Departments People on the Move

People on the Move

Local news hires, promotions, awards, and appointments August 10, 2015

Kathy Tobin

Kathy Tobin

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts announced the appointment of Kathy Tobin as its new director of Development and Marketing. In this role, she will oversee all fund-raising and marketing activities for the Food Bank, including special events, individual donor cultivation, communications, corporate relations, grants, and education outreach. She will assume her position on Aug. 31. “We’re very excited to have Kathy joining our organization,” said Food Bank Executive Director Andrew Morehouse. “She brings with her a breadth of knowledge and experience from her current role at Friends of the Homeless in Springfield — a member agency that receives food from us — as well as her career in media.  We are confident that her proven track record for leadership and creativity will be a tremendous asset in forwarding the mission of the Food Bank.” Since 2009, Tobin has served as the director of Program Development for Friends of the Homeless, where she increased visibility for the nonprofit and helped more community partners learn about the critical role it plays in meeting the needs of homeless in the region. Under her direction, it established a formalized annual appeal, expanded corporate outreach, coordinated volunteer engagement, and held an annual donor event. In addition, she oversaw the establishment of the Friends of the Homeless Store, providing people with access to free personal-care items and clothing. Tobin will continue in her current position at Friends of the Homeless through the end of August. “Her talents will certainly be missed,” said Bill Miller, executive director of Friends of the Homeless. “I know I speak for our board, our staff, and our clients in acknowledging her efforts to initiate and sustain a development program for the organization. We will build upon the foundation Kathy helped us establish as we expand the support required to meet the needs of our homeless population.” Moving forward, Friends of the Homeless will be seeking someone to assume the responsibility of development and community outreach and will formalize a search process to identify someone who can continue to build on its established programs, Miller said. Prior to joining Friends of the Homeless, Tobin enjoyed a 30-year career as a television news journalist with WGGB ABC40 in Springfield, where she was honored with a number of awards for news coverage, including the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award. Among the many issues she covered during her television career were the plight of area homeless and the community campaign and planning which led to the development and construction of the Friends of the Homeless Resource Center on the organization’s Worthington Street campus. Tobin is also involved with a number of community organizations. She serves as a trustee for Elms College in Chicopee, a director of Spirit of Springfield, a director of the Women’s Commission in Springfield, and a scholarship committee member for the Valley Press Club.

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Cristina Perez

Cristina Perez

Tighe & Bond, an environmental engineering and consulting firm, recently hired Cristina Perez to lead and expand its asset-management services for the firm’s clients. A civil and environmental engineer with more than 15 years of consulting experience, she has more than nine years of experience with infrastructure asset management, capital-improvement planning, and geographic information systems (GIS). Perez will work primarily out of Tighe & Bond’s new Westwood, Mass. office. Perez has consulted with numerous public and private clients on asset-management, GIS, facilities-management, pavement-management, sustainability, and climate-change projects. She leverages her background in civil engineering for designing and architecting targeted asset-management solutions for her clients. “We are happy to welcome Cris to our growing team of experts,” said David Pinsky, president and CEO of Tighe & Bond. “Her expertise will benefit our communities and clients greatly as they become increasingly focused on asset management to prioritize and properly budget improvements within the constraints of limited funding.” Perez earned her master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from Tufts University. She received her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain.

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Robert Accorsi

Robert Accorsi

Springfield College has named Robert Accorsi its faculty athletic representative to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Appointed by Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper, Accorsi is currently an associate professor of Sport Management and Recreation at the College. He succeeds immediate past Dean and Associate Professor of Exercise Science and Sports Studies Charles Redmond, who retired following this past academic year. As faculty athletic representative, Accorsi will represent the college to the NCAA, the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference, the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, and all other athletic conferences and associations. Accorsi will oversee that academic integrity, institutional control of intercollegiate athletics, and enhancement of student-athletes’ experience are college priorities. Accorsi will also advise the college president, director of athletics, faculty, students, and other constituencies on intercollegiate athletics. Additionally, he will monitor student-athletes’ eligibility, academic progress, and graduation rates, and support their nominations for various awards. Student-athletes may discuss any aspect of their student-athlete experience with him, and he will consult with NCAA legislative services for interpretations. “I am delighted that Bob has agreed to serve in this critical position for the college. His deep understanding of sport and the needs of our student-athletes make him a perfect fit for assuming this leadership role,” Cooper said. “I look forward to working with him in this capacity. He is more than qualified to represent and advise Springfield College on intercollegiate athletics.”

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Doreen Fadus

Doreen Fadus

Doreen Fadus, executive director of Community Benefit and Health at Mercy Medical Center, has been tapped to serve as president of the board for the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, a network of more than 10,000 doctors, nurses, social workers, patients, and advocates who work to eliminate homelessness by ensuring comprehensive healthcare and secure housing for all. In this role, Fadus serves as the council’s lead representative on the national stage for advocacy issues such as the Accountable Care Act, Medicaid reimbursements, and housing and health collaboration. “Doreen personifies our mission to serve as a transforming, healing presence. She is a tremendous advocate for the local homeless community, and her selection to this national position will allow her dedication and talent to benefit a greater number of individuals,” said Yvonne Boudreau, senior vice president of Mission Services for the Sisters of Providence Health System. As Mercy’s executive director of Community Benefit and Health, Fadus oversees the hospital’s community health programs, including Health Care for the Homeless, which works in partnership with the city of Springfield and Open Pantry to provide primary-care services at 23 homeless shelters, soup kitchens, job-placement sites, and transitional programs. These services are delivered to more than 2,200 people each year in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. She also oversees Mercy’s Vietnamese Health Project, Faith Community Nursing, High End Utilizer Program, and Community Benefit. Fadus began her career at Mercy Medical Center as director of Health Care for the Homeless in 2001, and she has an extensive background in community service. She currently serves as co-chair of the Western Mass. Network to End Homelessness; an advisory board member of the Hampden County Continuum of Care Board, the Catholic Charities Diocesan Board, and the Western Mass. Task Force on Homelessness; and a member of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County. The founder and past president of Dress for Success Western Massachusetts, Fadus also serves on the board of Friends of the Homeless. “The National Health Care for the Homeless Council works with government agencies and private institutions to foster collaboration on the varied and complex problems associated with homelessness,” said Fadus. “These remarkable individuals have dedicated their lives to this important cause, and it is an honor to serve as their leader.”