People on the Move
Michael Alexander
Western New England University (WNE) announced the appointment of Michael Alexander as interim president, effective July 1. Alexander served as president of Lasell University in Newton from 2007 to 2023, where he led transformative growth in enrollment, fundraising, and campus development. During his tenure, Lasell’s endowment more than doubled, graduate enrollment expanded 14-fold, and numerous facilities were constructed or renovated to enhance student life and learning. While president, he also served as CEO of Lasell Village, a unique continuing care retirement community on the Lasell campus, where residents participate in educational coursework and activities. A forward-thinking advocate for access and innovation in higher education, Alexander is the founder of Lower Cost Models for Independent Colleges, a national consortium now supported by more than 135 colleges and universities working collaboratively to drive down the cost of a private college education. During the 2023-24 academic year, he served as a Judith McLaughlin president-in-residence at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he co-taught courses on the future of American post-secondary education and ethical leadership in higher education, while serving as a resource for Harvard graduate students. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and literature of America, cum laude, from Harvard University; earned a master’s degree in Education from the Ohio State University; and completed all coursework toward a doctorate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters by Lasell in 2023.
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Christopher Scott
Susan Cody
bankESB recently hired Christopher Scott as vice president, Commercial Lending, based at its 241 Northampton St., Easthampton office. Scott has 12 years of banking experience. He was previously commercial lender at PeoplesBank and, before that, credit analyst at TD Bank. In his new role, he will be responsible for developing and managing a portfolio of commercial lending relationships. He will work closely with businesses to understand their financial needs, structure customized lending solutions, and provide expert guidance on credit and banking services. He will play a key role in driving business development, fostering community relationships, and contributing to the overall growth strategy at bankESB. Scott earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from UMass Amherst. He also earned a certificate in credit analysis from TD Bank University and attended the Leadership Institute through the Springfield Regional Chamber. He is currently a board member of the American Cancer Society’s Massachusetts Golf Classic. bankESB also recently promoted Susan Cody to assistant branch manager of its 605 Granby St., South Hadley office. Cody has nearly four years of banking experience. She was hired in 2021 as a teller and was most recently a teller supervisor in bankESB’s 85 Broad St., Westfield office. In her new role, she will support daily branch operations, assist in team leadership, and contribute to delivering excellent customer service to the community. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and business management from Westfield State University.
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Country Bank announced the appointment of John Jahne as senior vice president and chief technology officer, a key strategic hire to support the bank’s continued growth, operational excellence, and digital transformation initiatives. Jahne brings more than 25 years of experience in technology leadership, vendor management, and enterprise operations. With a proven track record in managing high-performing technical teams and delivering cost-effective solutions, his approach aligns with Country Bank’s commitment to customer service, efficiency, and innovation. Throughout his career, Jahne has been a strategic leader on projects involving core banking conversions, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic sourcing, all while maintaining a sharp focus on cost savings and service improvements. He has also managed complex vendor relationships and negotiated high-impact contracts that improved operational performance and supported long-term institutional goals. In addition to his corporate leadership role, he previously operated his own consulting and training firm, further demonstrating his entrepreneurial mindset and depth of technical knowledge in information security, server and network infrastructure, and application engineering. Outside of his professional work, Jahne is a dedicated community leader and educator. He serves on the board of the Children’s Community School in Waterbury, Conn., supporting its mission to educate the minds, bodies, and spirits of children from urban environments. He is also a long-standing member of the Simsbury (Conn.) Technology Task Force, helping the town enhance its technology strategy and infrastructure. Within the banking industry, he contributes as a faculty member for the Connecticut School of Finance and Management, a program of the Connecticut Bankers Assoc., where he teaches technology in banking.
