Page 41 - BusinessWest August 19, 2024

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE>>
Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.
announced three new hires: Catherine O’Connell as A&A (Audit and Assurance) associ- ate, Katrina Arona as Marketing and Recruiting associate, and Taylor Bahn as A&A associ-
ate. O’Connell first joined the firm as an A&A intern and has been promoted to associate
in the firm’s A&A department. Her professional focus includes assurance services, with industry concentrations in not-for-profit sectors. She received her bach- elor’s degree in accounting from Westfield State University and
is a member of CPAmerica and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants. Arona joins MBK with five years of experience in administrative and project management. She received her bachelor’s degre from Springfield College and is a member of CPAmerica, the Mas-
sachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Assoc. for Accounting Marketers. Bahn
was promoted to associate after initially joining
the firm as an intern. He holds a bachelor of busi- ness administration degree, and his master’s degree in accounting is slated for completion this sum- mer from UMass Amherst. He is also a member of CPAmerica, the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Assoc. for Accounting Marketers.
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Greenfield Cooperative Bank announced the return of Shelly Hall Malo as a senior mortgage originator. She brings more than 25 years of experience in the mortgage industry to the role and will be instrumental in helping local residents achieve their homeownership dreams.
Hall Malo previously worked at Greenfield Co-op for eight years in the early 2000s. She has a proven track record of success in originating mortgages, with a deep understanding of the local market and a com- mitment to providing exceptional customer service.
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Tighe & Bond announced that Wayne Bates has
been appointed as the firm’s director of Climate Resiliency and Sustainability Services. In this role,
he will lead the growth and development of Tighe & Bond’s services in the areas of mitigation and adaptation, sustainable design, and renewable- energy infrastructure. He brings more than 35 years of experience in environmental engineering, with a focus on designing and implementing operational improvements for clients seeking to meet their sustainability goals. Bates has demonstrated a com- mitment to advancing sustainability practices in both academia and engineering as an adjunct pro- fessor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and UMass Dartmouth. He formerly chaired the sustainability committee for the New England Water Environment Assoc. (NEWEA), and currently serves as the travel- ing mentor for the UMass Amherst Engineers With- out Borders Ghana project team. He was recently recognized for his contributions to the water indus- try by NEWEA through his induction into the New England Chapter of the Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers.
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Holyoke Community College (HCC) recently named William Reyes-Cubides as assistant vice president of Academic Affairs and Student Success. In this new position, Reyes-Cubides will serve as a bridge between both sides of the Academic
and Student Affairs division to ensure that students receive the support they need
to achieve academic success. At San Jose, Reyes- Cubides’ experience included curriculum develop- ment, resource allocation, personnel supervision, community relations and outreach, and student success initiatives. He previously worked as the dean of Arts and Humanities at Southcentral Ken- tucky Community and Technical School and an academic specialist of Curriculum Development and coordinator of Language Instruction at Michigan State University. At HCC, he will oversee student support programs, including El Centro (for Latinx students), ALANA (for men of color), TRIO (for first- generation, low-income students), the Office for Students with Disabilities and Deaf Services, the Center for Academic Program Supports (tutoring centers), academic English as a Second Language, and SAMP, HCC’s Student Ambassador Mentorship Program. The son of a teacher, Reyes-Cubides was born and raised in Colombia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education, Spanish, and English stud-
ies from the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional
de Colombia in Bogotá, and a master’s degree in Romance languages and Hispanic studies from Boston College. He is pursuing his doctorate in edu- cation in leadership for equity in higher education from the University of Colorado-Denver.
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Dietz & Company Architects Inc. announced that Dani Garber-Letitia, AIA has been promoted to the position of senior architect. Garber-Letitia joined the firm in 2021, bringing her unique experience in work- ing as both an architect and an owner’s project manager. She
manages medium to large-size construction proj- ects, specializing in renovation and modernization for multi-family housing clients. She also manages the firm’s Cambridge office, serves as a mentor for junior staff, and has taken the lead on organizing in-house educational and training opportunities. Along with her regular work duties, Garber-Letitia is currently pursuing additional education to become a certified passive house consultant to increase
the firm’s knowledge and capabilities for energy- efficient design.
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The Springfield Symphony
Orchestra (SSO) announced that local businessman and community activist Cesar Ruiz and Bernard (“Bernie”) Spirito, who recently retired as the Springfield Museums’ chief financial officer, have joined the organization’s board of directors. Ruiz, president and CEO of Golden Years Homec- are, is a prominent figure in
the Hispanic community as a businessman, community activ- ist, and entrepreneur. At age 25, he was the first Hispanic
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in Springfield elected to the School Committee, serving until 1986. He is also spearheading a new, state-of-the-art sports complex in Holyoke, also
set to become the new home for the International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Ruiz was the community leader sponsor for the SSO’s first-ever Latin-themed concert, Havana Nights, during the 2022-23 sea- son. His partnership and connections within the community paved the way for the SSO to connect musically with the Latin community, attracting new audiences to Symphony Hall. Through his sponsor- ship, hundreds of middle- and high-school students from Springfield Public Schools and Holyoke Public Schools attended Havana Nights, and several local Hispanic organizations were also represented in the audience. Spirito recently retired from the Spring- field Museums, having served as the organization’s chief financial officer since 2014. During his time
at the museums, he helped guide the organization from break-even status to eight years of profitabil- ity, and successfully produced 10 years of accurate budgets and year-end closings. Prior to the Muse- ums, he served as vice president and controller at Bassette Co. LLC for nearly 30 years. He has also worked at Smith & Wesson in various capacities, including manager of Financial Analysis and manag- er of Planning and Investment Analysis. He has also been very involved with the Springfield Rotary Club since 1991, currently serving as assistant treasurer, and is a past president of the organization. Spirito is a Paul Harris Award recipient and was named Rotar- ian of the Year in 2012. He has also served as past chairman of Consolidated Finance Group of Spring- field and past president of the Springfield chapter of Financial Executives.
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Interim Finance Director Stella Chan will now serve
full-time as the finance director for the City of Greenfield. Chan holds an MBA from the Simmons Graduate School of Management and has worked in corporate and nonprofit sectors. Over the past 20 years, as principal of SMC Consulting Group, she provided fiscal management advice and accounting support to area nonprofit organizations, including United Way of Berkshire County, Holyoke Visting Nurse Assoc. & Hospice Life Care, VNA & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson, Greater Northampton Cham- ber of Commerce. and United Way of Hampshire County.
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MountainOne announced the promotion of Matthew Lauro to senior vice president, Western Massachusetts commercial team leader. In this elevated role, Lauro has assumed responsibil- ity for the oversight, manage- ment, and growth of Moun- tainOne’s commercial banking
activities in Western Mass. In addition to having the Western Mass. commercial lenders reporting to him, he is responsible for working closely with the bank’s credit administration and commercial portfolio management staff to ensure the integrity and qual- ity of the loan portfolio. Lauro joined MountainOne Bank in May 2022 as senior vice president of Com- mercial Lending. Previously, he served as vice presi- dent of Emerging Markets at State Street Bank and Trust in Boston, amassing a wealth of experience for his current role. A graduate of Rensselaer Polytech- nic Institute, he is deeply involved in his community,
CATHERINE O’CONNELL
WILLIAM REYES-CUBIDES
KATRINA ARONA
TAYLOR BAHN
SHELLY HALL MALO
DANI GARBER-LETITIA
MATTHEW LAURO
CESAR RUIZ
BERNARD SPIRITO
People
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