Page 35 - BusinessWest March 2, 2026

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE>>
LYDIA DODSON
REENA LICHTENFELD
HUMBERTO ARIZA Bay Path University announced
the appointments of Lydia
Dodson as chief of staff to the
president, Reena Lichtenfeld
as vice president for Enrollment
Management and Marketing,
and Humberto Ariza as direc-
tor of Augmented Intelligence
Operations. Dodson, a skilled
higher education professional
with more than a decade of
senior leadership experience,
reports directly to President
Sandra Doran. She will lead the
operations of the Office of the
President and serve as liaison to
the board of trustees, partnering
closely with board leadership to
support effective governance,
trustee engagement, and board
communications. She will also
oversee presidential commu-
nications, guide the university’s
grants strategy, and coordinate
government relations efforts,
helping to align external part-
nerships and resources with Bay Path’s mission
and long-term strategic priorities. Most recently,
Dodson served as executive director of the Future
of Work Institute & Partnerships at Massasoit Com-
munity College, where she led workforce and
economic development initiatives and cultivated
partnerships across education, government, and
industry. Previously, she served as chief of staff and
associate vice president of Strategy, Planning, and
Innovation, following earlier roles in the President’s
Office, including serving as primary liaison to the
board of trustees. She earned a bachelor’s degree
in management from Johnson & Wales University.
She holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix
and a doctor of education degree in higher educa-
tion leadership from Johnson & Wales University.
Lichtenfeld will join the executive leadership team
and provide strategic leadership for enrollment
management, marketing, and communications.
Most recently, she served as senior vice president
at RNL + Encoura, where she led Enrollment and
CRM Consulting Services, overseeing organiza-
tional assessments, marketing and communication
audits, and student journey optimization for institu-
tions nationwide. Her prior roles at RNL + Encoura
include Vice president, assistant vice president, and
executive consultant, during which she advised col-
leges and universities on strategic enrollment plan-
ning, recruitment strategy, governance, accredita-
tion, and compliance. Earlier in her career, she held
senior enrollment leadership roles at Vanderbilt
University’s Peabody College of Education and
Human Development and Laureate Education. At
Bay Path, Lichtenfeld will oversee undergraduate
and graduate admissions, marketing, communica-
tions, and the enrollment center, leading a division
of 56 professionals. She will guide the development
of data-informed enrollment and marketing strate-
gies that support the university’s mission, strength-
en brand identity across all campuses and online
programs, and drive sustainable enrollment growth
across all modalities. She holds a doctor of educa-
tion degree in higher education administration from
Walden University, a master of education degree in
higher education administration, and a bachelor’s
degree in psychology from the University of South
Carolina. Ariza brings more than a decade of expe-
rience in higher education as a scholar, academic
leader, and strategist. Prior to joining Bay Path, he
Business W est JEFF CARPENTER
served at D’Youville University, where he led initia-
tives focused on innovation in digital learning and
AI-enhanced education. He holds a doctorate in
education and is a published author and researcher
on AI and online learning. He is currently pursuing a
master’s degree in AI and hyperautomation through
EUNEIZ Universidad and EBIS Business Techschool
in Spain. In addition to his academic work, Ariza was
a co-founder and now serves as senior advisor to a
multinational AI-powered educational technology
company that supports higher education institutions
in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East, regions
facing some of the highest barriers to access in
higher education. An internationally invited speaker
and podcast host, he regularly engages faculty, aca-
demic leaders, and policymakers in conversations
about the responsible, mission-aligned use of AI in
education. His leadership and scholarship have been
recognized with the Future Leaders Scholarship
Award from the Assoc. of American Colleges and
Universities. At Bay Path, Ariza will provide leader-
ship for the university’s AI initiatives at all levels.
•••••
M&T Bank announced the
appointment of Jeff Carpenter
as its new regional president for
Massachusetts. With more than
two decades of corporate and
specialty banking experience,
Carpenter brings deep regional
knowledge, financial expertise,
and a strong record of leader-
ship to this role, reinforcing M&T’s commitment to
delivering exceptional service to its customers. Car-
penter has served as executive vice president, head
of Specialty and Corporate Banking since 2023.
