People on the Move
James Barbier
Zonglin Li
Timothy Wang
Dietz & Company Architects Inc. announced that James Barbier, Zonglin Li, and Timothy Wang have all joined the firm in the role of architectural associate. Barbier recently earned his bachelor of architecture degree from the Syracuse University School of Architecture, where he completed his thesis exploring kinematic systems and how they can be used to create interactive facades that respond to environmental phenomena. He is also currently exploring the potential of using topological joinery to create wooden structures that satisfy design for disassembly and adaptive reuse strategies. Barbier’s experience includes internships in which he worked on log cabin homes, multi-family housing, and medical buildings. He also participated in research investigating how architecture can be used to design opportunities in low-income communities. Li interned at Dietz & Company last summer and worked at the firm during breaks throughout his final year of school. He recently graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with his bachelor of architecture degree, where his thesis focused on reimagining Penn Station through the perspective of interior urbanism and structured improvisation. He investigated how interior public spaces can operate as urban systems, merging the boundaries between circulation, commerce, and public life, and suggested areas that redefined urban movement and fostered new layers of interaction between the old and new city systems. Li also participated in the construction of Rise, Repeat, a pavilion structure exploring modular repetition and material economy through standard construction components, featured at the BuildFest 2024 Woodstock Pavilions. Wang recently earned his master of architecture degree from the University of Hartford, where his thesis focused on transforming an underutilized park in San Francisco’s Chinatown into a culture and arts center. His concept reinterpreted traditional Chinese architectural elements to match the contemporary style of the building while still making subtle gestures at the history. While completing his degree, Wang interned with architectural firms in Connecticut, where he worked on high-end residential, master planning, and K-12 educational projects.
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The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts’ trustees of the Order of William Pynchon announced their selection of two local residents as this year’s Pynchon Medal recipients, Paul Lambert and Anthony Russo. Lambert has served as president and CEO of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra since 2022, having initially joined as interim director. He guided the organization through a period of significant challenges, resolving contractual disputes and restoring its operational stability. In so doing, he ensured that live classical music remains a part of the region’s cultural landscape. Under his leadership, the symphony has embraced cultural diversity in its programming to attract broader audiences throughout the region. Prior to joining the symphony, Lambert spent two decades at Springfield’s Basketball Hall of Fame, where he developed community engagement initiatives that connected the city’s residents, especially young people, with the organization’s programs. He continues his community involvement through the Springfield Rotary Club, where he has helped establish programs for those in need, including a monthly meal service for the region’s unhoused population. As vice president of the Agawam City Council, Russo has distinguished himself through responsive leadership and an approach to public service that extends well beyond traditional council duties. He has shown exceptional commitment to the community’s most vulnerable residents through hands-on charitable work and personal sacrifice. He donates his entire council salary to local charitable organizations and families in need, with a special focus during the holidays on ensuring no child goes without. For several years, he has made annual visits to local Toys for Tots drives, arriving with a trunk full of toys purchased with his council earnings to benefit children in need. In service to Agawam’s elderly population, Russo organized the Sand for Seniors program, personally ensuring that more than 60 residents receive sand for safe home access during treacherous winter months, while also volunteering regularly at the Agawam Senior Center for meal service and social activities. The presentation of the Pynchon Medal and celebration will take place this fall, with a date and time to be announced.
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Alexarey Overbaugh
Pittsfield Cooperative Bank announced the appointment of Alexarey Overbaugh to assistant branch manager of its Williams Street, Pittsfield location. Since joining the team in November 2021, Overbaugh has consistently brought dedication and excellence to every role. Starting as a teller at the bank’s South Street branch, she quickly became known for exceptional customer service and a strong work ethic. In March 2024, she was promoted to head teller at the newly opened Williams Street branch, where she helped establish smooth operations from day one. Now, she continues to grow professionally as the assistant branch manager, bringing leadership, experience, and a deep commitment to both team success and community service. With nearly a decade of experience in customer service and sales, Overbaugh has built a reputation for reliability, leadership, and strong client relationships. She began her career in 2015 in retail, gaining valuable frontline experience and a solid foundation in customer care.
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Natalia Castagno
Heather Haskins
Holyoke Community College (HCC) recently added two members to its Institutional Advancement team: Natalia Castagno as assistant director of Alumni Relations, and Heather Haskins as assistant director of Annual Giving. Prior to HCC, Castagno worked at Springfield College as senior assistant director of Undergraduate Admissions and coordinator of Diversity Recruitment. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and is pursuing a master’s degree in education from Springfield College. Haskins, a 2020 graduate of HCC, returns to the college after serving as Advancement Operations associate at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. She began her HCC education at the age of 15 as a dual enrollment student from Westfield Technical Academy. After receiving her associate degree in business administration, she transferred to Bay Path University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management and marketing.
