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The Class of 2019

Vice President, Engineering Operations, Belcan Engineering; Age 39
Education: Western New England College (BSBA, MBA),
Quinnipiac University (MS)

Ryan Watson

Ryan Watson

What did you want to be when you grew up? When I was younger, I wanted to be a fireman. Unfortunately, I have a terrible fear of heights. Climbing up a 50-foot ladder was not going to be possible.

How do you define success? As I grew up, team sports played a large part in my development. Being part of a team, you quickly realize you can’t be successful unless the people around you work together. I continue to pull from these experiences in adulthood, and in my business and personal life. I always try to surround myself with positive, brilliant, and hardworking people. By doing so, not only can I be successful, but I can help others as well.

What three words best describe you? Passionate, hardworking, driven.

Whom do you look up to, and why? My parents. Not only have they always provided love and support, but they have an unwavering confidence in me. They are extremely hardworking and have an entrepreneurial spirit that I really admire. They married very young and never attended college, but own a successful business that was built from the ground up. They instilled in me the drive to be my best.

What goal do you set for yourself at the start of each day? My goal is to do one thing each day that has a positive impact. This could be an impact on someone within my organization, by mentoring them or providing guidance on a project. I have also made a conscious effort to give back and, through our company, have joined forces with Journey Home. This organization gives people a second chance, and we place them with jobs within Belcan. If I can make at least one impact each day, then it wasn’t wasted.

What person, past or present, would you like to have lunch with, and why? I would like to have lunch with any U.S. president, Republican or Democrat. I am in awe of the massive responsibility that a sitting president has, and I would love an opportunity to talk about the responsibilities and how they handle it all.

What will work colleagues say at your funeral? I would hope they would say I didn’t take myself too seriously. They would say I lived a full life, always put my family first, and was fair and honest in how I treated people.

 

Photography by Leah Martin Photography

The Class of 2019

Deputy City Procurement Officer, City of Springfield; Age 33
Education: Massachusetts Maritime Academy (BS), Western New England University (JD), Western New England University (LLM)

Theo Theocles

Theo Theocles

What did you want to be when you grew up? Either a police officer or JAG officer.

What three words best describe you? Loyal, passionate, driven.

What are you passionate about? Football, the law, music, outdoor/shooting sports, and rides around Western Mass. in my Jeep with my wife, Jenny, or my dog, Sadie.

Who has been your best mentor, and why? My best mentors would have to be my parents. I learned the values of hard work and perseverance from my father, and patience and stoicism from my mother.

Whom do you look up to, and why? I was hired as Springfield’s deputy Procurement officer at the age of 28, and have been one of the younger managers for the city ever since. I have looked up to many different managers and department heads in the organization for institutional knowledge and leadership advice along the way. I am extremely fortunate for that mentorship and career advice, as well as being part of the city during this exciting time.

What goal do you set for yourself at the start of each day? I am a firm believer that life is one big learning experience. I am also a very competitive person. Every day, I make it a goal to try and be better than the day before, and I try to apply this to my marriage, family and friends, legal skills, and career goals.

What person, past or present, would you like to have lunch with, and why? Either Theodore Roosevelt or my grandfather. I would want to hear their outdoorsman stories and perspectives on a variety of topics from both of them.

What fictional character do you relate to most, and why? I would probably have to go with Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation. He has a libertarian streak I often identify with, and seems to always want to better himself as a well-rounded man. He also works in municipal government, and despite the tough-guy persona, he truly cares about his community.

What will work colleagues say at your funeral? “What are we going do with all these blue highlighters, and who is going to draft all these contracts?”

 

Photography by Leah Martin Photography

The Class of 2019

Owner, Mercedes-Benz of Springfield; Age 39
Education: University of Mannheim, Germany (MS)

Peter Wirth

Peter Wirth

What did you want to be when you grew up? An accountant. I even interned at a CPA’s office in high school. I’m not sure what went wrong.

What three words best describe you? Determined, detail-oriented, open-minded.

What are you passionate about? Spirited discussions and cars, obviously.

Who has been your best mentor, and why? My first boss, who ended up being one of my best friends and my best man. He commands respect by sheer work ethic, determination, and integrity. He coaches by asking the right questions instead of helping with the answers, gives room to fail, shares the spotlight, and is willing to take the blame.

How do you define success? In business: being able to create and effectively communicate a vision, establish a culture of respect and ambition, and create an environment that allows everyone to reach their full potential. In life: seeing my kids turn into good people who go through life with grace and courtesy as well as the necessary resolve and stick-to-itiveness to be the best at what they choose to do.

Whom do you look up to, and why? My parents, because they are awesome! My wife, because she is just as awesome!

What person, past or present, would you like to have lunch with, and why? Ernest Hemingway. I feel like he would have a few good stories, and there would most certainly be cocktails accompanying the lunch.

What actor would play you in a movie about your life? Meryl Streep. Let’s see if she really can play anything.

 

Photography by Leah Martin Photography

Women of Impact 2018

Leaders Who Have Been to the Top

BusinessWest’s chosen Women of Impact for 2018 know what it’s like to surmount challenges, tackle huge obstacles, and clear bars they’ve set very high.

