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Professional Updates and Accomplishments

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Your classmates want to know about the milestones in your life. Send your news including weddings, births, career changes, publications, accomplishments, and more to the Office of Alumni Relations. Email alumwne@wne.edu or complete a short online form.

1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s

1970s

STANLEY LIGHT L’77 (JD) was elected department commander of the Department of Massachusetts Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America. 

THOMAS BOWMAN L’79 (JD) has retired as deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Previously he worked as the staff director for the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

1980s

BRIAN ADE L’80 (JD) was named to the 2018 New Jersey Super Lawyers list as a Top Rated Products Liability Attorney.

BRAD LEWIN L’80 (JD) retired from Pfizer Inc. where he was corporate counsel. He started a consulting firm to provide legal assistance on contract preparation, review, and negotiation in the greater New York City area. 

DONNA CRAIG L’82 (JD) was admitted as a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States by a motion accepted by Chief Justice John Roberts.

RICHARD HANCHETT ’82 (Government) was promoted to senior vice president and commercial loan officer at Westfield Bank in Springfield, MA.

NANCY ALISBERG L’83 (JD) was hired as the legal director of Disability Rights Connecticut, Inc., a new protection and advocacy agency dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

MITCHELL SHAHEN L’83 (JD) was elected to a county judge position in Beaver County, PA, after many years as a Beaver County attorney.

JOANNE BEAUREGARD ’84 (Accounting) was promoted to financial vice president at O’Connell Companies in Holyoke, MA. She previously served as controller.

STEVEN COTE ’85 (Electrical Engineering) has retired from the U.S. Air Force after 36 years of civil service and has opened Spellbinde Consulting, LLC which supports companies seeking federal contracts.

THOMAS NAGLE ’85 (History) has retired from the West Hartford Police Department after more than 20 years of service. He was also honored with a merit award in recognition of his service to the Town of West Hartford. He is now a part of the security team for the Hartford Yard Goats.

WILLIAM NAGEL ’85/G’99 (Management/MBA) was appointed principal of Moosup Elementary School in Moosup, CT.

JULIA DURCHANEK L’86 (JD) is practicing in the area of probate law, guardianship & conservatorship in the Holyoke, MA area. She is also president of the South Hadley, MA Lions Club.

DOUGLAS HEMBDT ’86 (Electrical Engineering) was selected for the department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the third highest Navy honorary award. 

DONNA TODD RIVERS L’86 (JD) was hired as a recruiter by The Berkshire County Regional Employment Board. She is also a small-business owner and independent benefits professional.

ANDREW CAIRES ’87 (Accounting) was named chief financial officer and vice president of administration at Pathlight in Springfield, MA. He was previously the controller for the Williston Northampton School. 

BRIAN CANTOR L’87 (JD) moderated a panel discussion on Airbnb Law: “The Implications of Short-Term Rentals for Property Owners and Municipalities” at The Connecticut Bar Association’s Connecticut Legal Conference.

THOMAS MANZI ’87 (Finance) has been elected to the board of directors for the Springfield Rescue Mission, an organization that helps serve the homeless in Springfield, MA.

JOHN MUTCHLER G’87 (Engineering Management) has joined the law firm Murtha Cullina LLP, where he is a member of the intellectual property practice group in Hartford, CT.

VINCENT BROWN III ’88 (Government) was honored at Westfield State University’s 10th Annual SANKOFA Stoling Ceremony for his hard work and efforts for diversity and inclusion. 

ELLEN FREYMAN L’88 (JD) was named the 2018 Richard J. Moriarty Citizen of the Year by the Springfield, MA Regional Chamber for her selfless devotion to the local community.

ROBERT SACCO L’88 (JD) was sworn in as president of the Hampden County Bar Association in Holyoke, MA, for the 2018-19 year.

PAUL CACCAVIELLO L’89 (JD) was sworn in as Berkshire (MA) District Attorney earlier this year.

WENDY DEVENISH ’89 (Finance) was appointed relationship management and international banking executive at Santander Bank N.A. in New York, NY.

RONALD MILLER ’89 (Computer Engineering) has joined Nrby as vice president, product management. He previously worked with Espial, located in the greater Chicago area.

1990s 

ALFREDO DIMAURO JR. G’90 (MBA) was hired as project director at Pinck & Co. Inc. He was previously assistant vice president for facilities at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

ALARIC FOX L’90 (JD) was named the Enfield, CT police chief. He previously served as a colonel in the state police.

ROBERT HERMAN L’90 (JD) celebrated 25 years as an assistant prosecutor in Ashtabula County, OH in addition to 28 years working in a private practice. 

