Page 62 - BusinessWest May 1, 2023

Manager/CPA, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; Age 29
“There’s never a dull moment.” That’s not a phrase anyone not in accounting and auditing would
probably use to describe that profession. But Chelsea Russell, who has chosen that field, means it when she says it.
“There’s a lot of variety, a lot of excitement — you can do the grind of the work, but
you can also go out and meet people in the community and other business owners,” Russell said as she talked about the sum (that’s an industry term) of everything that goes into
her career, especially the networking and relationship building, in addition to the number crunching.
Russell was trending toward business management while at Westfield State University, became inspired by one of her accounting professors to focus her career in that direction, and became further inspired by a talk delivered by Jim Krupienski, now a partner at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, on “a day in the life of an accountant.”
She pursued an internship at MBK, one
that led — as these opportunities so often
do — to a job at the firm. She currently serves as a manager in the Audit and Assurance Department, where she handles large
audits in the not-for-profit, commercial, and employment-benefit-plan arenas.
She has become an emerging leader at the firm, serving as co-leader of the Not-for-profit
Division, a member of the mission and vision committee, an internal trainer for the Audit and Assurance Department, a member of the Business Development team, and a mentor to audit and accounting associates.
But maybe her most noteworthy contribution at the firm, one she’s passionate about, is
her work to develop its Community Outreach program, through which she has established monthly charitable opportunities for the firm
to participate in. She has coordinated drives, awareness campaigns, and service for a wide range of organizations in Western Mass., including Square One, Dakin Humane Society, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, the Opera House Players, Friends of the Homeless, Rachel’s Table, and many others.
“It’s become a staple of who we are,” she said of the program. “I always wanted something to make my work more meaningful. I love what I do, and I love my clients ... but there was more that we could do with the resources that we have. We’re in Western Mass., and there’s so much need in the community.”
When not working or coordinating support for nonprofits, Russell is engaging in outdoor activities — camping, hiking, kayaking, fishing, and more — with her husband, Tyler, and 8-month-old lab, Copper.
—George O’Brien
Holyoke City Councilor Israel Rivera’s pursuit of a master’s degree in public administra- tion from Westfield State University might
not sound out of the ordinary, until he tells his backstory.
At age 19, Rivera was incarcerated for five years for drug-related charges. Upon his release, he gravitated to positive places in the community that he’d known since childhood. To get back
on his feet, he sought out the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club and the Holyoke Housing Authority.
“I went back to my old roots with the intent on giving back to my community,” he explained.
After earning an associate degree from Holyoke Community College and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UMass Amherst, Rivera held positions in community engagement and workforce development, before Families First
recruited him as interim regional manager. There, he oversees two programs that build
stronger families by encouraging parents to connect and network with each
other.
“As parents grow their network,
they gain confidence,” he said. “If one person is having a problem, another parent will share what has worked
for them with a similar problem. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Rivera is proud to be part of this effort to build stronger families in Western Mass.
“As a father of three, these programs strengthen my knowledge as a parent and a community organizer.”
In 2021, Rivera was elected to Holyoke’s City Council and now chairs its public safety committee. “When I took office, I did not think the other councilors would appreciate my background,” he said. “But many have been supportive and want to hear my perspective.”
He hopes his life example will start to change societal attitudes about people who made mistakes in their youth but have matured into adults who are positive citizens. “If we allow formerly incarcerated people to be in society, we have to gradually allow them to fully take part in society.”
For example, after a person is incarcerated, they often face legal discrimination when trying to improve their lives, he noted. “I have friends who would like to apply for a liquor license to open a restaurant or apply for a lottery license to open a bodega, but they can’t because of their past.”
Rivera said he shares his own experience
to educate and inspire others about what’s possible. “When I was incarcerated, I dreamed about where I am today. So when someone asks how I’m doing, I say, ‘I’m living the dream.’”
—Mark Morris
Chelsea Russell
A42 2023
BusinessWest
Israel Rivera
Interim Regional Manager, Families First; Holyoke City Councilor: Age 37