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40 Under 40

Nicole Contois: 29

By
Nicole Contois
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Assistant Executive Director of Management, Springfield Housing Authority

Nicole Contois

Nicole Contois

Nicole Contois is an executive at the Springfield Housing Authority, a Big Sister, and a dedicated Red Sox fan. She was hired out of college for a temporary position seven years ago, but quickly climbed the ladder of success.
“Once I started at this organization, I knew I wanted to play a bigger role and interact with our residents by making decisions and creating programs that will enhance their futures,” she said.
Today, Contois oversees the management of three public-housing districts with more than 1,400 apartments, as well as the Housing Authority’s resident services, human resources, and finance departments. Her goal at the agency is to help people launch their own pathways to success.
“We serve a very vulnerable population, and are able to provide them with housing, which is a basic need in life,” she said. “We provide families and elders with affordable housing and wraparound services that assist them in meeting their goals. For some, these goals include education, careers, and home ownership.”
Contois said seeing families overcome obstacles gives her a real sense of accomplishment. “We are able to help families advance and move forward toward success through all the services we provide,” she added. “We empower them, because many don’t think they can move past their situation.”
Contois is also dedicated to helping people outside of work. It’s been that way since she was a middle-school student and worked in the snack bar at Jewish Geriatric Services, where her great-grandparents lived. “I have always gained satisfaction knowing that I could make a difference in people’s lives,” she said.
Three years ago, through the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, she became a Big Sister to a 7-year-old girl named Haley, who needed a female role model. “I felt I could be a positive force in her life,” she said. They enjoy ice skating, movies, and, most of all, Red Sox games together.
Contois also plays tennis and golf and hits the ski slopes. But in every arena she enters, her winning spirit leads the way for others.
— Kathleen Mitchell

Donald Mitchell: 39

By
Donald Mitchell
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Founder and Executive Director, Western Mass. Development Collaborative

Donald Mitchell

Donald Mitchell

BusinessWest 40 Under Forty
Class of 2011
40 under Forty, Class, 2011, community, leaders, young, professionalThe most important thing in Donald Mitchell’s life is his family. The father of three daughters, ages 12, 9, and 5, lost his wife, Traci, to cancer two months ago, and says he wouldn’t be where he is today without her.
Providing for his family has always been important to Mitchell, and from 2000 to 2003 he was a budding entrepreneur with a cleaning business. Although it didn’t work out, the experience was valuable and planted the seed for the role the Western Mass. Development Collaborative plays today. The first is providing resources and support to small businesses, primarily in the construction field. The second is linking these small businesses with larger private and public entities in the community.
“They use us as a clearinghouse to find small-business contractors,” he explained. “One of their biggest problems is that they cannot find quality minority or women contractors, so we bring them together, making sure the small businesses have the capacity to do the job.”
Mitchell wants everyone to succeed, and says giving up is never an option. He has always worked with children, and became a Big Brother when he was still in college. He and Traci were also foster parents to more than 10 boys in a five-year period.
Mitchell was Big Brother Big Sister of the Year for Hampden County in 1997, plays an active role in Black Men of Greater Springfield, and is Polemarch of the Springfield Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
This winter, he coached his daughter’s basketball team for the first time, and the team earned a division championship. But wins and losses aren’t as important to him as serving as a good example to his children — and to small businesses, helping them gain the tools they need to become more competitive and successful.
“Nothing comes easy, but you have to work as hard as you can and never, ever give up,” Mitchell said. “If I can do that in my professional and personal life, hopefully it will soak into my children’s spirits. Quitting is just not an option.”
— Kathleen Mitchell

Michelle Cayo: 34

By
Michelle Cayo
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Loan Review Officer, Country Bank

Michelle Cayo

Michelle Cayo

Michelle Cayo says each of her mornings starts with a rigorous kickboxing workout. “They go about an hour,” she said. “I burn a lot of calories … it puts me in a really positive mood for the day.”
Which is good, because most of her days are long, crammed with challenging, rewarding work as loan review officer at Ware-based Country Bank; community involvement that ranges from service as a committee member for the Professional Women’s Chamber to mentoring of young women at the Mass. Career Development Institute; and a home life that centers around her husband, Ed, and son, Nicholas. And what she likes best is that each day is different — and fulfilling.
At Country Bank, her work centers around analyzing the risk in the institution’s commercial-loan portfolio and ensuring that factors are in place to mitigate the risk. She enjoys the diversity of her work, as well as the learning opportunities.
“I’m always learning something new, and it’s interesting to see what’s going on with the economy,” she said. “You can hear about it on the news, but to be hands-on and see directly what’s going on and how it affects businesses is very interesting. And no two businesses are alike, which makes this work intriguing.”
As for her work in the community, she said she has enjoyed working with others in the Women’s Professional Chamber (formerly the Women’s Partnership) to “ramp up” that organization, as she put it, and develop new and different ways to “empower young, career-oriented women to be leaders.” And she takes great satisfaction from her mentoring of young women, many of whom have seen life throw them some curveballs.
“These are women who would be considered non-traditional,” she explained. “They may have lost a job or been laid off, and now they’re coming back to school to try to get their lives back on track. I tell them that not everything comes easily, and that the most important part is to try hard, because it pays off, and that the trials and tribulations they’re experiencing are only going to make them stronger.”
— George O’Brien

Todd McGee: 39

By
Todd McGee
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Director of Estate and Business Planning, MassMutual Financial Group; City Councilor, City of Holyoke

Todd McGee

Todd McGee

Todd McGee loves tax law. “That,” he said, “makes me probably the most boring person you’ll ever meet.”
Well, no. But he admits his career choice surprised him.
McGee originally wanted to work in criminal law. As a law student at Western New England College, he was required to take one class in tax law — “I figured I’d get my D and get out of there,” he said — but his professor managed to make the subject so engaging that he took another. And another. “For whatever reason, I fell in love with taxes.”
He went on to earn a master’s degree in Taxation at Boston University and to work in business planning for law firms in Connecticut and Massachusetts, including Bacon Wilson in Springfield. “Then MassMutual came calling,” he said.
Constant changes in his field are part of what appeals to McGee. “With tax law, you have a set of rules, but those rules can be changed by a revised ruling, or something that comes from the IRS changing estate-tax laws. And everything you’ve done, now you have to go back and see if you have to fix it. It’s always changing. Law is never stagnant for me; it’s always something fresh.”
He’s also putting his law skills to use in public service, now in his third term as a Holyoke city councilor.
“I’ve always been involved in politics,” he said, noting that his father and grandfather were also politically active. So when the incumbent councilor from his ward didn’t seek re-election, McGee threw his hat in the ring. During his second term, he was asked, because of his background, to be chair of the council’s Finance Committee.
“It’s a great job because I know the area — I was born and raised here — and I love helping people,” said McGee, who can be seen on weekends volunteering as a basketball or soccer coach.
“I’m a guy who loves to get involved where I can,” he added. “When I was young, my family and my friends in my neighborhood took care of me. I want to give back for what they did for me.”
— Joseph Bednar

Nancy Buffone: 37

By
Nancy Buffone
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Executive Director of External Relations and University Events, UMass Amherst

Nancy Buffone

Nancy Buffone

Nancy Buffone likes to say that she owes a lot to UMass Amherst. She met her future husband, Mark, there, and has three degrees, including a master’s and a doctorate in education, from the university, which has also been her employer since she earned the first of those diplomas in 1995.
But to say that she’s repaid that debt would be a huge understatement.
Indeed, as executive director of External Relations and University Events, Buffone is playing a large role in improving the university’s relationship with Amherst and helping the school increase not only its visibility, but also its influence across the region.
In this job, she keeps one eye on the present — and initiatives such as the Gateway project, a joint economic-development initiative between the town and the university to develop a parcel on North Pleasant Street — and another on the future and events large and small.
Often that future is months down the road, with celebrations such as commencement, which Buffone has helped redesign into a two-day event, or Founders Day. But sometimes it’s years off, and milestones such as the school’s 150th anniversary, coming in 2013.
“We’ve already started planning for it, and the background research work began a while ago,” she said. “It’s going to be a fun year; we’re planning a lot of things and still working out many of the details.”
Buffone’s career at UMass started while she was still a student, in the provost’s office. A month after she graduated, her boss retired, and the provost hired her to fulfill some of that role. “I remember thinking, ‘this is great … I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life, so I’ll do this for a year until I figure things out.’ Soon, I’ll mark my 16th year — I love it.”
Her involvement in the community reflects her current job description — she’s on the steering committee of the Amherst Business Improvement District, a board member of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Amherst Future Committee.
She balances all that with work at home, and especially her two sons, Jack, 9, and Ben, 7.
— George O’Brien

Beth Vettori: 34

By
Beth Vettori
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Executive Director, Rockridge Retirement Community
Beth Vettori

