People on the Move
Peter Albero
Greenfield Savings Bank (GSB) announced that Peter Albero, currently serving as chief financial officer and treasurer, will become the bank’s next president and CEO. Since joining GSB in September 2023, Albero has strengthened the bank’s financial operations and guided strategic initiatives. With more than 35 years of experience in the financial industry, he brings deep expertise and a strong commitment to community banking. Albero will succeed Thomas Meshako, who will retire in early 2026 after leading Greenfield Savings Bank with distinction. Under Meshako’s leadership, GSB achieved significant growth while maintaining its mission of serving customers and communities with integrity. Before joining GSB, Albero served as chief financial officer at Salisbury Bank & Trust. He also worked as a risk advisory consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. For more than 26 years, he held senior roles in the Financial Controller group at Morgan Stanley. He is a licensed CPA in the state of New York and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Manhattan College and an MBA in finance and international business from New York University.
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Matt Durkee
Community Bank, a subsidiary of Community Financial System Inc. (CFSI), announced that Matt Durkee has been appointed chief banking officer, effective Jan. 2. Durkee succeeds Jeff Levy, who retired at the end of the year following a distinguished banking career. As chief banking officer, Durkee will oversee Community Bank’s banking strategy and performance across commercial, small business, and retail banking. His responsibilities will include driving balanced growth, strengthening client relationships, advancing credit and risk discipline, supporting market expansion, and ensuring alignment between banking operations and the company’s broader strategic objectives. The role also plays a central part in talent development, operational excellence, and delivering consistent value to customers and communities. Durkee joined Community Bank in 2022 and made an immediate impact, first leading the bank’s New England market and most recently serving as president of Commercial Banking. In that role, he guided commercial growth initiatives, deepened client engagement, and partnered closely with regional leadership teams to deliver strong results.
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Nina Antonetti
The Springfield Museums announced the appointment of Nina Antonetti as vice president of Advancement, effective Jan. 2. She will be responsible for strategic development, design, and direction for all philanthropic initiatives and programs in support of the museums. In addition, she will oversee the marketing and communications team, as well as special events and membership activities. Antonetti brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in fundraising across museums, cultural institutions, higher education, and international consulting. Most recently, she served as chief Advancement officer at the Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home in Lenox, where she inaugurated the role and held a central leadership position on multiple strategic planning and campaign task forces. Previously, she was managing director at Carter Global, where she provided governance, strategic, and fundraising counsel to major nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada, including museums, cultural centers, disability services organizations, and international humanitarian institutions. Earlier leadership roles include chief Development officer at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Fla., and associate vice president for Corporate and Foundation Relations at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Her career also includes senior advancement and donor relations roles at Williams College Museum of Art and the Conway School of Sustainable Landscape Planning and Design, alongside a distinguished academic career at Smith College, where she founded the nation’s first Landscape Studies program and served on the faculty for 15 years. Outside her professional work, Antonetti serves on the boards of Berkshire Country Day School and the Emily Dickinson Museum, with prior board service spanning museums, libraries, and educational institutions. She holds a PhD in art history from the University of London, with a concentration in architectural and landscape history, and has an extensive record of scholarly publications, exhibitions, and public engagement projects.
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Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that attorneys Timothy Netkovick and Ryan O’Hara have been named shareholders of the firm, effective Jan. 1. These promotions reflect the firm’s continued commitment to recognizing outstanding legal skill, leadership, and dedication to client service. Netkovick joined Bacon Wilson in April 2022 and has quickly become an integral member of the firm. His practice focuses on employment law and general litigation. He brings more than 20 years of experience in commercial litigation and employment law, advising and representing clients across a wide range of industries. He earned his bachelor’s degree from American International College and his juris doctorate from Western New England University School of Law. He regularly represents clients before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He is admitted to practice in both Massachusetts and Connecticut state courts, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the districts of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont. O’Hara joined Bacon Wilson in the summer of 2015 as an intern in the litigation department, working with Shareholder Mark Tanner. He later participated in the firm’s law clerk program during the 2016-17 academic year. Following a clerkship with Justice Jeffrey Kinder of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, O’Hara returned to Bacon Wilson and began his career as an associate attorney in September 2018. He received his bachelor’s degree cum laude from Tufts University and his juris doctorate summa cum laude from Western New England University School of Law. His practice encompasses significant experience in contract and business matters, land use litigation, personal injury and accident cases, as well as appellate matters. He is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Federal District of Massachusetts, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and currently serves on the board of directors for the Hampden County Bar Assoc.