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Amelia Holstrom
Attorney Amelia Holstrom of Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. was elected a library trustee at the Wilbraham Public Library. Following the election, she was selected as secretary by the board of library trustees. The board supports the library’s strategic plan and efforts to provide free and open access to information and programs. Holstrom, who joined the firm in 2012, is a partner at Skoler Abbott. She practices in all areas of employment defense. She provides counsel to management on taking proactive steps to reduce the risk of legal liability that may be imposed as the result of illegal employment practices and defends employers who are faced with lawsuits and administrative charges filed by current and former employers. Holstrom is an active member of the Greater Springfield community. In addition to serving as a library trustee, she is a member of the Wilbraham Personnel Advisory Board, Wilbraham Commission on Disability, the boards of Clinical & Support Options Inc. and the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce, the board development committee for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, and the personnel committee for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
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Bulkley Richardson announced that Lisa Harty, MD, JD, an attorney in the firm’s Litigation Department, has earned the prestigious NITA advocate designation, awarded by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA). This designation recognizes attorneys who have completed a rigorous series of intensive training programs focused on advancing courtroom and litigation skills. To earn this recognition, Harty completed NITA courses in Boston, Chicago, and New York City, each offering immersive training in trial advocacy techniques. The NITA advocate program is nationally respected for its intensive instruction in core litigation areas, including perfecting trial skills, delivering persuasive oral arguments, taking and defending depositions, and mastering both written and interpersonal legal communication. NITA offers participants practical, hands-on training in trial advocacy through realistic courtroom simulations, personalized feedback, and instruction from experienced judges and litigators nationwide. Earning this designation reflects a deep commitment to ethical, effective, and client-centered advocacy. Harty’s dual training in medicine and law positions her to handle complex litigation with insight and precision.
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Yvonne Cruz
Dietz & Company Architects Inc. announced that Yvonne Cruz has rejoined the firm as a senior architect. She previously worked at Dietz & Company from 2019 to 2022. In the interim, she worked for a local engineering firm, where she participated in the design of public projects. Cruz holds a bachelor of architecture degree from Pratt Institute School of Architecture in Brooklyn, N.Y., and is a licensed architect in the state of New York. She brings more than 25 years of experience to Dietz & Company, having worked for firms in Massachusetts and New York City throughout her career. She has worked on an array of residential projects specializing in new construction and renovations of multi-family properties, and has also worked on many municipal, hotel, and restaurant projects. She brings to the firm a commitment to high-quality design and a passion for mentoring junior staff members.
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The Springfield Thunderbirds announced new front office hires to the team’s award-winning staff heading into the 2025-26 AHL season. Joe Manning and Lorenzo Stisser have been promoted to account executives in the team’s ticket sales department, while Nina Liquori and Brianna Carroll have joined the organization as inside sales specialists. Manning is entering his second season in the organization after serving as an inside sales specialist during the 2024-25 season. He also interned for the team in the 2023-24 season in the team’s sales and communications departments. He is a 2024 graduate of Springfield College, where he played three seasons for the school’s club hockey program. Stisser joins the organization full-time after serving on the team’s game night staff and the inside sales department over the past two seasons. He graduated from Springfield College this month and was a member of the school’s men’s gymnastics program. Liquori joins the Thunderbirds as an inside sales specialist after graduating from Southern New Hampshire University, where she played on the school’s women’s lacrosse team. Carroll also joins as an inside sales specialist after graduating this month from Western New England University, where she played on WNE’s women’s soccer team.
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Visual Sound Productions Inc. (VSP), which specializes in live event production, A/V services, multi-media production, and entertainment, announced the continued growth of its team with the addition of three new team members: Nathan Dunahoo, Daniel (Dan) Gil, and Christopher (Chris) Coughlin. Dunahoo joins as a creative specialist, bringing a background rooted in creative storytelling and multi-media design. His passion for compelling visual content and innovative design promises to add fresh energy to VSP’s production team. Gil, a 2019 graduate of the University of Hartford with a degree in audio engineering, comes on board as an A/V technician. With a sharp ear for sound quality and experience in both live and recorded audio environments, he is ready to help bring events to life with precision and professionalism. Coughlin, the newest member of the team, also joins as an A/V technician. A 2024 graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in communications, he brings a strong foundation in media production and a drive to grow within the industry. This expansion follows the recent onboarding of Kara Bombard, who joined the VSP team earlier this season to support operations and client engagement. With the addition of these new hires, Visual Sound Productions continues to strengthen its creative and technical capabilities to meet growing demand across New England and beyond.