Beth Vettori

Beth Vettori didn’t always plan to work in senior living. But her perspective changed while on vacation.
“My graduation gift from my parents was a trip to Switzerland with my grandmother, on a tour bus with other retirees,” she said. “Everyone was in their upper 60s, 70s, and 80s, and we toured Switzerland, Italy, and France. I bonded with the seniors without realizing it.”
After college, she went to work for Orchard Valley at Wilbraham and started up its Harbor program, an assisted-living neighborhood for elders with various types of memory impairment. “It was very challenging and a great experience to put that together,” she said. “It’s a great, caring atmosphere.”
She was later hired by Rockridge Retirement Community in Northampton and was promoted to executive director at age 27. At the time, the community had an operating deficit of nearly $1 million, but she led a restructuring effort to bring it to profitability within two years.
“My task is running the campus, so I oversee all the operations,” she said, noting that she especially enjoys the contact with both employees and residents. “It’s challenging, but it’s exciting. There are some great, great people who live here and work here with me.”
For her work at Rockridge — including opening its 42-unit assisted-living community and its memory-support neighborhood before being named executive director — Vettori earned the Emerging Leader Award from MassAging in 2010.
“While the [restructuring] task was difficult, especially for a young, new executive director,” said Paul Hollings, chairman of the MassAging board, “Beth pulled it off with grace and dignity and made everyone feel positive about the changes.”
In her spare time, she stays active with several nonprofits, including Steph’s Wild Ride, an organization launched five years ago to assist children with cancer; it was named after Vettori’s cousin, who died of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 21. “I want to help other local families by providing children with funds and gift cards, things that can really help them out,” she said.
It’s just one more way Vettori is helping to improve lives — both young and old.
— Joseph Bednar

Joan Maylor: 39

By
Joan Maylor
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Manager, Stop & Shop

Joan Maylor

Joan Maylor

Joan Maylor used a picture of her parents in her 40 Under Forty portrait because, she said, “they truly represent who I am today.”
She recalled something her father always told her. “Once a task is begun, never leave it until it is done. Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all.”
Well, Maylor certainly has lived up to that. She started her career with Stop & Shop as a bagger 21 years ago, “then worked every single department throughout the stores, through three levels of management, to the position I’m in now as store manager.”
When she started out in her entry-level position, she didn’t see supermarket work as a long-term career. But, she said, as she continued to grow and mature, she saw the many opportunities that can come to someone who sets her mind on a goal and works hard to achieve it.
Maylor is active in her church and, through her faith, committed to being a role model for younger generations. “I see that the young people these days can have trouble with focus or have a lack of purpose,” she said, “and I believe that, if I can show them how I grew up and became who I am, they can see possibilities.
“I’m hoping, through my position as store manager, that I can reach out to the community and get them interested in working in my field,” she told BusinessWest, “so they can see that there’s more to grocery stores than just stocking shelves.”
There were people at every stage of her career at Stop & Shop who would act as mentors, “teaching me what I didn’t know, but also what I needed to move on to the next step,” she said. “I still talk about all of them, and they have each given me a piece of who I am today.”
For Maylor, that’s what is most important, for her nieces and nephews and all the youths she works with: to help them understand, she said, “and to get the word out that you can make it.”
— Dan Chase

Monica Borgatti: 33

By
Monica Borgatti
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Resource Development Director, Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity

Monica Borgatti

Monica Borgatti

On her climb to the top, Monica Borgatti said she was left gasping for breath. That is, as a volunteer for the American Lung Assoc. (ALA) Fight for Air climb held in the stairwells at Monarch Place, where she has been a fund-raising tour de force in the last three years.
Since earning a bachelor’s degree from Bay Path, Borgatti has worn many hats — she has licenses in auctioneering and real estate, and worked for a heating and cooling company. “I’ve even worked in a hotel and coffee shop,” she said.
But, she added, “none of those things were calling out to me, telling me what I needed to be doing. It was always working for someone else, making money for someone else, and it never felt amazing.
“I’ve got a pretty loud voice, and I’m fairly outgoing. I have strong opinions, and I’m not afraid to fight for what I think is right,” she continued. To channel that voice in the working world meant a return to her alma mater, where she finished a master’s degree in nonprofit management and philanthropy in 2010.
In the months since then, she has quickly proven herself an invaluable asset to the regional chapter of Habitat for Humanity. “When people ask me what I do for work,” she said, “often I see them recoil — like they’re thinking, ‘you ask people for money?’
“But it’s more an opportunity to have people give their philanthropic dollars in a meaningful way for them,” she explained. “At Habitat, we can offer those people a hand up to achieve something better for themselves. We all share this community, and we need to do the best we can to make it welcoming and healthy, to make it a good place for everyone.”
And with her team at the ALA, the Little Engines, Borgatti has been helping to raise awareness and funds for lung cancer. With her team of no more than four other volunteers and 24 flights, they have raised more per capita in the last two years than any of their fellow climbers — one step at a time.
— Dan Chase

Michael Vedovelli: 37

By
Michael Vedovelli
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Regional Director, Mass. Office of Business Development

Michael Vedovelli

Michael Vedovelli

Mike Vedovelli draws a number of parallels between coaching basketball, which he’s done at both Cathedral and Agawam high schools, and his day job as regional director of the Mass. Office of Business Development.
“It’s all about relationships,” he said. “Both provide different situations, different scenarios, each day, and you have to respond. In coaching, you’re put in some difficult situations where you have a kid who’s trying really hard and giving to the best of his ability, but not able to really compete; you have to explain why he’s not playing, but that he’s still part of a team. It’s similar with businesses: they’re coming to you asking for the sky, and you can only realistically give them so much.”
Vedovelli’s had considerable success on the court — Cathedral teams he served as assistant coach won four Western Mass. championships in six years, and two of his Agawam teams won sportsmanship awards — and within the broad realm of state-supported economic development. Indeed, he’s had his picture in several press outlets, including BusinessWest, for his work helping companies such as Titeflex and Smith & Wesson, both in Springfield, gain the state and local support needed to expand. But ultimate success isn’t measured in photo ops, but rather with jobs created or retained, he said, adding that the number was 225 with Smith & Wesson and more than 100 with Titeflex.
What he likes best about his work is the diversity. “Every day is different; one day I’m dealing with a tiny manufacturing company in Conway, a nine-person operation that’s going to create two jobs, and the town is going crazy because they think it’s great, and the company is very excited because it thinks this will open doors to new business. The next day I’m dealing with a Fortune 25 company that could potentially add 100 new jobs.”
The hardest parts of this job, he continued, are managing the expectations of those seeking help, and saying no, which he has to do on many occasions.
Vedovelli is married to Sarah, and has two sons, Cameron, 6, and Ryan, 4.
— George O’Brien

Jason Mark: 39

By
Jason Mark
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Co-founder, Chief Strategist, and Creative Lead, Gravity Switch

Jason Mark

Jason Mark

In 1996, Jason Mark was a teacher. His future wife, Christine, worked for Microsoft, and another friend was making video games for Fisher Price and Nickelodeon. Together, they decided they’d rather work for themselves.
“We pooled our resources and decided we didn’t want to deal with bureaucracy,” Mark said of the origins of Northampton-based Web-development firm Gravity Switch. “It’s been a learning experience.”
The company, named after a Shel Silverstein poem — appropriate, since Mark has gone on to write two children’s books — at first concentrated mainly on animation and CD-ROM development, but quickly evolved to become one of the region’s most notable Web-design firms. “We’re on the forefront of defining what it means to develop a successful Web project,” Mark said. “And it’s been a really exciting time; over the past four years technology has taken a big jump.”
Gravity Switch has contributed its own advances, from creating the iBracket — used by hotels, museums, retail outlets, and others to securely lock an iPad in a public location — to developing Blitz Build, a patent-pending process that dramatically cuts the time required to create a Web site, thereby minimizing client time and expenses.
But Mark and his team have also been at the forefront of socially conscious business practices in the Valley, donating 15% of the company’s annual profits to various local and national charities.
“As a community member, that’s what life is all about,” he said. “You have to look at priorities; work is important, but you have to do stuff you believe in, and to give back in any way you can. That’s something that’s always been important to us.”
Gravity Switch is environmentally aware, too, with about 25% of its staff (including Mark) bicycling to work every day and about half carpooling. It’s another way he and his team live what they believe while doing what they love.
“As a business owner, you want to be around people who are inspiring, and we inspire each other,” he said. I’m a big believer in doing what you like. You have to follow your passion.”
— Joseph Bednar

Delania Barbee: 23

By
Delania Barbee
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Community Engagement Coordinator, ACCESS Springfield Promise Program