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Zach Chornyak
Dan Holmes
Jason Urso
Tighe & Bond announced the promotion of three new vice presidents. Zach Chornyak, Dan Holmes, and Jason Urso were recognized for outstanding project and client management skills, in addition to their leadership and organizational impact. Chornyak has been with the firm for more than 19 years and brings deep expertise in both horizontal and vertical infrastructure projects. Now a vice president in the Water Business Line, he has led complex, multi-disciplinary work across all of Tighe & Bond’s business lines. His project experience ranges from the rehabilitation of the historic Bridge of Flowers landmark in Shelburne Fallsto flood station rehabilitations for multiple communities, as well as capital planning and asset management initiatives. Chornyak serves as a client manager for clients throughout Western Mass. and New York, a resource manager for teams in Western Mass., and an advisory member to the firm’s board of directors. He is also active in industry associations, including the Massachusetts Municipal Assoc. and the New England Water Environment Assoc., and is a past president of the Western Massachusetts Water Works Assoc. With more than 20 years of professional experience, including nearly 19 years at Tighe & Bond, Holmes is a vice president focused on the planning, evaluation, design, and construction of public and private transportation projects. A licensed professional engineer in Massachusetts and Connecticut and a LEED-accredited professional, he brings a strong background in transportation infrastructure, roadways, culverts and bridges, public utilities, and civil/site engineering. Holmes currently serves as Business Development leader for the transportation sector in the firm’s Westfield office and is actively involved in the American Public Works Assoc., the Tri-County Highway Superintendents Assoc., and as chairman of his local Water Pollution Control Authority, demonstrating his commitment to public infrastructure and municipal leadership. Coming up on 14 years with the firm and with 23 years of experience, Urso is now a vice president in the Building Services Business Line, where he is responsible for a significant portfolio of projects, and is Client Service manager for two of the firm’s largest clients in the Building Services Business Line. As mechanical resource manager and a longstanding member of the firm’s quality management committee, he has been a consistent steward of quality in project delivery, proposal development, and in the development and maintenance of standards that helped set the foundation for the growth of the mechanical/HVAC engineering practice. Urso has been actively involved in ASHRAE (an international society for heating, refrigerating, and air conditioning professionals) for over a decade, having served in several committee roles on the local, regional, and national levels and receiving awards for his contributions. He also traveled to Sri Lanka to conduct training to ASHRAE committee members.
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Kenneth Conway
Pioneer Landscapes Inc. announced the addition of Master Gardener Kenneth Conway to its team, strengthening the company’s focus on expert horticulture, sustainable design, and client education throughout Western Mass. and Northern Conn. Conway is a long-time Western Mass. master gardener and active community educator, known for leading workshops and public programs on topics such as soil health, beneficial insects, and climateadaptive gardening. He has worked with community gardens, libraries, and local organizations to help residents build more productive, resilient gardens suited to New England’s conditions. At Pioneer Landscapes, he will lead horticulturedriven services, including garden and landscape planning, plant selection, and onsite coaching for residential and commercial clients. He will also collaborate with local partners to develop educational events and speaking engagements that promote sustainable landscaping practices across the region.
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Alexander Moore
Alexander Moore, assistant professor of Mathematics at Westfield State University, has been invited to serve as a co-chair for the Philosophy of Mathematics and Mathematics Education research group at the 16th International Congress on Mathematical Education (ICME), taking place in Prague in July 2028. As the premier global forum for the field, ICME is held every four years under the auspices of the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction. The congress brings together thousands of researchers, educators, and policymakers to exchange innovations in curriculum development, pedagogy, and assessment. The upcoming 2028 event follows the 2024 congress in Sydney, Australia, which drew more than 2,300 international delegates. Moore will lead a diverse, five-person international leadership team consisting of two co-chairs and three vice chairs. In this capacity, he will oversee the direction of the research group, co-author position papers, and serve as an editor for the resulting scholarly reports. These documents are vital to the discipline, frequently evolving into influential edited volumes and published research that drive the worldwide development of mathematics education.
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Bulkley Richardson announced that Erin Thron has joined the firm as counsel. Thron is a litigator with nearly 20 years of experience in diverse practice areas, including hospital and medical malpractice defense, mental health litigation, employment, legal malpractice, healthcare law, and commercial and business litigation. With a particular focus on mental health litigation, she advises hospitals, psychiatric units, and healthcare facilities to obtain appropriate orders for treatment and/or safe discharge for incapacitated patients. She also has significant experience handling medical board investigations and defending licensed medical professionals. Thron graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2001 and earned a juris doctorate from Western New England University School of Law in 2006.