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Alera Group, a national, independent financial and insurance services firm, announced it has appointed Adam Trivilino regional director for Commercial Lines in New England. In this role, he will lead the Commercial Lines service strategy for upper mid-market and large accounts with complex insurance needs. His focus includes standardizing operations, implementing growth initiatives, and fostering stronger collaboration among Alera Group offices to enhance client service across the region. Trivilino brings a risk management mindset and broad experience in both sales and client service, having worked with the Baldwin Group, RogersGray, and other financial institutions. His appointment is one of several recent personnel moves supporting Alera Group’s broader regional integration strategy. Outside of work, he is committed to community service and has volunteered with youth organizations including Kiwanis Clubs and the Railroad Street Youth Project. Alera Group also announced that Jessica Morin has been named director of Personal Lines, New England. In this role, she is leading efforts to unify regional offices, standardize operations, and improve client segmentation, ensuring products and services are better aligned with client needs. She is also exploring new ways to enhance service delivery and drive deeper client engagement. With 15 years of industry experience, Morin brings particular expertise in managing high-net-worth portfolios. She holds several professional designations, including certified insurance service representative elite and small business coverage specialist, and is currently pursuing her certified personal risk manager certification. She is involved in her local community, having volunteered and coached for youth softball leagues.
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Al Bedini Jr.
NBT Bank announced it has named Al Bedini Jr. branch manager of the bank’s office located at 331 State Road in North Adams. He has 37 years of banking experience. Most recently, he served as assistant branch manager with Greylock Federal Credit Union. Prior to that, he held roles with TD Bank and MountainOne Bank. Bedini received his education from Berkshire Community College and the University of Massachusetts. He also participated in the New England Leadership Development Program at Babson College. In addition, he holds certificates from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Active in the community, he has served on the Northern Berkshire United Way allocations committee for the past two years.
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Polish National Credit Union (PNCU) announced the promotion of Joe Pereira to vice president of Information Technology. In his new role, he will continue to lead all aspects of the credit union’s IT strategy, infrastructure, and cybersecurity initiatives. Pereira brings more than two decades of technology experience across higher education, enterprise consulting, and financial services. Since joining PNCU, he has played a critical role in advancing the credit union’s digital operations, ensuring system reliability and data security, and positioning the organization for long-term growth in a fast-changing technology landscape. Prior to joining PNCU, Pereira served as senior systems administrator at Western New England University, where he oversaw more than 120 physical and virtual servers, deployed large-scale virtualization environments, and managed systems critical to security, communication, and academic services. He also previously worked as a network engineer and technical consultant, specializing in virtual infrastructure, SQL administration, and multi-site network connectivity. He earned his bachelor’s degree in network engineering from the New England Institute of Technology in Warwick, R.I.
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Brennan LaFlamme
Bill Olejarz
Katherine Ravenelle
Florence Bank recently presented its 2025 President’s Award to three staff members for exceptional service. Established in 1995, the President’s Award recognizes outstanding performance, customer service, and overall contribution to Florence Bank. Honorees are nominated by their colleagues at the bank. This year’s award recognizes Brennan LaFlamme, an IRA specialist in the bank’s main office in Florence; Bill Olejarz, an information security risk analyst, also in the main office; and Katherine Ravenelle, teller operations manager in West Springfield. LaFlamme has six years of industry experience and has served as a teller supervisor and customer service specialist. Responsible for maintaining all IRA accounts and keeping up to date on regulations, he provides IRA trainings for customers and staff. Currently working toward a degree in cybersecurity at UMass Amherst, LaFlamme is active in the community, serving as a board member for the Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Holyoke. With four years in the industry, Olejarz assesses cybersecurity risk to help protect sensitive data and systems, reviews vendor security, and works with departments to support compliance and ensure security controls are in place to reduce threats. He is skilled at third-party risk management, regulatory compliance, cybersecurity and risk reporting, security awareness training, and cross-department collaboration. Olejarz holds a master’s degree in cybersecurity management from Bay Path University, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University, and an associate degree in computer information systems from Springfield Technical Community College. Ravenelle has 13 years of banking experience. She manages teller line operations to ensure quality service is provided while adhering to policies, procedures, and security. She handles customer transactions, account openings, and account servicing, and is skilled at customer service as well as adapting to different markets and customer needs, branch operations, and fraud prevention and detection.
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The Foundation for TJO Animals announced that Janna Brown has been named its new executive director. After a year of serving as interim director and five years as a board member, Brown is bringing her lifelong passion for animal welfare and her signature energy to the organization full-time. Before stepping into nonprofit leadership, Brown spent two decades as a meteorologist, most recently spending nine years at Western Mass News, where she became a household name. Her heart, however, has long belonged to the animals at the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center on Cottage Street, where she volunteered weekly. During her time in the spotlight, Brown helped bring visibility to TJO’s mission, with the foundation being named Western Mass News’ charity of choice, a reflection of her personal commitment to the cause.
