People on the Move

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) recently announced 11 promotions.

Chelsea Russell

• Chelsea Russell has been promoted to Audit & Accounting senior manager. She began her career with MBK as an intern in 2015 and has been working full-time in the Audit and Accounting department since June 2016. In her role as manager, she primarily focuses on not-for-profit, commercial, and employee benefit plan engagements. She is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Russell received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Westfield State University and a master’s degree in accounting from Bay Path University. She is licensed as a certified public accountant in Massachusetts and also co-leads the firm’s community-outreach program.

Ryan Sabin

• Ryan Sabin has been promoted to Tax senior manager. He has been in public accounting since 2009, with a specialty in commercial audit and review engagements for private companies, 401(k) plans, and corporate, partnership, individual, and private foundation tax returns with a keen expertise in multi-state tax issues. He received his bachelor’s degree in business management with an accounting concentration, bachelor’s degree in economics, and master of accountancy degree from Westfield State University. He is also a member of AICPA and MSCPA.

Mallory Beauregard

• Mallory Beauregard has been promoted to Audit & Accounting supervisor. She began her career with MBK as an intern and has been a valuable member of the team since. She works on a diverse range of engagements, including not-for-profit, commercial audit, review, and compilation engagements. She received a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from UMass Amherst and her MBA at UMass Lowell. She is also a member of AICPA and MSCPA.

Briana Doyle

• Briana Doyle has been promoted to Audit & Accounting supervisor. She serves as a supervisor in the Audit and Accounting department. She holds a bachelor of business administration degree and a master’s degree in accounting from Nichols College. She is also a member of AICPA and MSCPA.

Chris Soderberg

• Chris Soderberg has been promoted to Audit & Accounting supervisor. He is well-versed in the diverse niches that MBK offers, particularly in audit areas, where he leads pension, nonprofit, and commercial engagements. He is also skilled in managing complex individual tax returns. He graduated from Elms College with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and management and an MBA with a concentration in financial planning. He is also a member of AICPA and MSCPA.

Peter Kravetz

• Peter Kravetz has been promoted to Tax supervisor. He has been a dedicated practitioner of public accounting since 2007. He received his bachelor’s degree in business from UMass Amherst and his master’s degree in accounting from Western New England University. He is also a member of AICPA and MSCPA.

Francine Murphy

• Francine Murphy has been promoted to Tax supervisor. She joined MBK in 2013, with significant tax-preparation experience and a special focus in tax preparation for not-for-profit organizations and individuals. She will be taking on a larger leadership role with the firm’s tax-exempt clients, preparing larger 990 returns and reviewing smaller tax-exempt clients. She holds an associate degree in accounting from Holyoke Community College and recently completed her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Westfield State University. She is also a member of AICPA and MSCPA.

Samantha Calvao

• Samantha Calvao has been promoted to Tax senior associate. She began her career in public accounting in 2021 in Springfield. She specializes in taxation, audit, and assurance, with a particular focus on taxation and bookkeeping. She holds an associate degree in accounting from Holyoke Community College, a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Southern New Hampshire, and an MBA from Fitchburg State University. She is also a member of AICPA and MSCPA.

Andrea Latour

• Andrea Latour has been promoted to Tax senior associate. Her main focus lies in client bookkeeping and write-up tasks, encompassing monthly reconciliations, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, quarterly payroll returns, and tax filings (including meals and sales tax). She obtained her associate degree from the certified paralegal program at Becker College. She is also a member of AICPA and MSCPA.

Jonathan Lemoine

• Jonathan Lemoine has been promoted to Audit & Accounting senior associate. He began his career in public accounting in 2019. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with a concentration in accounting and a master’s degree in accounting from Westfield State University. He is also a member of AICPA and MSCPA.

Nicholas Mishol

• Nicholas Mishol has been promoted to Audit & Accounting senior associate. He holds an associate degree in business administration from Holyoke Community College and his bachelor of business administration degree from UMass Amherst. He is also a member of AICPA and MSCPA.