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Ryan Hess
Florence Bank announced that Ryan Hess, vice president / commercial team leader, has been promoted to lead the bank’s commercial lending efforts as senior vice president / chief Commercial Banking officer. Hess replaces Mike Lynch, senior vice president / senior commercial lender, who will retire in 2026 after 21 years at Florence Bank. Hess joined Florence Bank in 2023 and has 14 years of banking experience as well as a strong affinity for commercial lending and solutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Stonehill College in Easton and believes his skill in collaboration and leadership will continue to inform his work for Florence Bank as he manages the commercial team. Active in the community, he sits on the board for United Way of Franklin & Hampshire County and serves as a committee member for Ronald McDonald House and Make-A-Wish of Massachusetts.
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Karolina Weagle
Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., a regional law firm with offices in Springfield and Northampton, announced that attorney Karolina Weagle has been selected to the 2025 Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in the area of estate planning and estate administration. This is the third consecutive year she has received this designation. Weagle concentrates her practice on estate planning, estate administration, and commercial real estate, providing client-centered guidance and emerging leadership in these fields. She has quickly established a reputation for thoughtful counsel and dedication to her clients’ needs. She is a cum laude graduate of New England Law | Boston. Prior to joining Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin in 2022, she practiced at a Boston firm representing clients in litigation and criminal defense matters. Upon returning to Western Mass., she began practicing in the areas of real estate, estate planning, and estate administration. She is fluent in Polish, allowing her to serve a diverse client base throughout Western Mass.
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Dan Cannity
Hellen Muma
Mark Seifried
Local food and farming justice nonprofit organization Grow Food Northampton announced the addition of a cohort of three new members to the organization’s board of directors. The new members — Dan Cannity, Hellen Muma, and Mark Seifried — bring a diversity of personal and professional experience to the work of governing Grow Food Northampton, and a deep commitment to the values and work of the organization to both feed community members who are experiencing hunger and establish a robust and just local food system for the Greater Northampton area for the long term. Cannity has been active in social justice causes for most of his life and served as co-chair of the Northampton Policing Review commission. As a self-described foodie, he frequents Grow Food Northampton’s Tuesday and Winter markets in search of things to try. He is excited by the possibilities and community-building spaces Grow Food Northampton is creating and is proud to help support these efforts.
Muma is a public health professional and public health policy associate with the Springfield Food Policy Council, where she works to advance equitable food access and strengthen local food systems. Her work focuses on addressing systemic barriers to food access and supporting policy and advocacy efforts that center community health and equity. She earned a bachelor’s degree in public health from UMass Amherst in 2023 and a master of public health degree in epidemiology in 2024.
Raised farming alongside her Kenyan immigrant parents, Muma’s connection to food and land is deeply personal and informs her approach to public health work, which is grounded in the belief that access to nourishing food is a right, not a privilege, and that community-led solutions are essential to building just and resilient food systems.
Seifried has been an organic gardener and involved with community gardens and local farms since the 1980s. As a former restaurant operator and food pantry and soup kitchen manager, he has a passion for building community around wholesome and delicious food. He currently serves as pastor and teacher of Haydenville Congregational Church, leads a private spiritual companion practice, and is a community organizer and listening circle facilitator.
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Paragus IT, a strategic IT services firm for small to medium-sized businesses, recently welcomed Robyn Garcia as vice president of Security and Compliance, further strengthening the company’s leadership team as it continues its rapid growth. Garcia brings more than 20 years of experience across IT operations, cybersecurity, compliance, and infrastructure leadership in both public and private sector environments. In her new role, she will oversee Paragus’s security and compliance strategy, helping clients navigate increasingly complex regulatory, risk, and governance requirements — including frameworks such as CMMC and HIPAA — while advancing the company’s own internal security posture. As one of her first initiatives, Garcia will lead Paragus through its CMMC Level 2 certification, reinforcing the company’s commitment to meeting the highest standards for security and compliance in support of government contractors and regulated organizations. Most recently, she served as director of Operations at ArcLight IT, where she led company-wide operations, strategic planning, and process improvements to drive efficiency and scale. She previously held senior IT and cybersecurity leadership roles at Revolution Space, Howard Energy Partners, and Weaver Technologies. She began her career as an information systems technician in the U.S. Navy, where she worked within highly regulated and security-critical environments. Garcia holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in management information systems, along with industry-recognized certifications, including CISSP and CompTIA Security+. She is currently completing a master of liberal arts degree in cybersecurity at Harvard University.