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Country Bank announced the promotions of Katelin Sherman, David Micka, and Jason McClure to the role of credit officer. These promotions reflect each individual’s leadership, expertise, and significant contributions to the bank’s ongoing success. Sherman brings 13 years of industry experience and a strategic mindset to her role. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance with minors in Spanish and sociology from Bryant University, as well as an MBA in entrepreneurial thinking and innovative practices from Bay Path University. Her diverse academic background and forward-thinking approach play a key role in strengthening Country Bank’s commercial credit and lending capabilities. She also co-leads the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee at Country Bank. Micka, with 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, is recognized for his analytical strengths and commitment to exceptional service. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business studies through the University Without Walls (UWW) program at UMass Amherst. He is passionate about community banking and values Country Bank’s strong commitment to the communities it serves. McClure offers over 25 years of banking experience with deep expertise in commercial and industrial underwriting. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an associate degree in accounting and finance from the New England College of Business and Finance, as well as certification from Omega Financial Training. His technical skills and industry knowledge significantly enhance the bank’s credit evaluation processes. Together, these team members play a pivotal role in assessing credit risk and guiding sound lending decisions. Country Bank also congratulates two of its team members, Jodie Gerulaitis, first vice president of Community Relations, and Jennifer Bujnevicie, vice president of Retail Banking and regional manager, on their recent graduation from the American Bankers Assoc. (ABA) Stonier Graduate School of Banking. The ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking is the industry’s leading graduate banking program. Graduates receive both a Stonier diploma and a Wharton leadership certificate.
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Stanley Walczyk
Greylock Federal Credit Union’s board of directors voted unanimously to appoint Stanley Walczyk as director emeritus in recognition of his long and distinguished service to the credit union. In April, the board of directors voted to confer the director emeritus designation on Walczyk. Individuals who are appointed directors emeriti function as an advisory committee to the board of directors. Walczyk’s designation reflects a two-year term. Walczyk was board chairman from 2018 to 2023 and served on a variety of committees during his tenure. He was the president of O’Laughlin’s Home Care Pharmacy, which was acquired by and now operates as Market 32 Price Chopper Pharmacy. He was also president of the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy and the Massachusetts Pharmacist Assoc. and a member of the National Assoc. of Retail Druggists. Walczyk was appointed as a trustee of Berkshire Community College by the governor, serving two five-year terms, and was also appointed by the governor to the Massachusetts Drug Formulary Commission. Additionally, he is a past president of the Dalton Rotary Club.
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Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start recently announced the 2025 recipient of its Janis Santos Scholarship. Three years ago, the organization launched this annual recognition, created by Santos, former CEO of HCS Head Start, to help address the shortage of early childhood teachers. Knowing the importance of supporting this profession, Santos established this scholarship to support current HCS staff, parents, and all Head Start alumni who are pursuing a degree in early education and care but may be encountering financial hardship. Santos, along with Nicole Blais, HCS Head Start’s current CEO, awarded the 2025 honor to Barbara Torres Marzan. She has been with HCS Head Start for close to four years and is currently an infant/toddler teacher. She was presented with the $2,000 scholarship to continue her studies at Springfield Technical Community College. Previous honorees include Mayra Felix, who recently completed her bachelor’s degree at Springfield College, and Notavious Andino-Galarza-Perez, who is currently studying at Columbia University.
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Olessa Stepanova
Longtime Boston-area TV news anchor and reporter Olessa Stepanova has joined Eversource as External Communications manager. In that role, she will help lead media engagement and storytelling across Massachusetts. With nearly two decades of newsroom experience and recent years in executive communications, Stepanova brings a relationship-first approach, journalistic instincts, and strategic perspectives to the energy industry. In her new role, she’ll serve as a media spokesperson and work closely with reporters, community partners, and public officials to communicate Eversource’s efforts to affordably advance the Commonwealth’s energy transition while ensuring safe, reliable service for customers and supporting its communities.
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Glenmeadow Inc., a provider of senior retirement lifestyle options, has selected Adetayo Olatinwo as vice president for Human Resources. She will lead the HR function, overseeing talent management, compensation, benefits, training, employee relations, and engagement, while ensuring compliance with employment law and contributing to the organization’s strategic goals and mission. She will also shape Glenmeadow’s relationships with the local secondary and post-secondary education partners to encourage senior living as a career path of choice. Olatinwo most recently served Trinity Health Of New England as Colleague and Labor Relations business partner and previously served Global Medical Response and the Mental Health Assoc. in human resources roles. She is a graduate of Western New England University and Springfield College.
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Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts (GSCWM) recently welcomed eight new and re-elected members to its board of directors, swearing them in during its annual meeting and volunteer recognition event. GSCWM’s board of directors now stands at 21 board members total, 19 adults and two girl members. The eight include Erika Dulmaine, Neliana Ferraro de Mitchell, Sara Flynn, Jennifer Hubert, Abigail Abena Mensah (Orleans Thompson), Jennifer Merton, Katie Rozenas-Hanson, and Prisha Konduru (girl member). A diverse group of community leaders and professionals, GSCWM’s board members are chosen to oversee the organization’s strategic planning, fund development, appointment of the CEO, finances, and interaction with a community that includes 6,000 girls across 186 cities and towns in Western and Central Massachusetts.
