Page 38 - BusinessWest January 22, 2024

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE>>
MATTHEW NASH
Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.
(MBK) announced the promo- tion of Matthew Nash, CPA to partner. Since joining the firm in 2011, he has been an integral part of the team, focusing on audit, review, and compilation engagements and playing a pivotal role in the commercial,
not-for-profit audit, and pension engagement teams. Nash earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nichols College and an MBA from Elms College, and is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants. In his time at MBK, he has advanced from an intern to a senior manager and now to
a partner. Beyond his professional achievements, Nash is deeply involved in community service. He serves as a board member and treasurer for Spring- field School Volunteers and is a committee member of the Ronald McDonald House Golf Tournament.
•••••
The board of directors of AdLib Inc., a community-
based, cross-disability, nonprofit organization, announced Sally English as the new executive director. English, who holds a master of social work degree from Boston College, was eager to join the team and return to the independent-living move- ment. English most recently advanced in leadership at Viability Inc., supporting its Clubhouse and MOMs programs through several leadership, program- matic, and pandemic-related changes. Prior to Viability, she worked at the Boston Center for Inde- pendent Living as the director of Services. English was included in the BusinessWest 40 Under Forty class of 2019. AdLib Inc., founded in 1983, provides information and referral, advocacy, skills training, peer support, transition, representative payee, and personal-care-attendant services to people with disabilities of all ages throughout Berkshire County. As a center for independent living, it was impor- tant to the AdLib board of directors to find a leader able to embrace the philosophy of independent living, which focuses on ensuring that people with disabilities are able to live in the community with control over their own services and lives. English, who began her tenure in June, has spent the first six months with AdLib creating relationships with staff and external stakeholders, as well as improving internal systems and processes to ensure staff are supported in providing quality services to consum- ers. An open house will be planned for 2024.
•••••
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
announced the appointment of new officers to its board of directors, effective Jan. 1. Dr. Charlotte Boney, who has assumed the role of president, chairs the Department of Pediatrics at Baystate Health. The first vice president, Willette Yarbrough Johnson, is a retired educator from Springfield Public Schools, having served 38 years in a variety of capacities. She continues exploring her love of edu- cation as a member of the Coalition of Experienced Black Educators, an educational consultant group. The second vice president is Omar Irizarry, direc- tor of Cross Agency Initiatives at the Massachu- setts Department of Mental Health. William Harju, treasurer, is chief financial officer at USA Hauling & Recycling, and the clerk is Shannon Yaremchak, director of Grants and Latino Economic Develop- ment Opportunities at Partners for Community, and director of Mission Advancement at New England Farm Workers’ Council. In their new capacities,
the new officers will lead the Food Bank to imple- ment innovative strategies, expand partnerships, and elevate the organization’s impact. Two new board members also began their tenure: Joesiah González, chief Philanthropy & Communications officer at Home City Development Inc., and Xiaolei Hua, first vice president of Commercial Lending at PeoplesBank.
•••••
Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that David Lavenburg, one of the firm’s attorneys, has been promoted to shareholder. Since joining the firm in November 2020, he has been an integral part of the firm, focusing on loan recovery, loan workouts, collection matters, restructur-
ing, debt repayments, and bankruptcy. Lavenburg received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and his juris doctorate from Capital Uni- versity of Law School in Columbus, Ohio. With more than 32 years of litigation experience, he chairs
the creditor’s rights, collections, and bankruptcy practice group at Bacon Wilson. He is admitted to practice in both the Massachusetts and Connecticut state courts, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the U.S. District Court for
the District of Connecticut. In the firm’s probate department, Lavenburg supports litigation needs in cases involving contests, breaches of fiduciary duty, lack of capacity, and undue influence claims. In the commercial and corporate department, he repre- sents the firm’s clients in partnership disputes, com- mercial litigation, general business litigation, and commercial lease disputes. He has also been chair- man of the Longmeadow Zoning Board of Appeals since 2006.
•••••
MGM Resorts International announced the appointment
of Louie Theros as president and chief operating officer of MGM Springfield, where he will oversee the resort’s daily opera- tions and strategic direction, focused on continued employee engagement and community relations. He succeeds Chris Kelley, who recently announced his decision to pursue a new opportunity closer to family
on the West Coast. Theros has been with MGM Resorts since 2015, most recently serving as vice president, legal counsel, and assistant secretary at MGM
Grand Detroit. Prior to joining the company, The- ros worked in legal private practice, serving as vice president of Detroit-based law firm Butzel Long, following more than 20 years as a lawyer at Dicken- son Wright. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.
•••••
bankESB recently promoted Stephanie Vincelette
to assistant vice president, Human Resources Oper- ations, and Erica Gomes to assistant vice president, Customer Care. Vincelette has 11 years of banking experience. She was previously Human Resources Operations officer and, before that, Payroll man- ager, and began her career in banking as a Payroll specialist. Before joining bankESB in 2012, she had five years of previous payroll and human-resources
experience. With this promotion, she will continue to oversee payroll operations; will now oversee benefits operations; and will expand her respon- sibilities in salary administration, compensation planning, and policy management. Vincelette has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University. She holds a senior professional human resources certification. Gomes has 24 years of banking experience. She joined
the Hometown Financial Group family of banks at bankHometown in 2013 as branch manager of the Killingly, Conn. office after spending more than 14 years in retail banking with Citizens Bank. She was promoted to Customer Care officer at Hometown Financial’s bankESB in 2016. In her new role, she will manage the Customer Care call center. Gomes completed coursework in accounting at the Com- munity College of Rhode Island. She has been a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Junior Achievement, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and local homeless shelters, and previously served as trea- surer of the Killingly Business Assoc.
•••••
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) announced the recent hiring of two new staff members: Kim Collins, Audi- ence Development and Com- munity Engagement manager; and Caitlin Meyer, Education director. Collins will work to create community connections for the SSO and engage new audiences, while Meyer will be responsible for bringing back the hosting of SSO educational performances for public-school students as well as creating new educational programming for the organization. Collins joined the SSO in October. She most
recently served as director of Member Services with the Connecticut River Valley Chamber of Com- merce. In that role, she was the first point of con- tact for all member relations, led the ambassador team, and revised and refreshed member benefits, onboarding, and retention. She also facilitated net- working and member-orientation events, as well as ribbon cuttings, and planned large events for the chamber. Collins has also been a performing art-
ist and educator her entire life. As a flutist, she has performed with the SSO for more than 25 years
and also served as the SSO’s orchestra librarian for several years. Meyer is an educational leader, music educator, and professional musician who has taught in China, Tanzania, Israel, and Australia. Before join- ing the SSO, she served as director of Programs for a charter school in Bridgeport, Conn., where she worked closely with the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants to build out arts-integra- tive, culturally responsive programs for newcomer students. Meyer also founded the Qingdao Visual and Performing Arts Educators Assoc., which has allowed students of every background in China to participate in district-wide arts initiatives as well as international travel opportunities. Prior to her work in Qingdao, Meyer was the music director at Saint Bernard School in Uncasville, Conn. for seven years.
•••••
Luke Goodridge has joined the law firm of Bulk-
DAVID LAVENBURG
KIM COLLINS
CAITLIN MEYER
STEPHANIE VINCELETTE
ERICA GOMES
38 JANUARY 22, 2024
<< DEPARTMENTS >>
BusinessWest
People
Continued on page 52
>>