type of things; there are new challenges and new things to learn every day. I feel my confidence growing as I’m talking to clients and becoming more familiar with the issues people are facing,” she explained. “I wanted to be a teacher initially, and there are so many great opportunities in the field where I can use some of those teaching skills to build other people up.”

Even though she’s only 24 — making her one of the youngest ever recognized by 40 Under Forty — part of McDonald’s role is being a mentor to other team members, which comes naturally because she has been mentored herself.

“It’s cool being this young and getting this award, but I wouldn’t have been able to do that without the mentorships and strong women who gave me the opportunities I’ve had,” she said, naming Chelsea Russell and Kristi Reale as two who have given her a seat at the table. “That’s been huge in my four years at MBK, and I love being able to pass that down.”

McDonald is also very active in the community, spearheading community-service events for Girls on the Run, Winter Walk, and Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke, while partipating in events for Square One, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, United Way of Pioneer Valley, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, a Bed for Every Child, and HCS Head Start, among others. She also coaches cross country and track and field at Westfield State.

“A lot of it comes from being at MBK and seeing the focus that they have on the community,” she said. “It’s really empowering to be able to give back to these organizations, especially one like Girls on the Run, whose mission and values are so close to everything I love and the things I’m passionate about.”

—Joseph Bednar

Liz Martinek

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

EMS Coordinator, Baystate Health: Age 34

Liz Martinek

Liz Martinek misses riding in the ambulance. Sort of.

She was an EMT and then a paramedic for many years, and thoroughly enjoyed that work, despite its physical and mental toll.

“I like being there for people on the worst day of their life because I want to make it better,” said Martinek, who has moved on to what is, in many ways, an even more rewarding role: that of EMS coordinator for Baystate Health.

This is a role with a lengthy job description that includes everything from coordinating internal and external quality-assurance and education initiatives to helping plan and execute Baystate Health’s EMS Week activities and Disaster Day, an annual event that partners Baystate Health physician residents with all-level first responders from local communities in a staged mass-casualty disaster.

“We bridge the gap between EMS agencies, whether they’re fire departments or private ambulance services, and the hospital side,” said Martinek, who is based at Baystate Noble Hospital and works with several different fire departments from area municipalities and even Six Flags New England. “We do a lot of overview of the pre-hospital medical care that is happening out in the field and make sure that providers are following the state protocols and the standards of that care, with an eye toward continuous improvement and patient safety.”

Martinek brings a wealth of experience to her current role, from her years as a paramedic to her work as ambulance coordinator for Baystate Health and as service quality manager for Alert Ambulance — as well as her experiences during the pandemic, when her role changed to include more outreach to patients.

Indeed, she was honored by her colleagues as a Pandemic Response Hero for her patient-assessment efforts at a Westfield assisted-living facility that led to the immediate transportation of six patients in need of an emergency-room evaluation of their COVID symptoms.

Active in the community, Martinek serves as Baystate Health’s medical captain for the IRONMAN competition in Western Mass. In that role, she recruits and oversees the volunteer services provided on site during the event by physicians, nurses, paramedics, EMTs, and other emergency responders.

With encouragement from her husband, Kreig, Martinek said she got into CrossFit and has fallen in love with it, giving her more energy for doing things with her two children, Lindsay and Matthew.

—George O’Brien

Dr. Nathan Macedo

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School – Baystate; Associate Program Director, Greenfield Family Medicine Residency Program: Age 36

Dr. Nathan Macedo

Many young people stumble upon their careers after studying something different.

Not Dr. Nathan Macedo, who, as far back as he can remember, always wanted to be a doctor. As a first-generation American (his parents are immigrants from Portugal), he was the first in his family to graduate high school, let alone college.

“I was probably inspired by my own pediatrician, and then, growing up, I always had a passion for serving others,” he said, noting that he volunteered at a local hospital while in high school and was an EMT in college. “Those experiences solidified my path going to medical school.”

He pursued a master’s degree in public health and his medical degree at the same time at Tufts University School of Medicine, and became interested in family medicine there. When he spent time in hospital wards, his interest in a different setting became even more clear. “I really loved building relationships long-term, getting to know the patients, figuring things out together, and helping them stay healthy and out of the hospital.”

