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The Difference Makers

Difference Makers

Celebrating the 2019 Class

It was almost a decade ago now when Bill Ward, then the executive director of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, stepped to the podium at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke to accept the first Difference Maker award presented by BusinessWest.

Much has happened since then. Ward retired a few years later, and the REB is now known as the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board. But the Difference Maker award remains a constant — and a symbol of excellence and dedication to improving quality of life in this region.

Since the very beginning, this recognition program has shown conclusively that are a great many ways to make a difference. And the class of 2019, the program’s 11th, makes this even more abundantly clear, as the stories clearly show.

The six members of the class of 2019 will be honored on Thursday, March 28 at the Log Cabin. View the Program Guide HERE. To purchase tickets, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or go HERE.

2019 Difference Makers

Carla Cosenzi, Co-president, TommyCar Auto Group

She’s Been a Driving Force in Business and Philanthropy

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

This Essential Agency Helps the Region Contend with a ‘New Normal’

Peter Gagliardi, President and CEO, of Way Finders

He’s Spent a Career Bringing Home the Power of Collaboration

Frederick and Marjorie Hurst

They’ve Shared a Lifetime Working for Social Change

Joe Peters, Vice Chairman, Former President, Universal Plastics

This Business Leader Has Made a Career of Finding Ways to Give Back

The Springfield Museums

Institution Has Mastered the Art and Science of Being Entrepreneurial

2019 Presenting Sponsor

2019 Sponsors

Celebrating the Difference Makers

Come Celebrate with Us!

2019 Difference Makers
Thursday, March 28, 2019
5 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
The Log Cabin, Holyoke

Tickets are $75 per person/$750 for a table of 10.

Purchase Tickets HERE:

Nominate!

BusinessWest is pleased to announce that it is now accepting nominations for its Difference Makers class of 2020. This program, initiated in 2009, is a celebration of individuals, groups, organizations, and families that are positively impacting the Pioneer Valley and are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. Go to the Nomination Form HERE

Difference Makers Past Honorees

2018:

• Bob Bolduc, CEO of Pride Stores
• Bob “The Bike Man” Charland, Founder of Pedal Thru Youth
• Girls Inc. of Holyoke
• Evan Plotkin, President of NAI Plotkin
• Crystal Senter-Brown, Author & Adjunct Faculty at Bay Path University
• WillPower Foundation

2017:

• The Community Colleges of Western Massachusetts; Berkshire Community College, Greenfield Community College, Holyoke Community College, Springfield Technical Community College
•    Friends of the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round
•    Denis Gagnon Sr., President & CEO of Excel Dryer Inc.
•    Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts
•    Joan Kagan, President & CEO of Square One.

2016:

•    Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr.
•   Mike Balise, Balise Motor Sales, Philanthropist (1965-2015)
•   Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties
•   Bay Path University President Carol Leary
•   John Robison, president, J.E. Robison Service

2015:

•   Katelynn’s Ride
•   Judy Matt, president of Spirit of Springfield
•   MassMutual Financial Group
•   The ownership group of the Student Prince and the Fort
•   Valley Venture Mentors

2014:

•   The Gray House
•   Colleen Loveless, executive director of the Springfield chapter of Rebuilding Together
•   The Melha Shriners
•   Paula Moore, founder of YSET Academy and a teacher at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Training Academy
•   Michael Moriarty, attorney, director of Olde Holyoke Development Corp., and supporter of childhood literacy programs

2013:

•   Michael Cutone, John Barbieri, and Thomas Sarrouf, organizers of Springfield’s C3 Policing program
•   John Downing, president of Soldier On
•    Bruce Landon, president and general manager of the Springfield Falcons
•   The Sisters of Providence
•   Jim Vinick, managing director of Investments for Moors & Cabot Inc.

2012:

•   Charlie and Donald D’Amour, president/COO and chairman/CEO of Big Y Foods
•   William Messner, president of Holyoke Community College
•   Majors Tom and Linda-Jo Perks, officers of the Springfield Corps of the Salvation Army
•   Bob Schwarz, executive vice president of Peter Pan Bus Lines
•   The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts

2011:

•   Tim Brennan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
•   Lucia Giuggio Carvalho, founder of Rays of Hope
•   Don Kozera, president of Human Resources Unlimited
•   Robert Perry, retired partner/consultant at Meyers Brothers Kalicka
•   Anthony Scott, Holyoke police chief

2010:

•   The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation
•   Ellen Freyman, attorney and shareholder at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C.
•   James Goodwin, president and CEO of the Center for Human Development
•   Carol Katz, CEO of the Loomis Communities
•   UMass Amherst and its chancellor, Robert Holub

2009:

•   Doug Bowen, president and CEO of PeoplesBank
•   Kate Kane, managing director of the Springfield office of Northwestern Mutual Financial/the Zuzolo Group
•   Susan Jaye-Kaplan, founder of GoFIT and co-founder of Link to Libraries
•   William Ward, executive director of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County
•   The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield