Page 35 - BusinessWest November 24, 2025

Moriarty pioneered tying budget requests to literacy
programs, years before it became common in state
policy. A final report incorporating Moriarty’s com-
prehensive recommendations on early literacy is
being adopted by the state’s education department.
A lifelong resident of Holyoke, Moriarty also served
for 13 years on the city’s School Committee and
was instrumental in the formation of the Holyoke
Early Literacy Initiative, a community-wide collabor-
ative that focused on increasing the number of stu-
dents who were proficient in reading by the end of
grade 3. He has also been a vocal advocate for arts
education. Since 2013, Moriarty has served as exec-
utive director of OneHolyoke CDC, a mission-driven
nonprofit that believes every resident of Holyoke
should live in a dignified home and a safe, attrac-
tive neighborhood. Before attending law school, he
taught in Holyoke for five years, in subjects includ-
ing Latin, English, and social studies. As an attorney,
he has also taught at Middlesex Community College
and Holyoke Community Colleges.
•••••
Holyoke Community College
(HCC) recently welcomed Linda
Chavers as the inaugural direc-
tor of its new office of Restor-
ative Practices and Mediation. A
published writer, educator, and
consultant, Chavers has spent
her career examining structures
of institutional inequality and
reimagining what justice can look like in the field
of education. She brings to HCC a specialization
in restorative practices in the workplace, includ-
ing crisis management, curriculum design, diversity
support, and organizational development. Most
LINDA CHAVERS
recently, she has been working as a nonprofit lead-
ership consultant and a national executive search
consultant. Prior to that, she spent 15 years in
higher education, serving as co-director and English
professor at the Clemente Course in the Humanities
in Dorchester; resident dean, assistant dean, and
lecturer at Harvard College; and assistant professor
of Instruction at Temple University in Philadelphia.
She also was an instructor of English at Phillips
Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H. Chavers holds a
Ph.D. in African and African American studies from
Harvard University, a master’s degree in English
from Harvard, and a bachelor’s degree in cultural
studies from New York University. She began her
role at HCC on July 30.
•••••
Excel Dryer Inc. announced
the addition of Kim Lynch as
its new director of Marketing,
effective Oct. 20. Lynch brings
more than 15 years of experi-
ence in marketing and advertis-
ing across a range of industries,
including electrical wholesale,
retail, finance, and industrial.
She has a proven track record of building and lead-
ing high-performing teams, developing strategy-
driven campaigns, and strengthening brand visibility
across multiple platforms. A graduate of Westfield
State University with a bachelor’s degree in mass
communications and managerial marketing, Lynch
offers extensive expertise in marketing technology
and analytics tools and platforms. She is also highly
skilled in brand management, digital strategy, and
creative development. In her new role, Lynch will
oversee the development and execution of Excel
KIM LYNCH
Dryer’s brand and marketing strategy, support
business development initiatives, and continue to
elevate the company’s position in the commercial
restroom and hand hygiene industry.
•••••
Elena Gervino, senior vice president at Travel-
ers Insurance Co., has been named chair of the
Western New England University (WNE) board of
trustees. With nearly four decades of experience
spanning law, education, and corporate leadership,
she brings a combination of strategic insight, opera-
tional excellence, and commitment to community
impact to her role. A respected leader in the insur-
ance industry, Gervino aims to guide the university’s
continued growth and innovation at the intersec-
tion of business, technology, and social respon-
sibility. At Travelers, Gervino serves as senior vice
president for Claim Shared Services (CSS). A cum
laude graduate of the Western New England Univer-
sity School of Law, Gervino served as Notes editor
of the Law Review and was named Outstanding
Woman Law Student of the Year. Her longtime sup-
port as a law school alumna earned her the Dean’s
Alumni Excellence Award in 2020. Gervino joined
the WNE board of trustees in 2021 and has served
on the governance, academic affairs, development,
student affairs, investment, and finance committees.
In 2025, she received the university’s Benefactors
Award in recognition of her commitment to WNE
and her exemplary record of leadership. In the com-
munity, Gervino has held board positions with Hori-
zons Inc., TRUE Colors, and Nutmeg Big Brothers
Big Sisters, advancing opportunities for youth and
individuals with disabilities.
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