Delania Barbee

Delania Barbee

Growing up in Springfield gave Delania Barbee the realization of how her professional life would be dedicated. “We can’t strengthen a community unless we can strengthen the young people and our young adults,” she said.
With the wisdom of someone decades older than she, Barbee said her life has been about breaking through polarizing statistics. One of the most important of those distinctions, she said, was graduating from Smith College cum laude, on the same timetable as her peers — as a single mother.
After college, she was one of the pioneering members of her hometown’s ACCESS program, an organization committed to helping students in need find ways to matriculate into higher education. The program was the first of its kind outside Boston, and Barbee was instrumental in tailoring this outfit for Springfield.
“Financial barriers are one of the main reasons why people don’t go to school,” she explained, “and my role is to meet people in the community wherever they are, to help them with those barriers.”
Working with the city’s financial-aid advisors, Barbee is doing her part to help break another statistic — the current graduation rate of 53%.
But there’s even more work to be done, she said. “While we don’t have an educated workforce the way other communities do, I want to make sure that people can work in the communities where they live.”
To that end, Barbee has set her sights on law school, so that she can better help people through the process of starting businesses in Springfield —  “not just as an attorney,” she said, “but as a counselor for them.”
Add to her goals the book she’s working on about hip-hop culture and black feminism, and it’s safe to say that Barbee will be making a change in her community for many years to come. “By raising the economic and educational qualities in Springfield,” she said, “this will add to the proud history that we have here.”
And for this local hero, that’s a pretty good rap.
— Dan Chase

Timothy Van Epps: 37

By
Tim Van Epps
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
President, the Sandri Companies

Tim Van Epps

Tim Van Epps

Tim Van Epps remembers the conversation vividly.
It was Christmas night, 2004. He was enjoying a single-malt scotch with his father-in-law, W.A. (Bill) Sandri, when the conversation turned in a direction he wasn’t expecting. “He asked me if I would be interested in coming to his office, taking a look at the family business [the Sandri Companies], and giving my opinion on things. That was the first time he had ever raised the subject.”
And thus began more conversations — and some hard vetting on the part of company executives — that would eventually prompt Van Epps to leave a lucrative job as a portfolio manager for Sovereign Bank and take the helm at one of Franklin County’s largest employers, a deeply diversified, $200 million company involved in everything from gas stations (116 of them under the Sunoco flag) to photovoltaic installations; from a host of clean-energy ventures to three semi-private, high-end golf courses.
It is Van Epps’ goal to continue this diversification, thus further expanding a company currently boasting 500 employees — and counting. “Right now, we can’t build office space fast enough for new people.”
Many of these employees wouldn’t know Van Epps by face, which is good because he likes to pop into his gas station/convenience stores and other businesses while on the road in a form of Undercover Boss work that, he said, keeps him in touch with things happening on the ground.
While working to continually expand the family business, Van Epps is also busy within the community. He’s on the board at Franklin Medical Center and the Greenfield Community College Foundation, and is a member of the Western Mass. Chapter of the Young President’s Organization. He’s also a big supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters, for which he helps organize a golf tournament that has become a key fund-raiser.
Meanwhile he travels extensively with his wife, Wendy, and children, Aiden, Aaron, and Ashley — Singapore was one recent destination — leaving Van Epps with little time for golf on his company’s courses, including Crumpin-Fox in Bernardston.
Which, at this moment, is his only regret.
— George O’Brien

Kelly Koch: 36

By
Kelly Koch
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Attorney, Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP

Kelly Koch

Kelly Koch

While recognition as part of the 40 Under Forty might be the latest addition to Kelly Koch’s trophy case, it certainly isn’t the first.
She laughed when describing the three things that she really wanted to do when she graduated from college. “I wanted to do sports TV, I wanted to teach — that was one of my minors — and at some point I wanted to do something with law. I’ll admit that I wasn’t really mature enough to do the last one, so I figured the sports route would be the best first choice.”
Apparently, it was.
While working at ESPN for nine years, she produced features for SportsCenter and worked on various documentaries. For her efforts, she won a CableACE Award and a Sports Emmy. While at ESPN, she coached and taught at a high school in Connecticut, but there was still that last goal to fulfill.
“I thought that a good time for a career change was right around when I turned 30,” she explained, “and when I was in law school at Western New England College, I had the luxury of getting involved in a lot of student activities.” That’s how she modestly described her role as president of the Student Bar Assoc. and winning the prestigious Dean’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Law School.
While the list of her successes sets Koch apart from the crowd, there is one award that doesn’t come with a statuette, yet it’s the one for which is most proud. For the past four years, she has been a Big Sister to a girl named Chelsea.
“After I took the bar and got settled,” she said, “I went over and signed up at Big Brothers Big Sisters. I wanted to have the interaction with a kid who needed someone to help with homework, or just to play sports with.
“She’s grown up to be a part of my family, and I’ve become part of theirs,” Koch continued, adding that this partnership has proven to be what she calls a “perfect match for both of us.”
— Dan Chase

Briony Angus: 35

By
Briony Angus
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Project Manager, Tighe & Bond

Briony Angus

Briony Angus

Briony Angus admits to being a bit of a policy wonk when it comes to land use and the environment.
“I’ve always been interested in environmental issues,” said Angus, who started her career in the public sector, including a stint as a Mass. Environmental Policy Act analyst for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
“I like law and regulations, and I liked administering laws and regulations and enforcing laws and regulations,” she said. “Now, at Tighe & Bond, I’m happy to be working on the other side of the table.”
Her interest in land-use planning started in graduate school; “I got a lot of very interesting work opportunities and internships that jump-started me into the field,” Angus said. Today, her role is equally varied. “I do an enormous amount of different things and wear a number of hats; it’s a pretty diverse work experience.”
Most notably, Angus is what Tighe & Bond calls its “wind-energy champion,” and is heavily involved in growing the firm’s renewable-energy market. She manages several wind-energy projects underway at the firm, including Holyoke Gas & Electric’s plans to develop a renewable-energy project on Mt. Tom, and she frequently provides expert guidance to clients on regulatory, technical, policy, and financing issues related to such efforts.
“My earliest start in the energy field came from when I did greenhouse-gas-emissions inventories for a couple of New England municipalities,” she said, “and there has always been an energy-efficiency or clean-energy focus to my professional career.”
Angus says she has been continually inspired by her mentors — “I’ve always been very lucky to have extraordinary bosses my entire career” — and is proud to be keying innovative projects at her firm during its centennial year.
“I’m excited to be helping the team expand into new areas like renewable energy,” she said. “The fact that Tighe & Bond is interested in developing these new services is a testament to how successful it’s been over the past 100 years. And it’s personally fulfilling to know that I’m at least getting people to think about their energy choices.”
— Joseph Bednar

Jeffrey Trant: 27

By
Jeffrey Trant
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Program Manager, Human Resources Unlimited, Lighthouse

Jeffrey Trant

Jeffrey Trant

It’s called the HRU Café. That’s the name given to a new venture, a unique start-up business located at the Springfield Jewish Community Center (JCC) that brings together most of Jeff Trant’s passions under one roof, or operation.
These include social work, which he’s been doing virtually all his life — currently as director of a facility called Lighthouse, a community rehabilitation and employment organization managed by Human Resources Unlimited (the HRU part of that name) — and also business, or, in this case, the all-important business side of nonprofit management.
And then, there’s the coffee. “That’s been a serious vice since grad school,” he said.
The café, open since Valentine’s Day, employs disabled and disadvantaged adults and thus brings awareness to the large and diverse JCC community about the abilities of all people, disabled or otherwise, said Trant. Doing this, and hopefully breaking even financially, he said, helps explain what he means when he says he’s “an untraditional social worker.”
“When you have the credentials I have, you’re automatically sort of put in this box — when people hear the words ‘social worker,’ they assume you do one of two things, that you do child-protective services, meaning you take kids who are abused or neglected away from families, or you do psychotherapy with people. I do neither. What I do is very important work — it’s working with folks who don’t have a voice and helping them get one. That cuts across all facets of society, and it’s all about building stronger communities.”
Through Trant’s leadership, Springfield-based Lighthouse, which he took over in 2008, has undergone a successful restructuring, and now serves more than 500 men and women recovering from the effects of mental illness.
Trant’s only passion not represented by the café is golf, which he calls the “great equalizer,” and a way to “decompress” from his hard and often trying work at HRU, trying to give his clients a voice.
Trant credits his wife, Rachel, with helping him find a balance between work, life, golf, and coffee.
— George O’Brien

Sean Hemingway: 35

By
Sean Hemingway
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Program Director, Center for Human Development