Now, at Greenfield Family Medicine, Macedo is 100% outpatient-focused.

“Part of the reason why I gravitated to primary care and family medicine is I definitely would get bored if I just focused on one organ system. I like being a comprehensivist, getting to know a little bit about everyone and treating people as people,” he explained, adding that he treats everyone from newborns to nonagenarians.

As an assistant professor of Family Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School – Baystate, he also gets to train the next generation.

“I always liked teaching, and in my own clinic, I often have medical students from UMass working with me. I’m training future family-medicine doctors,” he said, emphasizing the importance of that effort. “All of us know how hard it is to find a PCP and to get an appointment. We’ve developed a good system of building a foundation for more of them.”

The residency program recruits four individuals annually for a three-year training program, and Macedo said they often challenge him as much as he does them.

“I think students push you, in good ways. They ask great questions. I feel like I’m transforming the way I practice medicine for the better because of them,” he said. “And a number are staying in Western Mass., so we’re also building that pipeline.”

—Joseph Bednar

Shannon Lynch

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Assistant Vice President of Compliance, Mount Holyoke College: Age 30

Shannon Lynch

While attending the Western New England University School of Law, Shannon Lynch was initially interested in sports law and contract work. As she developed her oral advocacy skills, she thought maybe she’d go that route.

But her experience working with WNE’s General Counsel office impacted her in a significant way. There, she helped investigate student grievances and coordinate Title IX cases, and after beginning her career in family law and then personal injury, an opportunity arose as Trinity College’s Title IX coordinator in 2021.

“That’s a position that is federally mandated, but a lot of institutions stick it on an HR person or an interim or part-time person. So coming in, I had to build an office and develop a rapport with students where, previously, there wasn’t a lot of trust there.”

Her efforts contributed to a 284% increase in student reports filed. She led an overhaul of the college’s policy on sexual harassment and supported the redevelopment of the non-discrimination policy.

In her current role at Mount Holyoke College, Lynch combines her experience in Title IX with other federal civil-rights laws, American Disabilities Act compliance, and civil-rights matters in higher education, the latter being a long-time passion.

Since starting last summer, Lynch has seen Title IX reporting jump again.

“It’s incredibly important, especially since Title IX covers sexual assault, sex discrimination, domestic and dating violence, and stalking, all of which is very prevalent in this age group and at higher-education institutions,” she noted. And reporting is important because an institution can’t fix what it doesn’t know about. We can’t make an institution safer and better for young individuals if we don’t know what’s happening to them.”

A figure skater who rose to the U.S. Junior National team, Lynch also co-founded (with her husband, Michael, a member of the 40 Under Forty class of 2022) the Lynchie and Friends Foundation, which has donated more than $40,000 to several local health-related charities through a series of golf tournaments.

“Our first daughter just turned 3,” she said. “She was in the NICU at Baystate. To go back later and present them with a check, we were able to look at the nurses and say, ‘thank you so much for everything you did for us. Here’s something for you.’ Our nephew has autism, so once a year we do something toward autism. It’s really gratifying and keeps us connected to the community.”

—Joseph Bednar

Sarah Lapolice

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Tax Department Manager, Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C.: Age 37

Sarah Lapolice

While earning her MBA at Elms College, Sarah Lapolice says she was influenced by many of her teachers, but especially Julie Quink, then a partner and now managing principal of the accounting firm Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C.

“There’s a certain presence about her, and I remember leaving my last MBA class with Julie … I called my mom — I called her every night — and said, ‘there’s something about this woman; I don’t want to stop learning from her.’”

And, in essence, she hasn’t.

The two have offices a few yards apart at the firm’s West Springfield headquarters, with Lapolice crediting Quink with providing the inspiration and direction to become a CPA and eventually advance to the role of Tax Department manager.

The two share a passion for building teamwork and providing support to team members whenever and however it’s needed.

Indeed, when asked to walk us through the life of a Tax Department manager, Lapolice started by saying the first thing she does is “check in with everyone at the office.”

She explained that “it’s important for me to get a sense for how everyone else is feeling, including outside of work, so you can gauge where they’re at and whether they need support. I check in with them on a personal level and then on the work front.”