HOWARD BAROUXIS G’91 (MBA) was appointed sales director for the North American region at Broadpeak. He was previously a major accounts executive at Harmonic.

MICHELLE O’MALLEY ’91 (Human Resource Management) is currently the executive director of the March of Dimes in New Hampshire, following 20 years in higher education.

BERNARD ST. GEORGE ’91/G’02 (Management/Criminal Justice Administration) was honored at Westfield State University’s 10th Annual SANKOFA Stoling Ceremony for his hard work and efforts toward diversity and inclusion.

MARK WYSK ’91/G’98 (Mechanical Engineering/Engineering Management) was named director of global supply chain at Guardair Corp. in Chicopee, MA, where he will support manufacturing through sourcing strategies and improving productivity.

FRANK ZANGHI JR. G’91 (MBA) was added to the board of directors for IC Federal Credit Union as a supervisory board member. He is currently the president and owner of Incase Inc., located in Hopedale, MA.

JOHN HENRY L’92 (JD) is now a co-managing partner for the firm Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna in Albany, NY. He has been an associate at the firm since 1994.

LISA MARRELLO L’92 (JD) has been selected for inclusion on “The 2018 Albany Power 100” list by City & State NY. She currently works as the managing principal for the Albany office of Jackson Lewis P.C.

XAVIER BOZA ’93 (Management) was appointed as senior vice president, chief human resources officer at Campbell Soup Company.

CAROL SIMPSON L’93 (JD) has been named new chief compliance officer for the not-for-profit Anderson Center for Autism of Staatsburg, NY.

NICOLE CHILSON ’94 (Psychology) was named human resource generalist at Sunshine Village in Chicopee, MA.

STEPHEN BUONICONTI L’95 (JD) was appointed as Agawam’s city solicitor. He is a former county prosecutor, state representative, and senator.

RALPH CAHOON ’95 (Law Enforcement) has been recognized with the Alumnus of the Year Award from Cape Cod Community College for his efforts on the College’s Board of Trustees and continuous advocacy and support for the institution.

JOHN NASCI L’95 (JD) is currently a hearing officer for the NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. 

JAMIE REARDON ’95 (Criminal Justice) was promoted to sergeant in the Amherst, MA Police Department after serving as a longtime police detective with the department.

D. SUSANNE SNEARLY L’95 (JD) was named a New England Super Lawyer in the practice of family law for the 9th consecutive year. She is also a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. 

VICTORIA VELTRI L’95 (JD) was appointed as executive director of the state’s Office of Health Strategy in Hartford, CT, by Governor Dannel P. Malloy. 

LAWRENCE WEST G’95 (MBA) was hired as chief operating officer of RiVidium Inc. (dba TripleCyber) in Manassas, VA. He was previously president and chief executive officer of Poseidon Group, LLC.

ROBERT CLARK ’96 (Finance) has been named vice chairman of Adirondack Bank’s board of directors. He was elected to the board in 2002 and is currently the bank’s executive vice president. 

JAY SEYLER G’96 (MBA) was hired as vice president, business banking officer at PeoplesBank in Holyoke, MA. 

DANIEL VALADAS G’96 (Criminal Justice Administration) was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the Ludlow, MA Police Departmentafter serving 25 years with the force.

RITA AQUILIO L’97 (JD) was selected to moderate the American Bar Association Section of Litigation Family Law Litigation Committee roundtable.

JOHN BUES L’97 (JD) was named to the board of directors of the Cleary School for the Deaf in Long Island, NY.

JONATHAN FORTIN L’97 (JD) has joined Heritage Wealth Advisors as director of tax services in their Fredericksburg, VA office. He previously worked with Deloitte.

PATRICK CARNEVALE G’98 (MBA) was named director of Governor Charlie Baker’s Western Massachusetts office in Springfield, MA. 

KERRY SOCHA L’98 (JD) announced her candidacy for judge for Ellington District Probate Court in Ellington, CT.

MICHAELLUTH G’99 (Criminal Justice Administration) was unanimously chosen as the police chief of the Groton, CT Police Department. He has worked in law enforcement for 26 years, even serving as a U.S. Secret Service Agent.

KEITH WETJEN L’99 (JD) was taken on as a certified financial planner for Private Capital Group, LLC in West Hartford, CT.

2000s 

JOSEPH CORDEIRO ’00/G’03 (Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice Administration) was presented the Heritage Day of Portugal Award at the Massachusetts State House in June 2018. He currently serves as chief of the New Bedford, MA Police Department.

CHRISTOPHER KENT ‘00/G’02 (Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice Administration) was hired as St. John Paul II head hockey coach after being a part of the coaching staff since the 2015-2016 season.