As they receive their awards on Dec. 6, they and a gathered audience of friends, family, and colleagues will hear some motivational words from someone who’s done all those things in a very literal sense.

Indeed, the keynote speaker for the Inaugural Women of Impact Awards will be Lei Wang, the first Asian woman to climb the highest mountain on every continent and to ski to both the North and South Poles. 

Wang, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Tsinghua University in Beijing, an M.S. degree in Computer Science from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, was on track for a promising career in information technology — until she discovered her passion for mountaineering in 2004 and set her dream on reaching the peak of the world’s highest mountains on seven continents and skiing to the North and South poles.

With no previous athletic training, she started with running, from one mile to a marathon. She built her basic fitness foundation and learned the craft of climbing from scratch. She gave up a normal life to dedicate herself to this undertaking and overcame many physical and ideological challenges with her commitment and determination. Her remarkable journey culminated at the top of Mount Everest on May 24, 2010. With that climb, she became the first Asian Woman to successfully reach the world’s seven summits and two poles.

Wang now shares her reflections and experiences in front of a wide range of audiences as a motivational speaker. At the Dec. 6 event at the Sheraton in Springfield, she’ll be sharing the day with eight women who have reached the pinnacle of their chosen profession, but who have also devoted their lives and their careers to finding ways to give back to the community.

That’s why they’ve been chosen as Women of Impact, with the emphasis on both women and impact.

The Women of Impact for 2018 are:

• Jean Canosa Albano, assistant director of Public Services, Springfield City Library;

• Kerry Dietz, principal, Dietz Architects;

• Denise Jordan, executive director, Springfield Housing Authority;

• Gina Kos, executive director, Sunshine Village;

• Carol Leary, president, Bay Path University;

• Colleen Loveless, president and CEO, Revitalize Community Development Corp.;

• Janis Santos, executive director, HCS Head Start; and

• Katie Allan Zobel, president and CEO, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

The awards luncheon will begin at 11 a.m. with registration and networking. Lunch will begin at noon, followed by the program and introduction of the Women of Impact by Kate Campiti, associate publisher of BusinessWest and Healthcare News and Tamara Sacharczyk, news anchor and I-Team reporter for WWLP-22 News.

The Inaugural Women of Impact is sponsored by Bay Path University, Comcast Business, Country Bank, and Granite State Development Corp, with media sponsor WWLP-22.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call (413) 781-8600, or go HERE.

Thank you to our sponsors:


Sponsors:

Bay Path University; Comcast Business; Country Bank; Granite State Development

Exclusive Media Sponsor:

Springfield 22 News The CW

Photography by Dani Fine Photography

Features

Photos from the June 2 Event

Gala sponsor Sarat Ford Lincoln with special guest judge Lindsay Arnold (fourth from left) and Bay Path President Carol Leary (fourth from right).

Gala sponsor Sarat Ford Lincoln with special guest judge Lindsay Arnold (fourth from left) and Bay Path President Carol Leary (fourth from right).

Andrew Associates, Mirror Ball sponsors of the Gala.

Andrew Associates, Mirror Ball sponsors of the Gala.

From left to right, Prestley and Helen Blake; President Carol Leary and Noel Leary

From left to right, Prestley and Helen Blake; President Carol Leary and Noel Leary

Emcee Ashley Kohl and special guest judge Lindsay Arnold from ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

Emcee Ashley Kohl and special guest judge Lindsay Arnold from ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

Gala Honorary Chairs: (from left to right) Steven and Alissa Korn; Drew and Lauren Davis; and Carrie ’86 and Tim Burr.

Gala Honorary Chairs: (from left to right) Steven and Alissa Korn; Drew and Lauren Davis; and Carrie ’86 and Tim Burr.

From left to right, Gala judges Jonathan Besse, vice chair of the Board of Trustees; Lamont Clemons, Springfield business leader; and Lindsay Arnold from “Dancing With the Stars” provided comments on the dancers.

From left to right, Gala judges Jonathan Besse, vice chair of the Board of Trustees; Lamont Clemons, Springfield business leader; and Lindsay Arnold from “Dancing With the Stars” provided comments on the dancers.

A shot of the dance floor!

A shot of the dance floor!

Founder and CEO Delcie Bean IV from Paragus Strategic IT with partner Daryll Sverrisson’98.

Founder and CEO Delcie Bean IV from Paragus Strategic IT with partner Daryll Sverrisson’98.

Patricia Faginski, vice president and financial advisor at St. Germain Investment Management danced with Gunnar Sverrisson of Ballroom Fever in Enfield, CT.

Patricia Faginski, vice president and financial advisor at St. Germain Investment Management danced with Gunnar Sverrisson of Ballroom Fever in Enfield, CT.

From left to right, President Leary joins the dancers at the end of the competition, Daryll Sverrisson ’98, Delcie Bean IV, Maria Rodriguez-Furlow ‘’10 G’12 of Bay Path, Gunnar Sverrisson, and the winner of the Mirror Ball Trophy:  Patricia Faginski.

From left to right, President Leary joins the dancers at the end of the competition, Daryll Sverrisson ’98, Delcie Bean IV, Maria Rodriguez-Furlow ‘’10 G’12 of Bay Path, Gunnar Sverrisson, and the winner of the Mirror Ball Trophy: Patricia Faginski.