That’s especially true during the height of tax season, which is when she talked with BusinessWest. It’s a stressful time, one during which, as a manager, she focuses on providing support in myriad ways.

This is part of a broad job description that includes everything from growing the firm’s client base to helping those clients optimize their tax strategies; from employee training and development to building client relationships.

Lapolice brings to these assignments, and many others, a management philosophy grounded in solid teamwork, lessons learned from playing a variety of sports — starting when she was young and continuing through college — and also from playing music in tandem with others.

While instilling the importance of teamwork, she also sets an example when it comes to work in the community. She is active with the nonprofit Girls on the Run and now serves on its board, and has served on the philanthropic services committee for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, and has also served as a board member for Libertas Academy Charter School.

—George O’Brien

 

Tashea Jenkins

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Executive Director, One Village Inc.: Age 37

Tashea Jenkins

“Youth is my baby.”

That’s how Tashea Jenkins described her heart for helping young people through her nonprofit, One Village Inc.

In that role, she develops and prepares both teens and young adults for the workforce through programs, activities, and community service.

During the six-week curriculum, participants attend once a week and learn about topics like communication styles, conflict management in the workplace, how to sit for an interview, and what a résumé looks like. She also hosts events, games, speakers, field trips to employers, and more. The idea is to inspire young people to develop career ambitions and give them tools to pursue them.

“The last week, we try to have four or five employers come out, and they can do a mock job fair using the tools and knowledge they learned over those six weeks,” she explained.

Jenkins launched the initiative in 2017 after four Springfield Central High School students were killed in the crash of a stolen SUV on Union Street. She established it as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit five years later.

“I wanted to give back. I tell them, ‘guys, you’ve got so much ahead for your life. Don’t go out and do stupid stuff. Do your life. You’ve got so many years before you.”

Deeply involved in the community, Jenkins has coordinated events for a number of nonprofits, including Black Men of Greater Springfield, Walk in Their Shoes Foundation, Mission Church Ministries, and Pyramid Soccer Group.

Even at work, she always worked for the betterment of society. Her past positions include lead case manager with the New England Farm Workers Council’s Youth Program, outreach counselor with Behavioral Health Network, residential stabilization specialist with the Mental Health Assoc., re-entry employment specialist with MassHire Holyoke, and community sourcing specialist at Baystate Health. A few of those roles, notably, involved connecting people with jobs.

“Young people want to work. They want money. But nobody’s teaching them how to be sustainable,” she explained. “I’ve been helping to develop seniors and juniors in the workforce, getting them matched up with the right placements, the right career path, whether it’s school or training or trade.”

She especially wants to set an example for her 13-year-old son.

“One of the things I want to instill in him is not giving up. If you fall down, don’t stay down. And if you do fail, come up with a different plan so you can get back up.”

—Joseph Bednar

Brenton Jenkins

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Founder, Vision Entertainment: Age 30

Brenton Jenkins

Brenton Jenkins, better known to many as DJ Onyx, says he doesn’t remember what his first paid gig was.

He guesses it was a barbecue or birthday party for a friend or relative — he started DJing for events like that when he was 14.

His first big break, he said, came a few years later when he was fortunate enough to land several high-school graduation parties in Longmeadow, where he grew up.

“They’re a big deal in that town,” said Jenkins, who has gone on to much bigger deals in his career as founder and owner of Springfield-based Vision Entertainment.

These include being the resident DJ for UMass Athletics, starting in 2016; at MGM Springfield, starting in 2020; and at the Big E, where he opens for many of the major acts, since 2019, while also handling corporate clients, luxury weddings, and a wide range of large-scale events.

He’s also the entertainment provider for a long list of area schools, and an equally long list of nonprofit events and fundraisers ranging from Baystate Health’s National Health Week to Springfield’s Historic McKnight District’s annual block party, to the Holyoke Police Officers’ Ball.

As an entrepreneur, Jenkins, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management at Westfield State University, has steadily grown his business, consistently adding clients while also broadening the list of services to include photo booths, lighting, and other attractions.

He’s passionate about his work, but also giving back and sharing what he’s learned — about DJing, business, and life in general.

An active member of the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, Jenkins has become involved in several mentorship and apprenticeship programs in the region.