CHRISTOPHER BAKER G’01 (Criminal Justice Administration) has joined the ranks of the Mansfield, MA Police Department.He previously served as a detective and SWAT commander.

JOELLA FORTIER L’01 (JD) was nominated to be the clerk magistrate at Orange District County in Orange, MA. 

EDWARD “EDDIE” GUY ’01/G’03 (Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice Administration)completed and graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. He currently works with the Andover, MA Police Department.

DIANE KELLY G’01 (MBA) was named chief operating officer of Greenwich Hospital and will serve as senior vice president for Yale New Haven Health, both in Connecticut. 

WILLIAM LYVER JR. ’01 (Law Enforcement) has been named the next police chief of the Northboro, MA Police Department after serving as the department’s lieutenant since 2008.

FRANCIS "FRANK" WIDMAYER III’01/G’03 (Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice Administration)retired this past year as chief of the Acton, MA Police Department after serving for 44 years.

JOANNE NICHTING ’01 (Management) was hired as the library director of the Somerset, MA Public Library. She previously served as circulation supervisor for the East Longmeadow, MA Public Library.

MICHAEL GRACE G’02 (Criminal Justice Administration) was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the Foxboro, MA Police Department after serving 18 years with the organization.

JAMES GUNTER ’02/G’03 (Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice Administration) was promoted to lieutenant in the Methuen, MA Police Department, where he has worked for 20 years.

SARAH MOSIER ’02 (History) received a doctorate of education from Johnson and Wales University in May of 2018.

DAVID FOSCALDO G’03 (Criminal Justice Administration) was promoted to the rank of sergeant in the Foxboro, MA Police Department where he has worked since 2000.

ROBERT KIRMELEWICZ G’03 (Criminal Justice Administration) has retired as police chief from the Groveland, MA Police Department after 32 years of service.

DWIGHT MCDONALD ’03 (Law Enforcement) was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the Groveland, MA Police Department after serving 10 years as a sergeant.

ROSS EVANS ’03 (Management) has opened the first café for Carrier Roasting Co., a company he cofounded in Northfield, VT.

ERIC SMALL ’04 (Management) was hired as a territory sales manager at Wraser Pharmaceutical in Ridgeland, MS.

MICHAEL LEEDBERG L’04 (JD) has been named partner at Pierce Davis & Perritano LLP in Boston, MA. His work is primarily focused on litigation defense and trial advocacy in courts of Massachusetts and Connecticut.

JOCELYN ROBY L’04 (JD) has joined Bacon Wilson, P.C. as an associate attorney in Hadley, MA. Her practice focuses on residential real estate.

LEANNA POLIDORO ’04/G’05 (Accounting/MSA) was selected to attend the AICPA’s 2018 Leadership Academy.

ROBERT SMALL ’04 (Liberal Studies) was appointed chief of the Rochester, MA Police Department. He has been an officer with the
branch since 1998.

LORI JARRETT ’05/G’11 (Accounting/MSA) was named assistant controller at Florence Bank in Florence, MA. 

JASON POOLE ’05 (English) was named Clay County District’s 2019 Teacher of the Year. He currently teaches at Fleming High School in Fleming, FL, where he has been teaching since 2006.

KRISTA NEVIL ’05 (International Studies) is currently employed for the State University of New York in the registrations office of student services at Columbia-Greene Community College.

JENNIFER LOPEZ ’06 (English) became the marketing manager for LUSO Federal Credit Union in Ludlow, MA. 

DENNIS CARROLL L’07 (JD) inherited his father’s tax practice, Carroll Tax Firm, Inc., in Windsor, CT.

TIMOTHY O'LEARY ’07 (Law Enforcement) was promoted to the rank of sergeant in the Foxboro, MA Police Department.

KATHRYN WAKEFIELD L’07 (JD) has joined Bulkley, Richardson, and Gelinas LLP (MA) as a counsel in trusts and estates. 

CHRISTOPHER WILCOX ’07 (Sport Management) a commercial loan officer at Lowell Five Bank in Nashua, NH, has joined the Front Door Agency board of directors. 

LESTER BAKER ’08(Law Enforcement) was promoted to deputy chief of the Framingham, MA Police Department.

JUSTIN GORMAN L’08 (JD) has joined UCB, Inc. as counsel.

BRUCE JENKS ’08 (Law Enforcement) was named the municipality's employee of the year during a ceremony at an annual town meeting in Belchertown, MA.

PAUL SOBOLEWSKI ’08 (Law Enforcement) was selected as the athletic director and head football coach at Pope John XXIII in Everett, MA.