Sean Hemingway

Sean Hemingway

Sean Hemingway is striving for balance. He directs the Center for Human Development’s Assessment and Juvenile Justice Support programs at the DYS Westfield Youth Service Center, and has been raising three children with his wife while climbing CHD’s ladder of success and working actively in the community. “It’s a struggle not to be all things to everyone,” he said.
When Hemingway was in college, he was hired as a part-time maintenance man at CHD’s Assessment Program. The job gave birth to his career, and he became passionate about working to improve the lives of young people. He wrote a paper titled A Janitor’s Journey Through the Justice System before graduating from UMass with a degree in mental-health studies and at-risk youth.
Hemingway spent his early years at CHD working with young males, but soon rose to the position of assistant program director of CHD’s Terri Thomas Girls Program. He said it was a “monumental life-learning experience, as they were in a [detention] system developed and designed for boys,” adding that their situation really hit home after his daughter was born.
Fifteen years later, he now directs the program for teenage boys and has come full circle.
“These teens have had very challenging, abusive, and neglectful lives,” he said. “Our ultimate goal is to give them tools so they can make better choices. I am working to enact positive change in the young men so when they are released, they don’t reoffend in the same neighborhood situations.”
This juvenile-justice expert and certified instructor in non-violent intervention gives frequent lectures and belongs to several professional groups. To be successful in many arenas involves balance, and Hemingway directs his 53 staff members to do their best for the young people they serve as well as for themselves. “I am passionate about this work, but we need a work/life balance so we don’t burn out,” he said. “It’s a team effort.”
And one that requires stability — for both the staff and the teens they serve — on and off the most difficult playing fields of life.
— Kathleen Mitchell

Gianna Allentuck: 39

By
Gianna Allentuck
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Adjustment Counselor, Elias Brookings E.L. Museum Magnet School

Gianna Allentuck

Gianna Allentuck

Gianna Allentuck says her life and work have a number of focal points.
But they are all intertwined, and the common denominator is hope. “The way to get to it is by connecting within the community and supporting one another,” she said.
Her parents were both educators, her family is close, and she believes everyone deserves to have a good life. “I’ve been blessed, and that is part of what inspires and motivates me,” she said. “The people in my life always inspired teamwork, support, and dedication to each other and their craft.”
Allentuck spent several years working in Washington, D.C. as a nanny. After leaving the position, she was hired by a law firm, but three weeks into the job she was diagnosed with cancer. Her co-workers immediately joined together to support her.
“They went into action and called major cancer-treatment centers to get me the best care possible,” she said, adding that the love and care she received during her treatment at the National Institutes of Health led her to write a book titled Welcome to My Heart, which was used to raise $40,000 for the Children’s Inn for seriously ill children and their families.
Allentuck returned to Western Mass. in 2006 and began working at Brookings School. Since then, she has created “A Neutral Corner,” a youth boxing program; been a co-creator and coordinator of a Peace through Education, Acceptance, Courage, and Expression (PEACE) hip-hop poetry program; and founded the annual United in Hope event that brings community members together around issues of education and peace.
She writes for the African American Point of View, and has taken an active role with many other organizations, notably the Mayor’s Citywide Violence Prevention Task Force.
“I work with people of all ages, from preschoolers to adult community members,” she said. “Our cities, schools, and communities need a lot of help. We need to get back to where neighbors help neighbors. If we connect the dots and support each other, then hope is possible.”
And that’s where it all begins for Allentuck — straight from the heart.
— Kathleen Mitchell

Jeremy Procon

By
40 Under 40 The Class of 2011
Age 34: Owner, Interstate Towing Inc.

Jeremy Procon was working for a towing company in Chicopee, but wanted to try something new. So he and his wife moved to Maine, but came back to Massachusetts, and his old job, after only a year. He still wasn’t happy.

“So we compiled some savings and bought a flatbed towtruck for $13,000,” he said. “We were living in a duplex in Chicopee and started a business out of our basement.” That was in 1999. “We immediately took on a AAA contract with just one truck; that gave us enough traction to buy another flatbed,” Procon recalled. “From that point, we took on more territory, and hired our first employee in 2000.” Today, Interstate Towing boasts a fleet of more than 20 vehicles — from wreckers and flatbeds to a 60-ton rotator crane — and 29 employees. “I have a really good group of people who have been here a long time, and I can only attribute the success of the company to my employees,” he said.

“It’s a tough job.” It’s also a diverse one, said Procon, who was determined to avoid a monotonous career like that of his father, who worked in a factory doing the same tasks every day for 30 years. “We could be changing the tire of a AAA member one day and rolling over a tractor-trailer for the state police the next day — or, I should say, the next hour. We move different pieces of equipment, do a ton of accidents, a ton of service calls … every day is different, and every day is a new challenge.” Each day also brings opportunities for civic involvement, too.

Among his many efforts, Procon is vice president of the Chicopee St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, which raises thousands of dollars for scholarships and nonprofits, and organized the first annual Statewide Towing Assoc. Golf Outing, which collected more than $6,000 for Baystate Children’s Hospital last year; his goal for 2011 is $10,000.

“I like doing these things,” Procon said. “I do it for others, absolutely, but it’s more selfish than anything. I just enjoy it.”

— Joseph Bednar

The Suspense is Building

By
40 Under 40
The 40 Under Forty Class of 2011 Will Soon Be Unveiled

40 Under Forty
The newest members of what has become a fairly exclusive club in Western Mass. — the ranks of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty honorees — have long known of their presence on that honor roll.
And soon, the region will know as well.
Indeed, the winners will be profiled in the magazine’s April 25 edition, a large, very special volume that has become must reading and a springtime tradition in the Pioneer Valley.
Another growing tradition is the annual 40 Under Forty Gala, this year slated for June 23 at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke. It begins at 5:30 p.m. and will feature lavish food stations, circulating hors d’ouevres, and, of course, the presentation of the winners, each introduced to his or her own chosen theme song.
The Class of 2011 is, like the groups before it, diverse and quite inspirational, said BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien.
“As you read the nomination forms for these individuals and then talk with them in person, you’re struck by just how much young talent there is in the region,” said O’Brien, noting that there were more than 100 individuals nominated, with five judges awarding them scores ranging from 1 to 10 based on a combination of business accomplishments, contributions to the community, entrepreneurial spirit, and what he called “intangibles.”
“The Class of 2011, like the ones before it, represents an intriguing mix of individuals,” said O’Brien, trying hard not to reveal too much about the newest group. “Together, they show the many ways in which one can stand out and be considered a rising star in the local business community.
“There are a number of entrepreneurs across several business sectors,” he continued. “And there are several business administrators and professionals, including lawyers, bankers, and sales representatives, working for some of the leading firms in the area. There are also several nonprofit managers and administrators who are playing key roles in helping their organizations improve quality of life for everyone in Western Mass.
“And … there are a few surprises,” he went on, adding that the April 25 issue will be interesting reading for everyone who subscribes to BusinessWest.
Tickets are now on sale for the 40 Under Forty Gala. The cost is $60 per person , with tables of 10 available. To order tickets or for more information, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit www.businesswest.com.

Mary Fallon

By
40 Under 40 The Class of 2010
Media Director, Garvey Communication Associates Inc. Age: 26

As she talked with BusinessWest for this profile, Mary Fallon was thinking about what she might do on her first real outing with Lashanna, her first ‘little sister,’ whom she had just met through Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The list of options — which includes hiking, playing soccer or basketball, shopping, or dog-walking, among others — reveals just some of the things Fallon enjoys when she’s not working as media director for Springfield-based Garvey Communication Associates. Especially the dog-walking part.

Fallon counts her 95-pound weimaraner, Riley, as her best friend. “We do everything together,” she said, noting that the two walk her neighborhood in Springfield for at least an hour a day, more on weekends. Lashanna is apparently a dog lover, so the two should hit it off.

Her current involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters is the latest example of how Fallon mixes her job responsibilities — which include public relations, media buying, and social media — with civic involvement. A veteran Facebook user, she is also adept in applying Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn, among other vehicles, and is becoming well-known and regarded as a social-media expert. “I do a little bit of everything,” she said, “which makes each day different and my job challenging, but also fun.”

In the community, Fallon has donated time, energy, and expertise to several organizations and causes. She helped lead efforts to collect personal care and clothing items for the homeless for St. Francis Chapel, a downtown Springfield shelter. She recorded a radio public-service announcement, used social-media channels to build awareness of what the chapel was doing, and coordinated media coverage to further spread the word. Fallon is also a volunteer and presenter for Media and Marketing for Middle School, a vocational mentoring program at the Zanetti School in Springfield.

When asked where her career might take her, Fallon said she has yet to think that through. For now, she’s focused on what she and Lashanna might do next weekend, and what route the next walk with Riley might take.
—George O’Brien

Lindsay Porter

By
40 Under 40 The Class of 2010
Age 28: Leadership and Development Specialist, Big Y Foods

Lindsay Porter says the new title on her business card reveals quite a bit more about what she does than her old one.

‘Leadership and development specialist’ has replaced ‘employment specialist,’ she said, in a move that is part of a restructuring at Big Y Foods, but also an attempt to better explain Porter’s role — both within the company and also with some of its programs in the community.

Porter handles recruiting and hiring duties for Big Y, as well as other employment responsibilities, but she also coordinates leadership and development programs for store managers.

Meanwhile, Porter is heavily involved with the Springfield Work Scholarship Connection program as one of the company’s management representatives. The initiative helps 40 selected students at Sci-Tech High School in Springfield stay in school and graduate by having youth advocates work with them at school, home, and work. Participants are then eligible for hire by Big Y upon graduation if certain criteria are met.