“Passionate about giving back to the next generation, DJ Onyx actively mentors and provides apprenticeships for local youth, introducing them to entrepreneurship and the events industry,” wrote Amie Miarecki, president of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, as she nominated him for the 40 Under Forty award. “Through hands-on experience in DJing, event production, and business development, he equips young talent with the skills and confidence to pursue careers in entertainment and entrepreneurship.”

Added Jenkins, “when someone asks me what it means to be successful, I say that it’s about doing something you love and creating wealth for myself and the people around me. And that’s not material wealth — that’s the wealth of life, the wealth of experiences, the wealth of knowledge.”

—George O’Brien

Angela Hansberry

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Financial Planning Assistant, the Jamrog Group: Age 37

Angela Hansberry

For much of Angela Hansberry’s life, horses were the main focal point.

She got her first horse when she was 16 and later majored in equine business management at Johnson & Wales University. After graduating, she spent the next decade managing a horse barn in New Hampshire, working in equine rescue for the MSPCA, and teaching others how to ride.

But then … she was ready for a change, and a move back to Western Mass. And, long story short, while she still rides, her life has a different set of priorities, starting with her twins, Charlotte and Ryan; the latter suffers from autism and Williams syndrome, a developmental disorder that affects many parts of the body.

There’s also a new, emerging career as a financial planning assistant with the Holyoke-based Jamrog Group.

As Hansberry tells the story, a friend working at the Jamrog Group heard she was coming back to the region and asked if she was interested in an office job with the firm. She was, and in one short year, she progressed from receptionist to paraplanner.

“I enjoyed the work, so I decided I wanted to learn more about it; I started studying and taking exams and earning my life and health insurance licenses,” she said, adding that she earned additional designations enabling her to become a retired income certified professional.

While navigating her new career and Ryan’s early interventions, surgeries, and trips to specialists in Boston, she became focused on learning more about special-needs planning — for her own family as well as company clients — an earned the industry designation as a chartered special needs consultant.

“We’ve had a handful of families come to us who have children with special needs,” she said. “So it’s great to have that specialized training and be able to help them.”

Active in the community, Hansberry is a room parent at Meadowbrook School in East Longmeadow, assists with her daughter’s Girl Scout troop, and serves as a ‘parent buddy’ to Ryan as he plays baseball in the Miracle League of Western Massachusetts.

“Angela really is amazing, and an incredible role model for working mothers who prioritize their children and master the art of balancing it all,” said Amy Jamrog, CEO of the Jamrog Group, who nominated her for this award. “She is quiet, humble, and calm; I do not know what our team would do without her contribution to us and her clients.”

—George O’Brien

Diana Guzman

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Vice President of Human Resources, YWCA of Western Massachusetts: Age 36

Diana Guzman

Diana Guzman enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 17, serving for four years and excelling in a human-services role, handling trainings, promotions, changes of assignments and stations, and more.

“After I ended my enlistment, I took a little break to figure out what’s next,” she recalled. “Going from a really structured military world to being on my own was completely strange to me.”

So she continued on an HR path, earning a bachelor’s degree at DeVry College of New York, then returning home to Springfield and earning an MBA at American International College. She wound up at the YWCA of Western Massachusetts as a temporary receptionist, right around the time the HR assistant was leaving. From there, it’s been a steady climb to her current role.

Among her many responsibilities — from staff attendance and performance to recruitment matters to connecting employees with training and resources — Guzman especially loves onboarding new staff members. “We already have this culture at the YWCA, and it’s great to see people come in and contribute to that.”

She also speaks throughout the community about domestic violence and sexual assault, issues the YWCA deals with on a daily basis.

“It really is a pervasive problem, and I’m able to work in an organization where we’re trying to help people, telling them, ‘you’re not alone in this. It wasn’t your fault. We’re here for you.’ Being a part of that, even from an administrative support end, supporting the staff that is doing the work, I’m proud of that.”

Outside of work, Guzman is involved with her church’s children’s ministry and media ministry, and as a board member with the Western Massachusetts World Affairs Council, where she has been able to proudly share her Dominican heritage in myriad ways.

In addition, she is enrolled in a doctoral program in business administration at Liberty University and has launched her own business, Gentle Touch Cosmetics, selling homemade soaps and balms.

