Page 12 - BusinessWest February 17, 2021

Editorial
SThey’re All Making a Difference
ince BusinessWest started its Difference Makers
recognition program in 2009, we’ve told dozens of stories • Harold Grinspoon, by being a successful business person, involving individuals, groups, and institutions that are but especially by being a philanthropist who has never stopped
positively impacting life in the 413. asking about how he can help. Over the years, he has launched
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Each one is different, although there are some common threads, and each one is inspiring. And this is the point of this exercise, if you will — to tell these amazing stories, because they need to be told, and to inspire others to find their own way to make a difference in their community.
The Difference Makers class of 2021 certainly continues this tradition. The stories beginning on page 22 convey, in a single word, the passion that these individuals and groups have for helping those in their communities and improving quality of life here. And they all go about it in a different way:
• Kristin Carlson, by becoming the face, or the new face, of manufacturing in this region. And a new voice as well, one that works overtime (that’s an industry phrase) to educate people, and especially young people, about the many opportunities in this field. Her efforts are already reaping dividends, as evidenced by her own shop floor, which now boasts a number of women in machining positions;
• EforAll Holyoke, by becoming another powerful force in the region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. Through its accelerator programs, mentorship initiatives, and other ongoing forms of support, this nonprofit is helping many people, especially those in the minority community, realize their dreams of owning their own business;
• Janine Fondon, by being a constant source of energy and ideas, through initiatives ranging from UnityFirst.com, a national distributor of diversity-related e-news, to programs like On the Move, which bring women, and especially women of color, together for forums that are designed to engage, educate, and inspire;
Opinion
FAn Appreciation for Chris Thibault
initiatives to support entrepreneurship at area colleges and universities, assist the region’s farmers, celebrate excellent teachers, and improve Jewish life and culture;
• Chad Moir, by creating the DopaFit Parkinson’s Movement Center, inspired by the experience of his late mother, to help those suffering from this dreaded disease live healthier, more confident lives through various forms of exercise that have proven to slow the progression of symptoms;
• Bill Parks, by not only helping young people and their families access critical programs through the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield, but by using his own experiences to show them that their dreams and goals really are possible. His club’s programs not only impact young people’s lives today, but help them take charge of their future; and
• Pete Westover, for working tirelessly to help preserve
and protect this region’s open spaces through a remarkable, decades-long career that featured a lengthy stint as conservation director in Amherst and ongoing work as managing partner
of Conservation Works, which is involved in a wide range of preservation, trail-building, and other types of projects across the Northeast.
We salute these members of the class of 2021, and encourage others to read their stories and become inspired to find new and different ways to make a difference here in Western Massachusetts. v
ilmmakers are storytellers. That’s through short films, blog posts — includ- West about that aforementioned blog post what they do. They tell stories, and ing one titled “How to Run a Production and the subject matter involved, he said they help others tell their stories. Company While Living (or Dying) of Stage simply, “I haven’t figured that one out yet
That’s what Chris Thibault did, and he 4 Cancer” — and more. ... and to be honest, I wrote the title to get
was very good at it. He started Chris Teebo Films, and he worked with businesses
and institutions across this area — from Spirit of Springfield to BusinessWest and its many award recipients and program sponsors Mercedes-Benz of Springfield — to help them communicate and get their messages across.
In recent years, though, the most com- pelling story Chris told was his own — specifically his long and difficult battle with cancer, which ended this week when he died at age 38. Starting from when
he was first diagnosed with breast can- cer, Chris used his talents and his desire to help others to take his battle public,
In the course of doing so, he became an inspiration to many, and in a number of ways. It was more than Jim Valvano’s famous ‘don’t give up, don’t ever give up’ messaging — although there was some of that. His message was more along the lines of never letting cancer run his life or tell him what he could or couldn’t do.
And there was still more to this story. Indeed, even though he was dealt a very bad hand and had every reason to say ‘why me?’ or bemoan his fate, he didn’t. He accepted what was happening to his body, and he never stopped trying to be upbeat, optimistic, and even humorous.
Indeed, when he talked with Business-
your attention so you would actually start reading the thing.”
Like all good filmmakers, he did grab your attention, and he held it.
His story certainly did not end the way he or all those who loved and admired him wanted, but it was one that left us even more thankful for the time we had with him — and more appreciative of the time we have on this planet. Period.
We thank him for that, and we thank him for the way he inspired us to live life to the fullest, even when serious road- blocks are put in front of us.
The best story he told was his own. v
12 FEBRUARY 17, 2021
OPINION
BusinessWest