In his expanded role as regional president, he will
guide M&T’s regional leaders, including members
of its retail banking, business banking, commercial
banking, wealth management, government banking,
and charitable teams, as well as leading the col-
laborative, Boston-based team. An active member
of the Boston community, he will continue to serve
on several boards, including the YMCA of Greater
Boston, Just Living Communities, and the Greater
Boston Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining
M&T Bank, Carpenter led several Capital Markets,
Commercial Banking, and Credit teams at People’s
United Bank, Banco Santander, and Sovereign Bank.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Bent-
ley University.
•••••
AnnieMac Home Mortgage
announced the hiring of Janna
McLaughlin as a new branch
manager, strengthening the
company’s growing presence
across Western Mass. A long-
time Western Mass. resident,
JANNA MCLAUGHLIN
she brings professional expertise
and deep local roots to her new
role. Advancing through increasingly responsible
roles since 2018, McLaughlin works with buyers
across the spectrum, but her specialties include
helping first-time homebuyers and working with
real estate investors and self-employed borrow-
ers with DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) loans.
Her knowledge of these specialized programs has
made her a trusted resource for clients navigating
non-traditional lending scenarios. McLaughlin con-
centrates her efforts in Hampshire and Hampden
counties, serving clients throughout Western Mass.,
and is also licensed in Connecticut, South Carolina,
Florida, and Virginia.
•••••
<< DEPARTMENTS >>
Peter Pan Bus Lines announced the appointment
of Jacob DuBois as senior director of Safety and
Security, effective Feb. 1. He brings extensive expe-
rience in transportation safety and operations to his
new role. He most recently served as Connecticut
Division manager, overseeing daily operations while
maintaining a strong focus on safety, regulatory
compliance, and service excellence. Prior to that
role, DuBois served as director of Safety and Secu-
rity at Peter Pan Bus Lines, leading key initiatives to
strengthen the company’s safety culture and com-
pliance programs. In his new position, DuBois will
oversee all aspects of Peter Pan’s safety and security
operations, working closely with senior leadership
to ensure the highest standards of safety, security,
and regulatory compliance across the organization.
•••••
MountainOne Bank announced
the promotion of Kyle Shepard
to assistant vice president of
Loan Operations and business
analyst manager. In his role
as AVP of Loan Operations,
Shepard oversees the daily
KYLE SHEPARD
functions of the Loan Servicing
department, including payment
processing, escrow management, and collections.
As business analyst manager, he supervises a team
responsible for developing and implementing strat-
egies and procedures that strengthen operational
efficiency, enhance customer service, and mitigate
risk. Shepard joined MountainOne in March 2014
as a personal banker. Over his nearly 12 years with
the organization, he has advanced through a series
of roles including electronic banking specialist,
customer care liaison, and operations analyst. Most
recently, he served as AVP, operations manager
prior to his promotion. He is a graduate of Mas-
sachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a degree in
business administration and management, as well as
an accredited ACH professional.
•••••
Phillips Insurance has expand-
ed its Construction Services
Group with the addition of Con-
nor Phillips as director of Sure-
ty. Phillips joins the agency from
Arch Surety, the eighth-largest
surety writer in the U.S., where
he developed expertise in com-
plex surety programs, including
joint ventures, subcontractor default insurance, and
design-build delivery. In his new role, he will lead
and further develop the agency’s surety practice for
contractor clients nationwide. He began his career
at Arch Surety after graduating from the College
of the Holy Cross with a degree in economics and
statistics. While at Holy Cross, he served as captain
of the Division I men’s golf team and was named a
Srixon All-American. He has earned the associate in
fidelity & surety bonding (AFSB) and construction
risk and insurance specialist (CRIS) designations.
•••••
Greenfield/Northampton
Cooperative Bank announced
the hiring of Joanna Czarniec-
ka as assistant vice president
and branch manager of its South
Hadley branch office, located
at 487 Newton St. She joins the
bank with more than nine years
CONNOR PHILLIPS
JOANNA CZARNIECKA
People
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