Page 30 - BusinessWest May 1, 2023

Fitness Coach and Owner, BuildEmUp: Age 29
One of the many people who nominated Emily Ba- nerjee for the 40 Under Forty class of 2023 called her “the living model of leading by example.”
That’s because Banerjee grew up in Springfield, earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Elms College, then stayed in the area “to motivate and inspire folks of all demographics,” the nominator wrote.
She does so through BuildEmUp, her health and wellness business focused on personal training and group classes. With hundreds of clients, Banerjee’s reputation is growing as a coach and trainer, but also as a compassionate business owner who responds enthusiastically to community needs.
Like a project she spearheaded this past holiday season to collect $13,000 worth of clothes, toys, and necessities and donate them to women and children through the YWCA. She has also spearheaded projects that have resulted in large monetary donations to diabetes organizations, friends with cancer, and other recipients.
But Banerjee doesn’t have to look outside the
walls of her fitness center to change lives; she’s
doing that every week through a business she started thinking about while working for Baystate Health after graduation, gradually building up a clientele through social media and word of mouth.
“Our model is strong, not skinny,” she said, explaining a model that’s less about weight lost and more about strength — and quality of life — gained.
“Being healthy is the bottom line; everyone can understand that.”
During the pandemic, Banerjee
offered virtual training to her
clients so they could continue
living the healthiest life they
could. After things started to open
back up, she brought clients back to
the gym but made sure it was a safe environment for everyone, with individual pods so that members could work out in the same room with confidence.
These days, her average demographic is ages
18 to 50, and most are minority women. She
offers about 20 different class times a week, and
is already thinking down the road to a possible move out of the ninth floor of 1350 Main St. in downtown Springfield to a larger, more accessible location for clients. After all, they’re what motivates her to be her best self.
“The best part about this is the people,” Banerjee said. “They come to us because they want to; it’s
a choice to enter the gym with a positive attitude, and that’s good for me, too. Empowered women empowering women — that’s the
goal.”
—Joseph Bednar
As a commercial lender at Greenfield Northampton Cooperative Bank, Adam Baker led all team members
in both number of loans originated and dollar amount closed. Not just one year, but in seven consecutive years, from 2016 to 2022.
Not bad for someone who found himself in an accidental career.
“I took a summer job as a teller and got promoted,” he said, a story that’s not
uncommon in the banking world. As in many other cases, Baker found he not only had a
knack for the work, but a passion for it, too.
“I’m a commercial lender, so I work with people buying investment properties. I get to help people
follow their dreams, start businesses, reach their financial goals, or further their businesses,” he explained. “As a local bank, we know all our customers; they’re not just numbers, they’re
people. We get to interact with them on a personal level and give them a higher level of
service.”
As a leader of his institution who helped the
bank achieve some of its strongest growth and profitability over the past six years, he also came through during challenging times, helping to
lead the Paycheck Protection Program during the pandemic, and making sure hundreds of local
businesses received a needed influx of cash so they could keep their teams employed.
Baker is also a managing member and owner of Alpal Properties LLC, which owns and manages more than $1 million in investment real estate.
Heavily involved in the community, he’s the treasurer and chair of the finance committee, as well as a member of the building committee and board of directors, for Lighthouse Personalized Education for Teens in Holyoke. He’s also on the board of directors for Empty Arms Bereavement Support in Florence and serves on its Syrup Stampede 5K fundraiser committee. He also devotes time to Horizons for Homeless Children in Springfield — volunteering more than 100 hours annually, in fact, with homeless children.
“These things are very important to me because I feel like I get to help these great organizations that do all the hard work,” Baker explained. “For example, Lighthouse is helping children, and I’ve always had a passion for helping kids in whatever way I can. My position as vice president of the bank allows me to be a treasurer at some of these places and make a difference; it’s one of the most gratifying things in my life.”
—Joseph Bednar
Emily Banerjee
A10 2023
BusinessWest
Adam Baker
Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer, Greenfield Northampton Cooperative Bank: Age 34