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Tech Foundry, the regional leader in IT workforce development and training, announced the hiring of three new staff members as well as promotions of existing staff to support the organization’s growing operations. Marie-Ange Delimon, Tech Foundry’s Community Impact manager, was recently promoted to Community Impact director. She graduated from Tech Foundry’s IT support training program in June 2021 and was quickly hired as the organization’s Workforce Development manager. In her three and a half years at Tech Foundry, she has substantially grown the organization’s employer and community partner network, streamlined the recruitment process of its IT support training, and upgraded internship and job-placement procedures. Lian Duan joined the Tech Foundry leadership team as the new director of Strategic Initiatives, where she will oversee the exploration, development, launch, management, and evaluation of new projects as well as spearheading review and continuous improvement of current initiatives. She has more than a decade of experience in STEM education and several years in management at an international education company. She holds a master of education degree in math, science, and learning technology from UMass Amherst and is currently pursuing a doctorate in the same program. Juan Torres was promoted to technical manager for the new Tech Hub in Springfield, where he will oversee daily operations. He was an essential member of the first Tech Hub team in Holyoke, where he helped support the launch of digital-literacy training, technical-support services, community workshops, and device distribution. He is also a graduate of the Tech Foundry IT Support training program, completing the program in the fall of 2023. Iman Zafar joined the Tech Foundry team as the organization’s new office manager. She graduated from George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and women, gender, and sexuality studies. She has worked as a research assistant in the Political Science department at GW, collecting data on government elections for gerrymandering research. She previously interned for the United Nations Assoc. of Greater Boston, helping facilitate its Model UN program and conferences. Floyd Zamarripa, a recent Tech Foundry graduate, was hired as the organization’s new Career Services coordinator. In this role, he will oversee all aspects of employer engagement and job and internship placement. He is an experienced IT professional, writer, movie-theater operator, and marketing director who recently moved to Western Mass. from Springfield, Mo. with his family.

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Heather Zielenski

James Hagan, president and CEO of Westfield Bank, announce the promotion of Heather Zielenski to vice president, branch manager, and the promotion of Nicole Kirk to assistant vice president, Deposit Operations manager. Zielenski, who joined Westfield Bank 26 years ago and has served in many different roles, will continue to oversee customer service, retail and business product sales, business development, and community outreach, as well as managing general operations and employee development within the branch. She is a graduate of American International College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. In the community, she serves as a member of the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, the West of the River Chamber of Commerce education committee, and the West of the River Chamber foundation, and also volunteers with Action Centered Tutor Services (ACTS) in Springfield. Kirk will continue to be responsible for managing her department and external vendors to ensure compliance and quality control. She joined Westfield Bank in 2010 as a part-time teller in the Park Street branch, working her way up to head teller and later to Better Banking specialist. In 2021, she transitioned into the main office Operations department as the Deposit Operations manager. Kirk obtained an accredited ACH professional certification from Nacha, recognizing her advanced knowledge of all ACH systems and processes.

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Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy, an attorney in estate, trust, and tax planning and administration, has joined Berkshire Law Group of Lenox as a senior associate attorney. Prior to returning to the Berkshires, Murphy worked for nearly a decade as an attorney for two Greater Boston law firms — most recently, DesRosiers & Tierney, LLC in Beverly, and, previous to that, Cushing and Dolan, P.C. in Waltham — specializing in elder law as well as estate, trust, and tax planning and administration. Murphy earned his juris doctorate as well as his master of law degree in taxation from Suffolk University Law School in Boston. He also has a bachelor’s degree in history from Western New England University, where he graduated magna cum laude.

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KB Accounting announced the appointment of Timothy Brelsford as the new director of Operations. With an extensive background in financial management and operational strategy, Brelsford is set to play a pivotal role in driving the company’s growth and innovation in the accounting industry. Brelsford brings more than 30 years of experience in the human-services and operations sectors. His expertise in streamlining processes and implementing forward-thinking solutions aligns perfectly with KB Accounting’s commitment to excellence and client satisfaction. In his new role, he will oversee daily operational activities, spearhead process-improvement initiatives, and collaborate with other department heads to ensure the company continues to meet the evolving needs of its diverse clientele.

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Norell Ferguson

Ethan Cattanach

Maryam Javanmard

Dietz & Company Architects Inc. announced the recent addition of three new employees to the firm. Norell Ferguson has joined Dietz & Company as an interior designer and is excited to explore hospitality design and dive deeper into housing and community-based projects. She comes to Dietz with more than 10 years of experience in interior design and urban planning and policy from her work at architecture firms and with local and regional governments. In addition, Ferguson is an adjunct professor at the University of Hartford and University of New Haven, where she teaches architecture, lighting, and interior-design courses. She holds a master’s degree in interior architecture from Philadelphia University and a bachelor’s degree in art history with a minor in architecture from the University of Hartford. She also earned a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Connecticut. Ethan Cattanach joins the firm in the role of architectural staff. He specializes in utilizing BIM programs and their integration into the project workflow and most recently used those skills while working for another local architecture firm with a focus on commercial manufacturing and retail. In his role at Dietz, he will be helping to manage local projects and developing project documents and detailed 3D models. Cattanach holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from UMass Amherst and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in architecture at the Boston Architectural College. Maryam Javanmard also joins the firm in the role of architectural staff, bringing more than 15 years of experience as an architect and construction manager and specializing in sustainability and regenerative design. At Dietz, she will be assisting on projects throughout all phases of design. She has an impressive academic background, with two PhDs in architecture and a master’s degree in structural engineering from universities in Italy and Iran. A certified architect in Iran, she is currently pursuing professional architecture licensure in the U.S. In addition to her work as an architect, Javanmard worked as a professor, teaching courses in architecture, sustainable design, and visual arts at Zarand Industrial and Mining College and the University of Applied Science and Technology in Iran. Most recently, she worked for a Boston architecture firm and continued to expand her expertise in life-cycle assessment and sustainable design as a Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellow at Northeastern University. She is also currently a lecturer at Roxbury Community College, teaching classes on architecture and sustainability.