SPENCER STONE L’08 (JD) was promoted to counsel of the business and finance department at Halloran & Sage. He currently represents clients in real estate and other commercial transactions.

ALEXANDRA PATERSON ’08 (Political Science) was promoted to director of orientation, new student, and family program and coordinator of veterans services at Suffolk University.

TAYLOR BOUCHARD WALLIN L’09 (JD) was named a partner of FMBK, LLP, one of the largest family law firms in California. 

KATHLEEN DION L’09 (JD) was named to BusinessWest’s Forty Under 40. She is currently a litigator at Robinson & Cole LLP in Connecticut.

MIKE MELUCCI ’09 (History) was promoted to plaintiff attorney at Yeager LaNasa Tauzier LLC in New Orleans, LA, where he specializes in personal injury and construction law cases.

ROBERT “BOBBY” BIELSKY ’09 (Sport Management) was hired as a business consultant for Cantactix Solutions Inc. in New Jersey.

JOSH WEINSHANK L’09/LLM’10 (JD/Estate Planning & Elder Law) led the expansion of the law firm Cramer & Anderson with the establishment of a new branch in his hometown of Ridgefield, CT.

2010s 

ERIN COUTURE G’11 (MBA) was presented the Community Support Award from Florence Bank (MA) for her service to local nonprofit organizations.

ALEX DION ’11 (Management) was hired as assistant coach for Worcester, MA Bravehearts. 

COLIN HOULIHAN ’12 (Communication) was hired as a police officer in Yorktown, NY. 

JOSEPH MARTIN ’12 (Finance) was named head men’s lacrosse coach at Skidmore College. He previously served as the director of lacrosse operations at the University of North Carolina.

STEVEN RODRIGUEZ ’12 (Psychology) was hired at Park Square Realty in West Springfield as a sales associate. 

SHAUN KELLY ’12/G’15 (Management/MBA) was hired as senior consultant for EY in Hartford, CT.

CHRISTOPHER CLEVELAND G’14 (Secondary Education) was appointed director of Storm Lake’s Iowa Central Community College campus in Fort Dodge, IA.

BHUWAN GAUTAM ’14 (Integrated Liberal Studies) was named to BusinessWest’s Forty Under 40 for his work with nonprofits in western Massachusetts and Nepal. 

MEAGHAN MURPHY L’14 (JD) has joined Bacon and Wilson in Springfield, MA as an associate attorney in the litigation department, where she concentrates on labor and employment law.

DAVID JACOBS ’15/G’17 (Management/MBA) has accepted a position as a financial analyst at FCB New York, an NYC ad agency.

TESSA JORDAN G’15 (Accounting) was elected as a firm partner at Nicola, Yester & Company, P.C. after practicing accounting and auditing for private businesses with the company for seven years.

SYED ZAIN ALI L’15 (JD) has been hired as associate counsel at W2O Group in New York City.

CONNER AMARAL ’15/G’17 (Accounting/MSA) was hired as staff accountant at Charland, Marciano & Company, CPAs, LLP in Providence, RI. Previously, he was a staff accountant with Terrance A. Charest, CPA PC.

HILARY SULLIVAN L’15 (JD) was appointed an associate at Esser Kent, PC, a firm specializing in family law, elder law, and estate planning in Greenfield, MA.

LINDSAY BARRON G’16 (MBA) was named to BusinessWest’s Forty Under 40 list for her work in the mortgage industry.

AMANDA CARPE L’16 (JD) has joined the Gove Law Office as an associate attorney concentrating on real estate transactions, planning, and administration. She interned with the office during law school.

STEPHANIE ELIZONDO ’16 (English) was hired as social media specialist for Dominion Dealer Solutions.

ASHLEY HAAS ’16 (Forensic Biology) became a crime lab scientist in the impressions unit of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in Atlanta, GA. 

MARLEY KNYSH ’16 (Criminal Justice) was hired as a victim assistant advocate at Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office in Pittsfield, MA.

SABRINA LYESIUK ’16 (Accounting) was promoted from staff accountant to senior accountant at Melanson Heath in Boston, MA.

SARAH NORMANDIE L’16 (JD) was selected as a contract analyst for the State of Connecticut Office of Legislative Management/Connecticut General Assembly. 

MATTHEW SCAVARDA ’16 (Civil Engineering) was promoted to engineer II for the Water/Wastewater Group at Barton & Loguidice D.P.C. in Newburgh, NY.

ALISHA SULLIVAN L’16 (JD) was named the chair of Connecticut Bar Association-Young Lawyers Section Tax Committee. She was also awarded the Star of the Year Award in recognition of her previous role as cochair of the Women in the Law Committee.

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