“We work with the students to help build self-esteem and develop the skills and values needed to get and keep a job; it’s in everyone’s best interest that we do something to help students graduate,” she said, adding that it is Big Y’s desire to expand the program to other schools and communities.

In addition to her duties with Springfield Work Scholarship Connection, Porter gives back to the community in a number of other ways. She’s on the board of the Human Resource Management Assoc. of Western New England, and also on the senior HR roundtable with the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., the youth council of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, the Business Advisory Council of Community Enterprises, and the Mass.

Rehabilitation Commission Business Advisory Council, among others. She’s also on the membership and arts committees of the Young Professional Society of Western Mass. and the Women’s Leadership Network of Western Mass., which has, as its mission, the advancement of women of all ages and ability.

Considering all this, Porter’s new title fits her perfectly.

—George O’Brien

Mary Fallon

By
40 Under 40 The Class of 2010
Age 26: Media Director, Garvey Communication Associates Inc.

As she talked with BusinessWest for this profile, Mary Fallon was thinking about what she might do on her first real outing with Lashanna, her first ‘little sister,’ whom she had just met through Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The list of options — which includes hiking, playing soccer or basketball, shopping, or dog-walking, among others — reveals just some of the things Fallon enjoys when she’s not working as media director for Springfield-based Garvey Communication Associates. Especially the dog-walking part. Fallon counts her 95-pound weimaraner, Riley, as her best friend.

“We do everything together,” she said, noting that the two walk her neighborhood in Springfield for at least an hour a day, more on weekends. Lashanna is apparently a dog lover, so the two should hit it off. Her current involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters is the latest example of how Fallon mixes her job responsibilities — which include public relations, media buying, and social media — with civic involvement.

A veteran Facebook user, she is also adept in applying Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn, among other vehicles, and is becoming well-known and regarded as a social-media expert. “I do a little bit of everything,” she said, “which makes each day different and my job challenging, but also fun.”

In the community, Fallon has donated time, energy, and expertise to several organizations and causes. She helped lead efforts to collect personal care and clothing items for the homeless for St. Francis Chapel, a downtown Springfield shelter. She recorded a radio public-service announcement, used social-media channels to build awareness of what the chapel was doing, and coordinated media coverage to further spread the word.

Fallon is also a volunteer and presenter for Media and Marketing for Middle School, a vocational mentoring program at the Zanetti School in Springfield. When asked where her career might take her, Fallon said she has yet to think that through. For now, she’s focused on what she and Lashanna might do next weekend, and what route the next walk with Riley might take.

—George O’Brien

Allen Harris

By
40 Under 40 The Class of 2010
Age 37: President and CIO, Berkshire Money Management Inc.

There are many in Berkshire County who are thankful for Allen Harris’ support; most have two legs, but others have four.

At the February Berkshire Job Summit, 200 of the county’s largest and most ambitious employers met to hear Berkshire Money Management’s thoughts — and, specifically, Harris’ — on how they can invest in themselves. “It’s OK to go ahead and start investing in your business,” he told attendees. “Hire that new employee, buy that new piece of equipment, if that’s what will grow your business. While others are hesitant in the marketplace, now is the time to act on some opportunities, instead of waiting too long for those opportunities to pass by.”

It was a hard, direct message in a fearful economy, and by any account, sage advice for all those in attendance. But there is one group that benefits from Harris’ expertise on a daily basis who couldn’t even get in the door that day.

His wife, Stacey Carver, is the president of the New England Basset Hound Rescue, and by extension, he said, “I’m co-president. She holds the title, and I volunteer alongside her.”

Such is the commitment from this avowed animal lover that when BMM opened its new headquarters a few months ago, the site was chosen for its adjacent vacant lot. “We also bought that to put in a playpen of sorts for the dogs,” he said.

“They come to the office and hang out with us.”

A dog’s life, indeed. With close to $240 million under management, BMM is doing quite well. Harris explained that market advice isn’t a commodity — clearly there are winners and losers.

Squarely in that former camp, Harris said that, with his current employee base, he can double his operations without stretching the business. “So that’s our first goal.” But, the animal lover in him asked to end his profile with the same sign-off from his weekly radio program. Attaching equal importance to $240 million in investment management, he said, “don’t forget to spay or neuter your pets.”

—Dan Chase

Lorenzo Gaines

By
40 Under 40 The Class of 2010
Age 39: Program Director, ACCESS Springfield Promise Program

Lorenzo Gaines is certainly proud of his 40 Under Forty plaque, but he has a far bigger prize in mind — an Academy Award. And not just any Oscar, mind you, but Best Picture.

He knows that’s a very lofty ambition, but he’s not going to even consider the sentiment that his goal is unrealistic or out of reach. That’s because his day job boils down to help convincing young people that nothing — especially a college education — is beyond their grasp.

That’s the unofficial job description Gaines has as program director for the ACCESS Springfield Promise Program, which provides access to post-secondary opportunities for high-school students in Springfield with Last Dollar Scholarships and information. Its mission? ‘We imagine a day when every young person reaches their full potential by graduating from college regardless of their family’s financial capacity or college experience.’

“That pretty much says it all,” Gaines noted, adding that so does the name he gave to his boutique film-production company: No Sleep Productions.

Gaines has long been involved with film, and as a student at Columbia, his ‘short,’ as they’re called, won the Hallmark Entertainment Producer Development Award, the most prestigious honor for that realm at the school.

Currently, he’s working on a few scripts that he hopes to turn into successful productions. One is a documentary on fathers that’s been in progress for several years now, and the other is a feature film on the life and death of Len Bias, the University of Maryland basketball star who died a day after being drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1986 due to cocaine intoxication.

“That’s when the war on drugs was declared and crack was considered an epidemic,” said Gaines, speaking of the historical significance of Bias’s death, but adding quickly that there was and is a personal element to the tragedy. “That was a watershed in my life; it was like the shot heard ’round the world.

“I believe film can be used as a catalyst to change people’s lives,” Gaines continued, meaning his own, as well.

—George O’Brien

Daniel Finn

By
40 Under 40 The Class of 2010
Age 39: Executive Director and Organizer, Pioneer Valley Local First

Daniel Finn never forgot a language lesson from high school.

“I remember learning that the words ecology and economy share the same root word, ‘eco,’ meaning ‘home’” — a fact that helped him see the connection between taking care of both the economy and the planet.

Finn eventually found a way to meld those concepts, launching Pioneer Valley Local First in 2001. The group promotes buying local by emphasizing both the economic benefits of keeping dollars in the region and the lessened environmental impact of doing so.

“We want people to think local first,” he said — and that means looking beyond the price tag at the overall prosperity and self-sufficiency of the region. “Shopping locally makes a lot of sense. We want people to see that it’s in their enlightened self-interest to support businesses here in Western Mass.”

One major accomplishment was the creation of the Pioneer Valley Local Business Guide, a detailed, categorized listing of area businesses that have aligned themselves with the organization’s mission.

Meanwhile, Finn has worked for 13 years as an employment specialist with Riverside Industries, helping people with disabilities develop life skills and procure jobs. He and a client with Down syndrome recently cleaned up a bike path from Amherst through Hadley, Northampton, and Florence, removing more than 1,000 pounds of trash from the path and the surrounding woods.

“If we take care of our home, it’ll take care of us,” he said. “If we don’t take care of our home, watch out.”

Again, it’s that concept of home that helps him bridge a perception gap between the environment and economic growth.

“When I explain this to my environmental friends,” Finn said, “they appreciate business more, and when I say it to business-minded people, it helps them to understand the importance of taking care of our air and water, and having a stable climate.

“We can have great businesses and a beautiful environment,” he continued. “You don’t have to give up one to have the other.”

—Joseph Bednar

The Class of 2010

By
The Class of 2010
40 Under 40 The Class of 2010
This Diverse Group Is a Breed or Several Breeds Apart

The Class of 2010

You could call this a good dog-gone class of 40 Under Forty winners.

Canines are dominant in this year’s photographs, with several breeds, including the basset hound, weimaraner, and rottweiler, among others, represented (apparently cats don’t sit still for this kind of thing). There’s even a cartoon dog that has become a company’s logo. But members of this class are much more than animal lovers — although that’s a good start.

They’re also successful in business and contributors within the community, helping those with two legs as well as four. And, like the three that came before it, the class of 2010 is diverse, with a number of business groups and nonprofit agencies represented. There are entrepreneurs as well, with members starting businesses in the high-tech sector, marketing and public relations, and even motion pictures.

This year’s class has several lawyers, accountants, and bankers, as in previous years, but it also has managers of nonprofits ranging from Springfield School Volunteers to the United Way to Big Brothers Big Sisters. And the contributions within the community are diverse as well, from work (if you call running work) to raise funds for the Jimmy Fund to efforts on behalf of Habitat to Humanity, to initiatives to rescue basset hounds.