But she’s also been a balm to YWCA employees, with the staff recognizing her empathy and professionalism by naming her Employee of the Month.

“Her meteoric rise is a huge accomplishment in and of itself,” wrote CEO Elizabeth Dineen, who, for the second straight year, is celebrating two YWCA employees making the Forty Under 40. “Diana is a great role model for men and women alike as to what it means to be a true professional and patriot.”

—Joseph Bednar

Koby Gardner-Levine

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Regional Manager, Office of Congressman Jim McGovern: Age 29

Koby Gardner-Levine

Koby Gardner-Levine describes his work as being a “jack of all trades.”

Indeed, as regional manager for the Northampton office of U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, he handles everything from overseeing the needs of the 30 municipalities in the western portion of the massive district (most of them in Hampshire and Franklin counties) to assisting individual constituents with matters involving Social Security, veterans’ affairs, IRS matters, and more, to overseeing $8.5 million in Community Project Funding across the district in 2024.

Overall, it’s rewarding work, said Gardner-Levine, who has worked in McGovern’s Western Mass. office for six years, adding that, in many cases, but certainly not all, problems can be solved, and issues can be properly addressed.

“No day is exactly the same as the day before it,” he noted, adding that he often works with constituents one-on-one, but is also out in the community speaking to groups, as he did recently on Medicare policies. “I like being in a role where I’m able to give back to this community and really get a better understanding of the needs in this area.”

The Northampton office is generally busy with constituent calls and inquiries from officials in those 30 communities, he said, adding that the volume of calls has increased exponentially since the start of the Trump administration and its sweeping changes and executive orders.

“Our phones have been ringing off the hook since the new administration took office,” he noted. “We’ve certainly had a lot of constituent outreach on different federal initiatives coming out of the White House, and Congress as well.”

A Clark University graduate with a master’s degree in environmental science and policy, Gardner-Levine serves on the board of the Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst, just one example of his involvement in the community. He also serves on the board of the United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region and is a member of the Hampshire Food Policy Council.

He also works closely with McGovern on food-security issues, and has served as a panelist in discussions hosted by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, the Amherst Survival Center, and the Hampshire County Council of Social Agencies to discuss various topics, including last year’s White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.

He has also worked in partnership with the African Heritage Reparations Assembly of Amherst, a group with a mission to study and develop reparation proposals for local people of African heritage.

—George O’Brien

 

Mo Freniere

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Deputy Director of Sales, Eastern States Exposition: Age 36

Mo Freniere

Mo Freniere brought a lot with her to her 40 Under Forty photo shoot, all to help capture everything that’s important to her.

There’s a promotional banner for her family’s Prospect Valley Farm in Westfield; a plaque that depicts a leadership award she won; some ribbons from Eastern States Exposition (ESE) won by her family, which has shown cattle and produce for four generations; a picture of her family; materials depicting the Westfield Fair, which she has served in many capacities; and more.

The photo captures the essence of Freniere’s life and career, which, in many ways, has revolved around agriculture, milking shorthorns, fairs, and especially the Big E, which she currently serves as deputy director of Sales.

In that capacity, she oversees the sales and administrative process for all non-fair events and manages the brick-and-mortar food and beverages service, including alcohol partners, during the Big E.

She’s responsible for growing revenue, expanding ESE’s non-fair event portfolio, and attracting new trade shows and events, and she has been successful in rebuilding that side of the Big E’s business since the difficult COVID years.

“We’re looking pretty good … it’s been a few years until these events have gotten back up to scale, but we’re steadily improving,” said Freniere, who earned a degree in animal science with a focus on agricultural finance at Cornell and worked for the Holstein Assoc. USA and briefly at Hampshire College before joining Eastern States Exposition in 2019.

A list of all she has done within the Western Mass. community — and beyond — also helps tell her story. She is or has been a member of the International Assoc. of Fairs & Expositions, an American Milking Shorthorn Junior Society advisor, a Wyben 4-H Dairy Club leader, Westfield Fair Assoc. secretary and Vendor and Concessions coordinator, a member of the ESE Ag & Ed advisory committee, an ESE milking shorthorn breed representative, and an ESE judging competition superintendent.