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H. Scott Sanborn
Hometown Financial Group, the multi-bank holding company for bankESB, bankHometown, and North Shore Bank, and its Abington Bank and Colonial Federal Savings Bank divisions, announced the appointment of H. Scott Sanborn as its new executive vice president, chief commercial banking officer. He brings 36 years of banking experience to the role, along with a strong record of leadership, community involvement, and commercial banking expertise. He will oversee all aspects of commercial banking across Hometown Financial Group’s family of banks, including commercial lending, relationship development, and strategic growth. Sanborn, most recently with HarborOne Bank, served as executive vice president, chief lending officer. His distinguished career also includes senior leadership roles at TD Bank, Sovereign Bank, and Fleet Bank, where he helped guide business banking teams, commercial lending strategies, and regional growth initiatives. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international politics from Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and finance from Babson College. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to the community, serving on numerous boards and committees, including the Spirit of Adventure Council – Scouting America, New England Certified, the Metro South Chamber of Commerce, and the United Way leadership campaign and fundraising committee. He has also contributed his leadership to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and the Emerging Leaders Program at the University of Massachusetts.
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John Barros
The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) board of directors voted unanimously to appoint John Barros interim executive director of the authority, with a start date of Jan. 14. Barros brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, with a career focused on economic development, equitable growth, and community impact. From 2014 to 2021, he served as chief of Economic Development for the city of Boston, where he led the creation of a newly consolidated Economic Development Cabinet focused on equity and inclusion, and advanced initiatives to create jobs, strengthen tourism, train the workforce, and revitalize neighborhoods. Most recently, he served as managing principal at Civitas Builders, a Boston-based firm focused on improving communities through responsive real estate development and strategic project execution. As interim executive director, he will oversee the MCCA’s venue portfolio and operations, including the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center, the MassMutual Center, and the Lawn on D, while advancing the authority’s mission to drive economic impact through events and tourism.
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Rachel Heller
The Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) board of directors announced the appointment of Rachel Heller as the new executive director of MHP. Heller, who currently serves as CEO of the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Assoc. (CHAPA), begins her new role on March 30. At CHAPA, a nonprofit organization that promotes affordable housing across Massachusetts, Heller leads organizational efforts to bring together diverse coalitions of stakeholders to stimulate the production and preservation of affordable housing, expand access to rental and homeownership opportunities, and foster diverse and sustainable neighborhoods through advocacy, planning, and community development. In her time at CHAPA, she led the creation of its Municipal Engagement Initiative, an education and technical assistance program for residents and municipalities to build diverse coalitions in support of housing development, and secured $1 million in seed funding for the creation of CHAPA’s Housing Policy Action Center. She was an advocacy lead for the MBTA Communities Act and multiple housing bond bills, served as a member of the Governor’s Housing Advisory Council, and currently serves on the Governor’s Interagency Housing and Homelessness External Advisory Council. She is known for her collaborative approach, having led, launched, convened, or supported several successful coalitions, including Our Massachusetts: Homes for a Thriving Commonwealth Coalition, the On Solid Ground Coalition, the MRVP Coalition, the Building Blocks Coalition on state budget advocacy, the New England Housing Network, and the Supportive Housing Pipeline Coalition.
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The Michael J. Dias Foundation Inc., a leader in providing safe and supportive sober housing environments for people in recovery and family support groups, announced the appointment of Patrick Carpenter as its new executive director. He brings more than 14 years of experience in institutional advancement, development, fundraising, and nonprofit leadership, as well as advocacy in the substance use disorder and addiction recovery field. In this position, Carpenter will spearhead the organization’s strategic vision, and his focus will be expanding housing capacity by completing a capital campaign to open a new women’s sober house, enhancing recovery support services, forging stronger community partnerships, and growing a donor base to combat the ongoing addiction crisis in Western Mass. Prior to joining the Michael J. Dias Foundation, Carpenter served as vice president and chief Advancement officer at WMHT Educational Telecommunications, where he successfully strengthened philanthropic support, expanded community partnerships, and led strategic initiatives that advanced the organization’s mission across public media and education. He holds a master’s degree in higher education administration with a concentration in leadership from Bay Path University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in English from Elms College.
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Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start recently welcomed two new members, Monalisa Smith and Maritza Sostre, to its parent-led policy council. Across the country, Head Start organizations engage parents and community representatives to make up local policy councils, providing input and guidance on program decisions. Council members play a critical role in shaping policies, ensuring accountability, and representing the voices of the families and communities served by HCS Head Start. Their active participation helps ensure the program remains responsive, effective, and aligned with the needs of the children and families it serves. Other 2025-26 HCS Head Start policy council members include Jasarah Burgos (chairperson), Kathy Gasque (vice-chairperson), Gladys Rivera (shared governance liaison), Amber Cichowski, Cinnamon Smith, Esther Alicea, Fanny Perez, and Raven Core.