Overall, this is an inspiring class, perhaps best exemplified by the story of Nancy Bazanchuk (page A4), this year’s highest scorer. Born with a congenital condition that required the amputation of both legs above her knee, she is now program director of Disability Resources for the Center for Human Development. In that role, she has grown the department exponentially over the past 13 years, and today empowers people with physical disabilities through participation in a number of different sports.

There are a number of stories like Bazanchuk’s over the next 30 or so pages. They involve people who were inspired, and are now inspiring others. People like Natasha Clark, who was reminded daily by her father about the importance of reading and learning. He didn’t live to see her become a respected journalist and, now, program manager for Springfield School Volunteers, but he’s always been a force in her life. Or people like Jill Monson, who says she learned from the death of her mother that one never knows how much time they have, so they have to make the most of each day. She does, and she named the business she started after her mother — sort of. It’s called Inspired Marketing & Promotions because her mother inspired her to start it.

So here are the stories of the class of 2010, and, in many cases, their dogs as well. Read, and become inspired along with us. — George O’Brien

2010
40 Under Forty Winners:
Nancy Bazanchuk David Beturne Raymond Berry Jr.
Maegan Brooks Karen Buell Shanna Burke
Damon Cartelli Daniel Finn Natasha Clark
Julie Cowan Karen Curran Adam Epstein
James
Krupienski		 Susan Mielnikowski Owen Freeman-Daniels
Lorenzo Gaines Thomas Galanis Anthony Gleason II
Allen Harris Meghan Hibner Amanda Huston
Kimberly Klimczuk Mary Fallon David Kutcher
James Leahy Kristin Leutz Meghan Lynch
Brady Chianciola Jill Monson Kevin Perrier
Lindsay Porter Brandon Reed Boris Revsin
Aaron Vega Ian Vukovich Thomas Walsh
Sean Wandrei Byron White Chester Wojcik
Peter Zurlino

Meet Our Judges

This year’s nominations were scored by a panel of five judges, who took on the daunting task of reviewing more than 100 nomination forms and choosing 40 winners from that impressive pool.

BusinessWest would like to thank these outstanding members of the Western Mass. business community for volunteering their time to the fourth annual 40 Under Forty competition. They are:

Denise Dukette, associate director of the Western Mass. Enterprise Fund, who serves as director of lending and head of operations for that organization, a nonprofit community-loan fund that works with banks and other lenders to enable financing for businesses that would otherwise not qualify.

Ronn Johnson, president of R.D. Johnson Consulting in Springfield, which specializes in strategic planning and organizational development. Formerly, he served as director of Community Responsibility for MassMutual.

Kathy LeMay, owner and founder of Raising Change, a Florence-based company focused on building bridges between philanthropists and nonprofits. The highest scorer among the 40 Under Forty Class of 2009, she recently completed a book titled The Generosity Plan.

Jeff McCormick, a partner with the Springfield-based law firm Robinson Donovan, and one of the region’s preeminent trial lawyers. He specializes in business litigation, personal-injury law, federal litigation, professional-malpractice law, and legal ethics.

Marla Michel, executive director of Strategic Communications and Outreach at UMass Amherst. In this recently created role, she will help lead efforts to build awareness and understanding of research and scholarly accomplishments among internal and external constituents and to expand the university’s role in local and regional innovation. Previously, she served as director of Research Liaison and Development.

David Beturne

By
40 Under 40 The Class of 2010


David Beturne: 35

Director of Program Services,
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County

David Beturne says it’s very simple to make a difference in a child’s life.

It’s a belief he is passionate about, and one that has led him year after year to raise thousands of dollars for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County via its annual Bowl for Kid’s Sake.

“Children are the most vulnerable population,” he said, adding that he was lucky to grow up in a nurturing family with parents who were positive role models.

His desire to ensure that every child knows that someone cares inspired Beturne to choose his career field and go above and beyond his job duties. “A lot of times we make things very complicated,” he said. “All I ask folks to do is get involved and have fun with kids. To me, fund-raising is not a big deal. It’s just opening the door for other people to get involved. Someone may not be able to take on the commitment of becoming a volunteer for a year. But they can come and bowl with us, and that will help.”

Beturne knows what it means to be busy. Besides his full-time job, he and his wife, Julie, have two sons, ages 7 and 5; he coaches their soccer teams and his younger son’s tee-ball team. Such involvement led him to create a Lunch Buddies program with his executive director, where the only commitment required is to have lunch with a child for an hour once a week at their school.

Beturne is a Lunch Buddies volunteer himself for a third grader. “We spend our time playing games and having fun. Last week, we played football with all of his friends,” he said.

“I believe in being a role model for children who want or need one. There is nothing more powerful for a child than realizing that someone is in their life because they want to be there, not because they have to do it. That’s where the magic is, when someone cares enough.” —Kathleen Mitchell

<<Back

Amanda Huston

By
40 Under 40 The Class of 2010

Amanda Huston: 29

Vice President of Operations,
Junior Achievement of Western Mass.

Amanda Huston is a public face of Junior Achievement of Western Mass., often visible at civic events, raising the profile of the organization that educates young people about business.

“My background is in accounting, and I do their accounting work,” she said. “But I also run special events. We have one of the finest golf tournaments in the Valley, a bowlathon, and our signature event, the stock-market challenge.”

The latter event is the largest of its kind in North America, in which more than 500 high-school students compete in teams to see who can most successfully invest $500,000.

“I love the mission of educating students on entrepreneurship and financial literacy,” said Huston, who also operates her own tax business, Back Office. “I realize the necessity of understanding finances and taxes and how it all affects their life.”

And she knows she’s making a difference. As an adjunct professor of Accounting at Elms College, “I had a student come to me and say, ‘I remember you; three years ago you told me about Roth IRAs. I wanted you to know I opened one up.’ You can impact students in so many different ways.

“From Junior Achievement, I see how students need financial education,” she added, “and from the tax side, I see how adults need a better understanding of their own personal finance.”

Huston is also active in many community organizations, including various chambers of commerce, the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, and various boards at the Elms and Springfield’s Sci-Tech High School. And she makes time for sports, too — basketball, softball, spinning, and a recent addition, golf.

“I’ve hosted the golf tournament for a few years, and a lot of board members asked me to play,” she said. “I finally joined a tournament last year, and since then, my golf schedule has been booked. I’m getting better … at least somewhat competitive.”

Proving that even someone with a lot to teach doesn’t have to stop learning. —Joseph Bednar

<<Back

Chester Wojcik

By
40 Under 40 The Class of 2010

Chester Wojcik: 39

President, Design Construction Group

Chester Wojcik grew up with a family motto that said, “it is important to put a smile on someone’s face every day.” That principle, combined with his desire to give back to the community and build positive relationships, is a cornerstone of Wojcik’s life.

He devotes a tremendous amount of time to volunteer work and said his understanding of its value was made clear during childhood. “So many people gave to me when I was growing up — coaches, family members, people in church, and business associates in the town,” he said, remembering his first job working for a small company in Agawam.

The construction business formed by the North Carolina State graduate specializes in urban revitalization and historic preservation of buildings. He is passionate about the work and belongs to a variety of related organizations, including Springfield Preservation Trust, which is dedicated to community involvement.

Wojcik’s father was a volunteer for Junior Achievement, and he has followed the family tradition as a volunteer on that organization’s board, which he describes as “a cause very near and dear to my heart.” He has conducted mock interviews for Springfield students and is on JA’s long-term planning committee.

The small-business owner and father of two (son Tyler and daughter Emily) describes himself as a “very hands-on person.”

That comes into play in his work for Habitat for Humanity and United Way. “I am very involved, whether it is doing a local cleanup or working on projects that Habitat and the United Way do together,” Wojcik said.

He loves to fish and is a board member of Marathon Basin Yacht Club. Another group that benefits from Wojcik’s participation is the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, where he says members are dedicated to helping each other attain success.

“I really enjoy networking and being involved in social and civic events. What I do comes back to good Christian values and holding myself to a higher standard,” said Wojcik, who is a deacon at First Baptist Church of Agawam. “Building relationships is everything.”—Kathleen Mitchell

<<Back

Raymond Berry

By
40 Under 40 The Class of 2010

Raymond Berry Jr.: 39

Vice President of Finance and Admistration,
United Way of Pioneer Valley

Raymond Berry says it’s rewarding to know he is making a difference. It’s a mission for him and something he strives to do as an active volunteer in the city of Springfield.

Berry was the recipient of a number of services as a child and took advantage of the after-school programs and athletic opportunities available to him. “I witnessed what it was like to know that I had a safe place to go where I could enjoy myself and where there were individuals who wanted me to succeed,” he said. “So, today, I get great joy from giving back to the community.”

Berry does that both on and off the job at United Way. He is president of the Brethren, a group of professional black men that provides a multitude of services to the community; vice president of the Springfield branch of NAACP, and the director of the American International Alumni Varsity Club. He is a past board member of the Carew Hill Boys & Girls Club, the Martin Luther King Community Center, and Springfield Partners for Community Action.