And while she doesn’t show cattle at the Big E any longer, because of her position with the company, her family does, and that’s just one of many forums for exhibiting their milking shorthorns.

“We travel all over the country showing our cattle,” she said. “Locally we do really well, regionally we do OK, and nationally we hold our own, so we’ve got room to grow.”

 

—George O’Brien

Amber Estelle

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Clinical Director, YWCA of Western Massachusetts: Age 32

Amber Estelle

Every year, BusinessWest lets readers know who is that year’s highest-scoring 40 Under Forty honoree, in the eyes of the five judges. And no one earns that honor by doing easy work.

That’s especially true for Amber Estelle.

As part of the leadership team at the YWCA of Western Massachusetts, her roles range from handling staff trainings on sexual-assault cases to supporting staff dealing with children who witnessed violence to supervising the sexual-assault and domestic-violence hotline. “The calls can be intense and triggering,” she said of the latter.

Again, not easy work. And not everyone comes out on the other side into a better situation, and no one at the YWCA has a hero complex, thinking they can save everyone.

“But the people who successfully leave the program, they’re always a reminder why I love doing what I do, even if it’s just that one person,” Estelle said. “We’re seed planters. We’re not always meant to make someone grow or blossom. But if they just leave here as a survivor … that one story goes a long way.”

At age 27, Estelle was appointed to oversee two four-year grants from the U.S. Department of Justice, one for adults and another for youths, to support survivors of human trafficking. She’s also a public speaker at conferences, colleges, jails, and nonprofits about domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault. A member of her church’s Sing Praise Team, she is also a frequent facilitator at church conferences, speaking about mental health. In her spare time, she also plays volleyball competitively..

She’s also an adjunct professor in Connecticut’s community-college system, teaching human-services courses for men in medium- and maximum-security prisons.

“A lot of people make wrong decisions. But being in prison does not make you a bad person. You just did something wrong. It doesn’t make any of us who are not in prison any more perfect,” Estelle said. “For them, the whole point is to rehabilitate, to be able to take something and learn something while they’re there so they can incorporate it into the rest of their lives when they leave.”

Many inmates are discouraged about their job prospects, she added, but social work is a career where many find that second chance.

“This field is very welcoming of people with lived experiences. You can use what you’ve been through as a tool to help people and encourage others to make different decisions so they don’t follow that path.”

—Joseph Bednar

Paris Felogloy

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

School-age Childcare Director and Camp Director, Franklin County YMCA: Age 28

Paris Felogloy

Paris Felogloy grew up attending summer camp at a YMCA.

“I remember being surrounded by so many different kids. I could come here and learn stuff from older kids and also learn stuff from the younger kids and play different games with all of them,” he recalled.

Which makes it even more gratifying to impact children today as director of Camp Apex, one of his roles at the Franklin County YMCA, where he oversees both the before- and after-school youth programs and the summer camp.

“We get kids as early as 6 a.m., then you get them back after school until 6 p.m.,” he said. “Most of the kids love it so much, they go to camp with us as well, so we watch them grow throughout the entire year. It’s awesome.”

Felogloy manages a staff of around 55 — mostly high-school or early college-age students — overseeing these programs, which typically serve about 230 children from kindergarten through grade 8. Both programs have grown under his leadership, generating talk of expanding them to meet demand.

“It’s really cool. Kids might geek out an arts-and-crafts project and then go upstairs and kick home runs in kickball. We surround kids with so many activities — swimming lessons, nature activities … a little bit of everything, from scooters, skateboards, and BMX bikes to virtual-reality stuff. We keep every moment of every day pretty busy. I just love being in front of these kids all the time. The impact is really life-changing.”

And not just for the kids, said Franklin County YMCA CEO Grady Vigneau Jr., who nominated Felogloy for 40 Under Forty, and noted that many of his staff are taking on the first professional work role of their lives — and learning under a committed teacher, coach, and mentor.

“It is not a stretch to state that Paris — within a safe, supportive, family-like environment — has developed innumerable young people into trusted, future professionals while still in high school,” Vigneau wrote.

Active in the community, Felogloy is a community ambassador for a child sexual-abuse prevention initiative through the Children’s Advocacy Center, while volunteering over the years for a host of other nonprofits. In addition, he has worked to cultivate a side business in photography and videography, and also builds furniture.

