Page 87 - BusinessWest December 9, 2024

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE>>
Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that two attorneys have officially joined the firm. Former law clerk Alexandre Pereira and former real-estate intern Sara Cafaro sat for the Massachusetts State Bar Exam in late July and have since been sworn in to the Mas- sachusetts Bar as of Nov. 19. Pereira joined Bacon Wilson as
a law clerk in June 2023, gain- ing experience across multiple legal disciplines and discovering a strong passion for elder law and estate planning. During his time at Bacon Wilson, he earned his juris doctor degree with a concentration in transactional
law from Western New England University School of Law in May 2024. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, magna cum laude,
from Western New England University, achieved in 2021. Before joining Bacon Wilson, Pereira served as a legal assistant at Marta Law Offices in Ludlow, where he developed valuable expertise in estate planning and real estate. Beyond his professional pursuits, he has been an active community member, volunteering at Our Lady of Fatima Parish. He is excited to continue serving his community as Bacon Wilson’s newest associate attorney in the Elder Law and Estate Planning department. Cafaro began her journey at Bacon Wilson as an intern in the summer of 2022, working in the Corporate and Commercial Real Estate department at the Springfield office.
She later transitioned to the Westfield office in the winter of 2022, continuing her practicum internship through 2024. She earned her juris doctor degree from Western New England University School of Law in May 2024. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Western New England University, completed through the accelerated 3+3 program. This innovative program allowed her to begin her law-school coursework during her senior under- graduate year, enabling her to graduate cum laude with her bachelor’s degree a year early in May 2022. During her academic career, Cafaro was recog- nized with several prestigious awards, including
the Edward F. McBride Award and the CALI Award for Excellence in Evidence Law. She is excited to advance her career as Bacon Wilson’s newest asso- ciate attorney in the Commercial and Residential Real Estate department.
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Florence Bank has hired Chris- topher Fager to serve as vice president and commercial loan officer, and Meghan Parnell to serve as vice president, credit manager, both in the Commer- cial Lending department. With 15 years of experience at banks in the region, Fager is skilled at commercial loan origination and analysis, portfolio management, and customer service. Over
his career, he has worked with companies across all industries and has extensive knowledge with those in construction, manufacturing, nonprofits, auto dealership, logistics, dental,
veterinarian, and wholesale distribution. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from UMass Dart- mouth. Fager is active in the community, serving
BusinessWest
on the board of directors for the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club and Helix Human Services. He
is a distribution committee member for the Com- munity Foundation of Western Massachusetts
and is so well-known as a youth coach in West Springfield that many people call him Coach Fager. Parnell will lead her team in the analysis of existing and proposed commercial loans and commercial loan portfolio management and assist the senior management team with loan policy, budgeting, strategic planning, and external support systems. Skilled in commercial credit and lending, financial analysis, team leadership, process improvement, and digital strategy, Parnell has served as a chief lending officer, senior financial product manager, business lending manager, and commercial credit officer. She holds an associate degree in mathemat- ics from Holyoke Community College and a bach- elor’s degree in business administration from UMass Amherst. In the community, Parnell has served Fam- ily Outreach of Amherst, the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School, and as treasurer of the Holyoke Community College Foundation. She was named to the Busi- nessWest 40 Under Forty class of 2014.
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LUSO Federal Credit Union announced that Russ Kelly has joined the team as Business Development manager and senior loan originator. A native of Scotland with more than
15 years of experience in the mortgage industry in both the U.K. and U.S., he brings a wealth
of expertise and a dedication to client-centered service. In addition to his role at LUSO, Kelly is actively engaged in the local community as trea- surer of the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield. In this capacity, he ensures the profit- ability of programs and advocates for membership representation throughout the Springfield area. He is also a member and ambassador of the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce, where he encourages the patronage and membership of local businesses across Western Mass.
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OMG Inc., a leading global supplier of specialty fasten-
ers, products, and technology for commercial roofing and residential construction appli- cations, recently named Noah Forrest senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). In his new role, Forrest will work with the company’s senior man-
agement team to develop financial plans, forecasts, and budgets that support the company’s long-term strategic goals. Other responsibilities include pre- paring and presenting financial statements and reports to the company and to Steel Partners, its owner; managing the company’s cash flow and capital investments; evaluating acquisition opportu- nities as they arise; ensuring adherence to financial regulations and standards; and driving a plan to advance the company’s technology road map. In addition, he will manage the company’s finance
and information-technology teams and assist the president in performing his responsibilities. He reports to John Ashe, president and CEO. Forrest has more than 20 years of financial, accounting, and strategic leadership experience with Stanley Black
& Decker (SBD) and Raytheon Technologies. Most
recently, he served as CFO of SBD’s Smart Storage Solutions, which includes the Vidmar, LISTA, and CribMaster brands, where he drove significant prof- itability improvement while stimulating an increase in organic growth. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance with a minor in information technology from Bentley University, and an MBA from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
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Amy Royal, CEO of the Royal Law Firm, is now an arbitrator with National Arbitration and Mediation (NAM), which offers access to a panel of arbitra- tors and mediators consisting of former judges and attorneys from many fields. NAM has been named a top provider of
alternative dispute resolution services in the U.S. for more than 10 years. Along with being a NAM arbitrator, Royal is licensed to practice in the state and federal courts in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York.
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Theodores’ Blues, Booze, and BBQ announced
that longtime Head Chef Emily Meunier has joined the ownership team. This transition underscores the restaurant’s dedication to culinary excellence and its commitment to nurturing talent from within. Meunier has been a driving force in the kitchen since 2009. As co-owner, she will continue to spearhead the culinary team while introducing innovative menu offerings that reflect her deep love for barbecue and bold flavors.
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Hinckley Allen recently wel- comed Katie McDonough as a partner in the firm’s Corpo- rate & Business Transactions and Trusts & Estates practice groups. McDonough brings a wealth of experience advising clients on transactions, corpo- rate structure, business plan-
ning and risk management, and trusts and estates. She was previously a partner at Egan, Flanagan
& Cohen in Springfield. McDonough counsels a range of clients, including nonprofits, educational institutions, medical and professional service firms, family-owned businesses, and individuals. She provides actionable guidance on transactions and advises on corporate governance, entity formation, employment-law issues, and other business-related legal issues, developing strategies for business growth and long-term success. Additionally, her practice involves drafting and negotiating com- mercial agreements, representing clients in complex civil litigation, resolving partnership disputes, and assisting with estate planning and probate pro- cesses. McDonough was named to BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty in 2020 and has been recognized for her accomplishments by Best Lawyers Ones to Watch in Corporate Law since 2021. She is an active Hampden County Bar Assoc. (HCBA) member, hav- ing served on the board of directors and various committees, including the pro bono advisory com- mittee and the HCBA legal clinic. She is active in the College of the Holy Cross Alumni Club of the Pio- neer Valley. As a military wife, she maintains involve- ment in the local military veterans’ community; she is also a member of the St. Thomas More Society and serves on the board of the Western Massachu- setts Catholic Foundation.
ALEX ANDRE PEREIRA
SARA CAFARO
AMY ROYAL
RUSS KELLY
KATIE MCDONOUGH
NOAH FORREST
CHRISTOPHER FAGER
MEGHAN PARNELL
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