Berry was also a Springfield Schools consultant for Junior Achievement, a Massachusetts sports official for Little League baseball, and a youth mentor for Dunbar Community Center.

He was appointed as a Springfield Enterprise Community commissioner by former Mayor Michael Albano, and accepted other appointments to a variety of commissions for local and statewide housing groups, using his knowledge and certification as a public-housing manager.

“My activities center around education, health, and financial stability. I do this in my profession and also to assist people. I want to make sure they have a roof over their head and that there is proper funding for activities for young people,” said Berry.

He began volunteering in college, which set the tone for all of his future activity. Berry loves to fish and counts it among his passions, but is also dedicated to fishing for opportunities that can make a difference in the lives of young people.

—Kathleen Mitchell

<<Back

Kimberly Klimczuk

By
40 Under 40 The Class of 2010

Kimberly Klimczuk: 32

Attorney and Partner, Royal & Klimczuk, LLC

Helping people is the motivation behind Kimberly Klimczuk’s professional and personal accomplishments.

She co-owns, with attorney Amy Royal, a Northampton law firm that specializes in labor and employment law. And although Klimczuk represents businesses, such as Troy Industries, which manufactures small-arms components, “there are people behind all of these companies who are trying to follow employment laws and want to do the right thing,” she said. “We develop ongoing relationships with our clients, and there is more of a human connection than people might think.”

As a child, Klimczuk loved the TV shows LA Law and Law & Order. She grew up in a blue-collar family, was the first in that family to graduate from a four-year college, and discovered she wanted to pursue labor and employment law after a stint with a law firm.

Today, Klimczuk uses her expertise on the job and for a number of organizations that benefit people. She has been has been a judge for the Mass. Bar Assoc. mock-trial competition for high-school students, and volunteers for the Dial a Lawyer program.

“I like to share the knowledge I have gained. It is of use to a lot of people,” she said. “Having legal knowledge opens a lot of doors, and I like to help people when I can.”

She has volunteered for the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program since she was in law school, and is secretary of the board for the Gandara Center, a board member of the Hartford Penn Club, and a mentor for the Pioneer Valley Girl Scouts Lawyers of Tomorrow program.

Klimczuk serves on the board of the Hampden County Bar Assoc., helps organize the annual luncheon it sponsors for Open Pantry’s Loaves and Fishes Kitchen, and recently joined the board of Aditus Inc., which provides employment and residential support to people with developmental disabilities.

She is also proud to be part of a female-owned law firm. “Labor and employment law is something that affects everyone, and I really enjoy it.”—Kathleen Mitchell

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Peter Zurlino

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40 Under 40 The Class of 2010

Peter Zurlino: 35

Web Master, Springfield Public Schools; Owner, Atlantico Designs

Peter Zurlino says that his goal when he started out in business was rather simple: “I didn’t want to dread going to work every day.”

But sometimes the best ideas are the most simple, and Zurlino said that, for him, the differentiating factor in his life was to move into a career that provided something interesting that he also loves doing. “I love to design Web sites,” he explained, “and I love knowing that what I’m doing is helping people’s businesses. It also happens to be that I can make a profit doing that.”

Since 1999 he has owned and operated Atlantico Designs, working with and for a growing client base of businesses and organizations. But what Zurlino considers his primary role is as the first-ever Web master for the Springfield Public Schools. Officials there cite his enormous commitment in overseeing a complete Web presence for the school system. For Zurlino, with such responsibility comes a true enjoyment for a job that has him interacting with all facets of the organization.

“I came in with a commercial background,” he explained of his first days on the job. “And I said, ‘I understand what you folks want to do, but we’re going to need to do it a different way.’ I was able to bring my business experience to the School Department and have them see their needs through a different set of glasses.”

And for this Springfield native, becoming one of the first board members of the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield allowed him to be a catalyst for further involvement in the community. “YPS was a shining star for me. It was an opportunity to get involved with something on the ground floor. And I’m proud of where the group has gone; we’ve done so much.”

Zurlino said that giving back to his hometown is rewarding, but also fulfills that important role of being able to love going to work every day. —Dan Chase

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Maegan Brooks

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40 Under 40 The Class of 2010

Maegan Brooks: 30

Attorney, the Law Office of Maegan Brooks

Maegan Brooks’ family has lived in Holyoke for several generations, and she believes in the future of Greater Springfield. But negative perceptions, she said, hinders that potential.

“That’s really our downfall,” said Brooks, who has backed up her confidence by opening a business-law firm in downtown Springfield. “I’m a Western Mass. native; I love Western Mass. The people who decide to stay here do so because they also love it and see the potential here. I want to see Springfield reestablish itself as a thriving city.”

After graduating from Boston University, Brooks returned to her roots and worked for area nonprofits while earning a master’s degree in Organizational Development from Springfield College. She aspired to be an executive director for a nonprofit — but then got an epiphany that led to a law degree from Western New England College.

“I started taking business-law courses, and I realized that the best way to help a community is to help with economic development,” she explained. “So my passion has been in developing small businesses and social enterprises.”

Convinced that the valley is home to an especially creative, hardworking population, Brooks focuses her practice on helping individuals build businesses.

“I meet with people who say, ‘I got laid off from my job, but I’ve had this idea for the past 20 years, and I want to move forward.’ I’m helping people who have thought about and dreamt about something for a long time begin to realize their dreams,” she said.

“It’s great to be a part of that, to encourage people and tell them, ‘yes, you need legal help. You need to do this right so you won’t have issues later.’ And I feel the same way about the nonprofits I see.”

With some creativity — and legal assistance — Brooks thinks those types of people can bring the local economy back. And that brings her plenty of satisfaction.

“I see some attorneys who are miserable,” she said. “But I’m excited about the work I do.”—Joseph Bednar

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David Kutcher

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40 Under 40 The Class of 2010

David Kutcher: 32

Owner and President, Confluent Forms LLC

When David Kutcher started his first business enterprise, a graphic-arts and Web-design firm, he looked at the strengths of two friends for inspiration.

“A confluence is when three or more rivers come together to form one stronger river,” he told BusinessWest about the inspiration for Confluent Forms. “The idea originally was that we were offering three services: usability and strategic consulting, design branding and graphic-design services, and custom software-development services.”

Since 2002, that company has taken off, and now counts everything from small nonprofit organizations to Fortune 100 firms as clients. But Kutcher is most pleased these days with the success of a Web site he created that’s certainly turning some heads.

After becoming involved in the Northampton Arts Council, he realized the importance of civic involvement. And like any good businessman, he saw an opportunity. The result is the RFP Database, where organizations post their requests for proposals. Interested parties join at little to no cost, and as a result, the site has upwards of 60,000 members, announcing more than 1,400 new RFPs every month, with a total value ranging anywhere from $600 million to $1 billion.

“Being able to push those business opportunities is really a rewarding thing to do,” he said. “And I do hope more people in Western Mass. take advantage of it. With the economy being what it is here, to be able to grab projects from other states and do them here, it’s great.”

Investment in his community is something that has always been important to Kutcher. And as he and his wife, Nicole, expect their first child (besides their dog, Rita) at the end of this month, that means he’ll be more invested than ever. “People used to tell me all the time that, when you have a kid you’re a bigger part of the community,” he said. “It’s exciting to be expecting our firstborn, but also to be more involved than I already am.” —Dan Chase

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Karen Buell

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40 Under 40 The Class of 2010

Karen Buell: 27

Internet Branch Officer, PeoplesBank

Karen Buell played three sports at Houghton College in Upstate New York — soccer, basketball, and track and field — and she’s still quite an athlete.

She ran in the recent Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Road Race, and, while her time wasn’t her best (actually, it was her worst) — “it was hot; when you’re training in the winter, when it’s in the 30s and 40s, and then you get 75 on the day of the race, that’s a little toasty” — she was happy to be out there competing.

Maintaining a sharp competitive edge is one of many life lessons Buell took away from her college athletic experiences, and she takes it to work every day as Internet Branch officer at Holyoke-based PeoplesBank.

“Twice in soccer we went to the nationals, so I’ve played at a really high level,” she explained. “You learn a lot from that; there are always challenges to overcome. Teamwork plays a big part in it; you have to rely on team members, and there are going to be people with strengths that you don’t have, and you need them for that, and you might have strengths that they can’t provide.”

Another quality she’s borrowed from sports is discipline. “Being an athlete requires a person to be disciplined,” she explained, “to perfect their talents through practice, and even research the best ways to get results.”

These lessons from athletic competition, plus a strong faith in God, have helped Buell blend success in her profession — she’s risen quickly in the ranks, from assistant manager to mortgage consultant to Internet branch officer — with considerable work within the community, much of it ‘green’ in nature. She has helped coordinate Habitat for Humanity projects, planned a Transportation Day for MassRides to help people find carpool matches, and served as project lead for the second annual Environmental Fair on Earth Day. She also teaches financial literacy to children in local schools, and is vice president of the Northampton Area Young Professionals.