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Nicole Baltazar

Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM) recently welcomed Nicole Baltazar as its new Education Pathways director. In this role, she will be overseeing traditional, experiential, and entrepreneurial learning experiences, guiding their alignment with JAWM’s mission and objectives to meet the needs of the community. Baltazar’s responsibilities will include a particular emphasis on stakeholder engagement, especially coordinating volunteer and educational partners. This will involve recruiting, training, supporting, and recognizing these contributors. She will also manage administrative programming procedures to uphold quality standards for the organization, ensuring adherence to program models and evaluating impact to deliver high-quality educational experiences. Baltazar is director I and II qualified through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst’s University Without Walls Program, with a concentration in early education and administration. In her previous role, she served as center director for Valley Opportunity Council in partnership with Holyoke Public Schools’ Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative.

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The Hampden District Attorney’s Office announced the hiring of Payton North as its Communications director. North previously worked as executive editor of Reminder Publishing and brings eight years of media and communication experience to her new position. While at Reminder Publishing, North rose from the role of staff writer through the ranks to executive editor, overseeing the company’s news production. Over the course of her tenure, she garnered many accolades, such as BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty class of 2024, the 2024 Western New England Young Alumni Achievement Award, the 2024 Assoc. of Community Publishers Rising Star award, and recognition among the 2023 Editor & Publisher’s 25 Under 35. North holds a master’s degree in public relations, advertising, and applied communication from Western New England University, where she also attained bachelor’s degree in journalism. In addition, she received an associate of arts and sciences degree from Holyoke Community College. She serves as a board of directors member for both the YWCA and the Spirit of Springfield.

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Nathan Boucher

James Hagan, president and CEO of Westfield Bank, announced the promotion of Nathan Boucher to commercial loan officer. He is responsible for processing and closing approved loans, while also working with the middle-market lending team on business development in the Western Mass. and Northern Conn. territories. Boucher joined Westfield Bank in 2021 as an intern in the main office and joined full-time as a data management specialist once his internship concluded. He later joined the bank’s Commercial Lending department as a commercial loan admin in 2024. He graduated from Western New England University in 2022 with a bachelor of business administration degree in finance, graduating with honors. Outside of work, Boucher coaches Westfield Youth Hockey and the Western Mass Wizards.

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Stephen Duval, a private wealth advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, has qualified for the company’s Circle of Success annual recognition program and will be honored for this achievement in 2025. To earn this achievement, Duval established himself as one of the company’s top advisors. Only a select number of high-performing advisors earn this distinction. Duval has more than 30 years of experience with Ameriprise Financial. As a private wealth advisor, he provides financial advice that is anchored in a solid understanding of client needs and expectations and provided in one-on-one relationships with his clients.

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Jessica Andrews

MountainOne announced that Jessica Andrews, assistant vice president, Deposit Compliance officer, and Fraud Administration officer, has earned the Certified Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Fraud Professional (CAFP) certification from the American Bankers Assoc. (ABA). This achievement highlights Andrews’ commitment to professional development. She successfully completed the required continuing education and passed a challenging qualifying exam. The ABA’s CAFP certification is a respected benchmark of excellence, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated advanced proficiency in combating money laundering and fraud. It ensures that certified professionals are equipped to meet the industry’s highest standards for preventing financial crimes.

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BFAIR (Berkshire Family and Individual Resources) announced the appointment of Ethel Altiery as iterim CEO, effective March 28. Altiery, who has served BFAIR for 25 years, brings extensive leadership experience and a deep commitment to the organization’s mission. She has played a pivotal role in BFAIR’s operations, most recently as chief operating officer. Her longstanding dedication to the organization, along with her comprehensive understanding of BFAIR’s programs and services, make her an ideal leader to guide the agency through this transition period. BFAIR also announced the promotion of Katrina Cardillo to senior director of Marketing and Public Relations. In her new role, she will not only continue to lead marketing and PR initiatives, but also play an important role in advancing BFAIR’s fundraising activities. Cardillo brings a wealth of experience in marketing, management, and community engagement to her expanded responsibilities. Since joining BFAIR, she has been instrumental in amplifying the organization’s mission to support individuals with developmental disabilities, acquired brain injuries, and autism.