Page 66 - BusinessWest May 1, 2023

Ciara Speller says she’s always been a story- teller.
At first, and for many years, she told stories
through dance, something’s she’s still passionate about today.
“Through the arts, I was always able to tell a story,” she said, but along the way, she found there were other ways to communicate stories
— through poetry, the student newspaper in high school, and other vehicles.
“I was moved to see that my words could touch other people and bring their stories to light,” she said, adding that this passion for telling stories, coupled with a long-held interest in watching
the news, often with her grandmother, put her on path to broadcast journalism and, eventually, WWLP-22 News, where she currently serves as evening anchor.
She started as a reporter in 2017, arriving in Springfield soon before the story of serial killer Stewart Weldon broke, a case that brought national media to the area and provided Speller with both exposure and learning experiences on many levels.
She joined the anchor desk less than a year later, and there were other big stories to follow — COVID-19, the tragedy at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, Jan. 6, and many others. But it’s the day- to-day work of keeping area residents informed that Speller likes most about her work.
Andrea St. Louis
Owner, the Tatted Professionals; Entrepreneur in Residence, Smith College: Age 36
She told BusinessWest that she always pictured herself on the anchor desk, noting that there are many responsibilities there beyond reading the news, including writing, editing, deploying crews, proofreading, answering calls, making beat calls to police and fire departments, and, in general, setting the tone for that night’s broadcasts.
“I want to make sure that I’m delivering stories that are important to our community ... I don’t want to let my community down,” she said. “They welcome me into their homes at night, and I always want to give it my best.
“I want to be like a conversation,” she went on. “I want it to come off as just having a chat — what’s going on — with my friends.”
Speller’s ultimate goal is to sit behind the anchor desk in a much larger market, but while she’s working in Greater Springfield, she has committed herself to getting involved in the community and making a difference there.
Indeed, she currently serves on the board of directors for Girls Inc. of the Valley, is a corporator for Monson Savings Bank, and has volunteered with the nonprofit I Found Light Against All Odds, which assists at-risk youths and their families through numerous charitable events.
—George O’Brien
Andrea St. Louis has a number of titles and many different ... let’s call them jobs, although some of them are more like passions.
She is the entrepreneur in residence at the Jill Ker Conway Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Smith College. She is also the owner of a business called the Tatted Professionals, through which she takes many different titles — executive coach, writer, business coach, educator, and public speaker.
She’s also the author of the book 40 Days Lighter: A Devotional Journey for Women Determined to Live Free, an adjunct professor, book-club host,
and TEDxSpringfield speech coach and emcee.
She’s also an ordained minister at the All Nations Church in Springfield, as well as a youth leader and board member at the church. She’s also a board member for the Children’s Chorus Springfield and a former mentor with the Pass the Torch for Women Foundation. She’s also a mother of two.
That’s a lot of ‘alsos.’
But we need them to accurately convey all that St. Louis does professionally and in her community. As the entrepreneur in residence at Smith, she develops and teaches courses on entrepreneurship
and facilitates workshops on entrepreneurship, innovation, ideation, effective pitching, and more.
And through her business, the Tatted Professionals, she is an executive coach, writer, business consultant, educator, and speaker who is
committed to helping women leaders own their gifts and effectively tell their story.
She is a frequent speaker, having given a talk at the recent Women in Business Summit in Springfield, and also at the Women Business Owners Alliance Social Media Bootcamp, the On the Move Forum for Women Intergenerational Panel, and the 2021 Wellness for the Culture Saturday Wellness Workshop.
St. Louis said there is general theme or tone to her talks.
“I’m often talking about authenticity,
what it means to show up authentically, and professionalism,” she explained, adding that
these talking points refer back to the name she has given her business. “For me, tattoos are a symbol of how we bring ourselves to wherever we’re going. Tattoos are permanent; I know some people get them removed, but to me they are a permanent reminder to bring all of myself to the work that I do.”
She said she also helps clients, mostly women of color, tell their stories, step out of their comfort zone, and work through challenges. She’s speaking from personal experience, having done all that herself, and that’s why her voice, and her message, resonates.
—George O’Brien
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BusinessWest
Ciara Speller
Evening Anchor, WWLP-22 News: Age 30