Considering all this, it’s easy to see why she’s considered a winner — on the job and off. —George O’Brien

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James Leahy

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40 Under 40 The Class of 2010

James Leahy: 36

Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, Alcon Laboratories; Holyoke City Councilor

James Michael Leahy’s father emigrated from Ireland to South Boston and married the daughter of two Irish immigrants.

“Nothing was handed to them. I saw how hard they worked, and that’s been ingrained in me,” said Leahy, adding that his father admired former Boston Mayor James Michael Curley — so much that he named his son after him. “He told me stories about how this mayor helped immigrant people who were struggling. And I’ve been given so much in life that I feel I should give back.”

Over the years, Leahy has served the community with financial philanthropy and volunteer work for organizations including the YMCA, the Holyoke Children’s Museum, the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, and the Holyoke Boys Club, as well as overseeing the very well-attended 2010 St. Patrick’s parade and road race. Then there’s the Holyoke City Council; he was first elected at age 24 and is now serving his sixth term.

“I work on quality-of-life issues, safe streets, keeping Holyoke affordable, bringing new business into the city,” he said. He helped the Police Department procure financing for bulletproof vests and is working to get them tasers as well, and he received a proclamation from former Mayor Michael Sullivan for testimony in a notable rape case.

Leahy balances all this with about 50 hours of work each week at Alcon Laboratories, a worldwide leader in vision products. There, he trains new employees and sits on a human-resources diversity board among his everyday responsibilities, which focus on products for glaucoma, allergies, and dry eye.

Considering all those roles, it’s no wonder that he makes family time count. A member of Springfield Country Club, he takes turns bringing his kids (ages 9, 8, and 4) to play a few holes of golf in the evening and then shares some one-on-one time over ice cream.

“That’s my quality time with my children,” he said. But it sounds like Leahy strives for quality with all his time.

—Joseph Bednar

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Shanna Burke

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40 Under 40 The Class of 2010

Shanna Burke: 25

Program Director, Nonotuck Resource Associates

Shanna Burke is all about making connections.

“We match people in the community with people with disabilities to live together,” she said of her role with Nonotuck Resource Associates. “If you have an extra room and want to have someone live with you, we’d match you with someone with similar interests, and they’d be integrated into your life” — an improvement, she said, over the old group-home concept.

“I originally wanted to be a lawyer, but I realized I wanted to help people who don’t necessarily have money,” she said. “I know some law firms do that, but I wanted to work on a more micro level, more person-to-person.”

So she earned a master’s in Social Work at Springfield College, and after a few years working for Valley Psychiatric Service — helping people at or near the poverty line — she saw an opportunity open up at Nonotuck.

“From the first interview, I knew it was a good match,” she said. “I felt the work they do is so important, and their values are so strong. That goes for the whole agency; we do this because we love people. Sometimes I hear people say, when things aren’t going well, ‘I hate my job.’ But I never feel that way.”

Burke also volunteers for Animal Shelter Renovation, a Westfield-area shelter with a no-kill policy, another value in which she believes. And she’ll run in the Hartford Marathon this fall to benefit Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue, which saved her dog, Fenway.

But this animal lover (she and her husband, 2007 Forty Under 40 honoree Michael Gove, have two dogs, three cats, a hamster, and a rabbit, many of them rescues) endured a scare recently. Hours before this photo was taken, she was out on her morning hike with her dogs when one was attacked by a porcupine. He spent the day at an animal hospital, but made it to the shoot.

“It was horrible,” she said, sounding relieved. “Lesson learned, hopefully.” —Joseph Bednar

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Kristin Leutz

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40 Under 40 The Class of 2010

Kristin Leutz: 37

Vice President of Philanthropic Services, the Community Foundation of Western Mass.; Founder and Owner, Home Yoga

Kristin Leutz is a certified Kripalu yoga instructor who practices its tenets on and off the mat, using her talents to serve others and make the world a better place.

“Women and wellness are my passion; I focus all of my philanthrophic and volunteer time on them,” she said. “The health of women is key in making a community thrive, and I believe there is an inherent connection between them.”

Since women do the majority of caretaking for children and families, it’s critical for them to also care for themselves, Leutz says, because what they do has a ripple effect on the community, which eventually extends to the world at large. “So I focus on supporting women, health, and wellness in any way I can.”

To that end, Leutz is a board member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst, and was an advisory board member for Fit Together of Hadley. She is a pro-bono advisor for the Women’s Fund and a volunteer for Motherwoman, the Women’s Leadership and Policy Institute, and the White House Project.

She was the recipient of a MassMutual Financial Group Human Resources Excellence Award, is a certified conflict mediator, and created a highly successful job-share team at the Community Foundation, which is responsible for a $7 million annual fund-raising program. In her capacity there, Leutz and her team help people provide funds to charitable organizations in the Pioneer Valley.

The ability to share a job allows her to operate her business, Home Yoga, and teach the discipline to individuals in their homes as well as at local businesses.

It’s that balance that allows Leutz to succeed on and off the job. The mother of two is frequently asked to speak at professional conferences, and uses her background in organizational development and psychology to inspire others.

“The work that I do,” she said, “helps me meet my responsibility as a citizen of the world.”—Kathleen Mitchell

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Damon Cartelli

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40 Under 40 The Class of 2010

Damon Cartelli: 39

President, Owner, and General Manager, Fathers & Sons Inc.

When he’s not managing auto dealerships, Damon Cartelli likes to take his family out fishing on his boat.

“It’s great to get out there … it’s relaxing, a great way to relieve some stress,” said Cartelli, who acknowledged that there have been quite a few stress-inducers recently for all those in auto sales, including the team at Fathers & Sons, the business his father, Bob, started and that he acquired in September 2008.

“That was just as the economy was collapsing; everyone blamed me for the meltdown,” joked Cartelli, adding that the Great Recession has been a long, ongoing headache for car dealers, but just one of many. For Fathers & Sons, the demise and recent rebirth of Saab, one of several luxury brands the dealership handles, has been a significant issue. Meanwhile, Cash for Clunkers, while it stimulated some sales, also induced considerable red tape and heartburn.

But Cartelli says the family business has steered its way through much of the trouble, and has high expectations for 2010, especially as Saab makes its returns (the first models should be in the showroom in a few weeks) and Audi continues to grow market share. Meanwhile, Cartelli continues the maturation process that is part and parcel to taking on the titles ‘owner’ and ‘president.’

Beyond his time spent on the water fishing, Cartelli also enjoys skiing, another family affair: his son, Jack, is 3 and just getting started, while his daughter, Brynn, 6, is already keeping up with her parents on black-diamond runs at resorts like Stowe.

And, yes, as one might expect, as owner of a dealership that sells high-performance luxury cars, he does get to try out some nice rides for months at a time. Recently, that includes an Audi A-8 and a Porche Cayan, an SUV.

For the next several months, though, his vehicle of choice will be a Ford F-350 pickup, which he needs to tow his boat.

“I don’t have to feel guilty about that, though,” he laughed. “The family owns a Ford store in Greenfield.”—George O’Brien

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Meghan Lynch

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40 Under 40 The Class of 2010

Meghan Lynch: 29

Managing Partner, Six-Point Creative Works

Meghan Lynch studied literature in college, but didn’t want to make it her job. Instead, her creative side blossomed in an unexpected career path: advertising. It started with a stint as a receptionist at a Northampton ad agency.

“I became office manager and worked my way up into the production department,” she said, where she did some scriptwriting and other creative tasks. “What started out as a way to get me through grad school wound up being something I loved, and exposed me to things I wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise.”

Lynch later worked with David Wicks and Marsha Montori for the Momentum Group, and the three eventually formed their own business, Six-Point Creative Works. “I was willing to work with them,” Lynch said, “but instead they gave me the opportunity to own the company with them, which was unexpected for someone as young as I am.”

Her partners say Lynch is “29 going on 50” when it comes to her creativity and professionalism. Indeed, her plate is full; among her numerous roles, she is the primary source of the firm’s new-business development, a force behind its pro-bono and trade-of-service commitments to area nonprofits, its Web-marketing strategist, and even project manager for the company’s new facility. Lynch relishes those varied responsibilities.

“You don’t get many opportunities to be part of a group that’s so collaborative, where everyone is willing to listen to anyone’s idea, regardless of their experience,” she said of the firm, which draws inspiration and levity from its canine mascot, Smilin’ Tom. “I have a chance to grow in a lot of different ways. And I’ve learned so much about the variety of businesses the agency works with.”

She fills in her time with volunteer work for the Springfield Public Forum, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, and other groups. “It’s nice to work with organizations that get you excited, that let you see their potential.”

And fulfilling potential is something Lynch knows a lot about.

—Joseph Bednar

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