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April Towers
AnnieMac Home Mortgage announced the addition of April Towers to its Momentum Group team as a loan officer serving all counties in Western Mass. “April brings a deep passion for helping families achieve the dream of homeownership, backed by first-hand experience, strong community ties, and a relentless commitment to guiding clients through the mortgage process with confidence and care,” the firm stated. “April joins AnnieMac with enthusiasm for the company’s innovative spirit and industry-leading programs that set it apart from other lenders.” Known for her persistence and problem-solving mindset, the firm added, Towers is especially motivated to overcome obstacles that stand in the way of her clients’ homeownership goals.
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GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc., a multi-disciplinary firm providing geotechnical, environmental, ecological, water, and construction management services, announced that two staff professionals have earned premier wildlife biology credentials that will bolster GZA’s ability to support clients with a wide range of ecological capabilities. GZA Senior Biologist Robin Casioppo recently became a certified wildlife biologist (CWB), and Ecologist Susanna Sousa became an associate wildlife biologist (AWB), certifications overseen and awarded by the Wildlife Society. Both are based in GZA’s Springfield office and serve clients throughout New England and the nation. The CWB and AWB certifications document that the credential holders have met the society’s standards for professional experience, ethical standards, and educational attainment. The society has qualified a total of 1,900 CWBs and 400 AWBs throughout the U.S. Casioppo, who earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology from Plymouth State University and a master’s degree in environmental studies with a concentration in conservation biology from Antioch New England University, is a professional wetland scientist. Sousa earned a bachelor’s degree in conservation in wildlife management from Delaware Valley University, a master’s degree in environmental studies with a concentration in conservation biology from Antioch New England University, and a certified ecologist professional certification from the Ecological Society of America.
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Peter Morales
Square One, the region’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization serving children and families, recently welcomed Peter Morales to its leadership team. Morales will serve as the agency’s vice president of Operations. In this role, he will oversee Square One’s day-to-day operations, ensuring the efficient delivery of its mission and services, while playing a critical role in managing operations, optimizing processes, and ensuring the smooth functioning of internal systems and infrastructure. Prior to joining the Square One team, he served as senior vice president of Innovation and Technology and chief technology officer for Country Bank in Ware. In this role, he was responsible for driving process effectiveness, technology, security, data, and AI strategy. Morales previously held operational, technology, and strategy leadership roles at the Council on International Educational Exchange, New York University, the New York Stock Exchange, and the American Stock Exchange. He began his career developing diagnostic systems for U.S. Navy avionics, including the F-18 aircraft. He holds an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, a master’s degree in engineering management, and a doctorate in computer science and information systems. He serves on the board of directors for the Institute for Study Abroad and the CyberAI Group. In his spare time, he mentors students through the Columbia University Justice Through Code program and master’s degree students at NYU Engineering.
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Bulkley Richardson recently welcomed three law students to its 2025 Summer Associate Program. The robust program introduces law students to the inner workings of a law firm, where they receive mentorship from lawyers ranging from firm leaders and retired judges all the way through the ranks to junior associates, and gain exposure to real-life legal matters. Sylvia Labbe is currently attending Suffolk University Law School as a trustee academic scholar, where she serves as a senior staffer on the Transnational Law Review, as well as executive board member of the Labor & Employment Assoc. (treasurer) and Intellectual Property Law Assoc. (treasurer). She was a 2024 summer associate at a Boston-area law firm. This past winter, she was honored with the title of Best Oral Advocate at the Transnational Law Review Moot Court. Labbe earned a bachelor’s degree in legal studies and political science from UMass Amherst. Gabriela Peterson, currently attending Vermont Law & Graduate School, is Head Notes Editor of the Vermont Law Review and a member of the Williams Institute moot court team on gender and sexuality law. She has held the positions of legal intern at an independent news organization and 2024 summer associate at a law firm, both in Washington, D.C. Peterson earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and political science from Monmouth College, where she received several honors for academic excellence. Devan Ravino, currently attending the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, is a Daniel Webster scholar and member of the Moot Court, Trademarks Team, and Women’s Student Law Assoc. She interned at the Civil Bureau of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. Ravino majored in art history and economics, magna cum laude, at Mount Holyoke College.