“I just enjoy the process of learning and doing things,” he said — and helping hundreds of kids do the same.

—Joseph Bednar

Chelsea Depault

By George O'Brien April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Vice President, Commercial and Municipal Lending, Greenfield Cooperative Bank: Age 36

Chelsea Depault

Chelsea Depault says she got into banking “by default.”

As she explains it, the mother of an old boyfriend took it upon herself to help her secure a better job by submitting an application for her at Greenfield Cooperative Bank to be a teller.

That was in 2007. She got the job and has been there ever since (except for a two-year stint with Community Action of Pioneer Valley), rising in the ranks and securing a progression of titles, from accounting clerk to credit analyst; commercial loan officer to vice president, Commercial Operations officer, assuming a wide range of duties along the way.

During COVID, for example, she played a key role in helping install a manual process to train internal staff in the handling of PPP loan applications.

Today, her role as vice president, Commercial and Municipal Lending involves everything from handling loans for commercial customers, most of them small-business owners, to staffing the bank’s booth at Frontier Regional High School’s Teen Reality Fair, providing lessons in financial literacy.

These and other assignments are quite rewarding, said Depault, who earned degrees at Greenfield Community College and then the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and has also completed the prestigious ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking program at the University of Pennsylvania. She especially likes working with business owners and guiding them through what can be a difficult process.

“No two businesses are the same, and no two deals are the same,” she explained. “Being able to help small businesses and big businesses achieve their goals — and those goals are always changing — is my favorite part of this job.”

Active in the community, she serves Community Action Pioneer Valley, a nonprofit that assists low-income residents with everything from fuel assistance to SNAP benefits, as treasurer. She also serves on the Northfield Recreation Committee (as treasurer, but also soccer and basketball coach), the Franklin County Community Development Corp. loan committee, Franklin County Community Meals, the Greenfield Public Library Foundation, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, and more.

While doing all that, she finds plenty of time for family — husband, Doug, three children, Mason, Brody, and Ellie, and two dogs — and a wide range of outdoor activities and sports.

“All that keeps me busy,” she said. “But it’s a good busy.”

—George O’Brien

Sherleen Crespo

By Joseph Bednar April 24, 2025

Class of 2025

Vice President, Branch Manager, and Mortgage Specialist, Westfield Bank: Age 36

Sherleen Crespo

Banking was a surprise career for Sherleen Crespo — but, as it turned out, a pleasant surprise. “Fresh out of high school, I was a waitress, but I needed a career, and someone told me about banking,” she recalled. “I started part-time while going to night school — and I loved it. I had a great mentor, and I went full-time from there.” Since starting that journey 17 years ago, she’s advanced through a series of supervisory roles and joined Westfield Bank as a branch manager in 2017. These days, she manages a branch of eight employees in Westfield, with responsibilities including overseeing customer service; retail and business product sales, including mortgage origination; business development and community outreach; and employee development. “My main passion in banking is financial literacy,” she added. “That’s what drew me into banking: to help people, whether they’re kids with a small bank account, middle- and high-school students, or adults. I really enjoy being able to help them financially, teach them about about credit, and keep them on a plan, whether they want to buy a home or whatever their passion is.” In the community, Crespo mentors youth on job-readiness skills; volunteered with the We Care Initiative, which provided care packages for older adults during the pandemic; and has been a board member and #GreenNFit house captain at Revitalize Community Development Corp. for the past six years, helping renovate local homes and make them safer and healthier for their residents. “We help a lot of people, and it makes a really big impact,” she said. “When you see the events, how many people get together, how many houses, it makes such a difference. It’s really touching when you work with these families from beginning to end, to see how emotional they are because it’s something they may not have been able to afford or they can’t do physically.” But Crespo’s financial-efforts in the community may be closest to her heart, whether by facilitating educational sessions in local schools and businesses or serving on the local Credit for Life committee, which sets up day-long fairs for high-school seniors, where they choose a virtual career path and make decisions about saving, budgeting, and spending. Such efforts earned her the 2019 Business Investment Award from Parent Villages. “That’s something I’m really passionate about,” she said. “I’m able to be there for the kids, and it ties into what I do at work. It’s amazing.” —Joseph Bednar