NEW PRESIDENT OF THE WESTFIELD STATE COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Suzanne M. Boniface, of Springfield, was recently elected president of the Westfield State College Alumni Association’s Executive Council. The alumni population has reached 32,000.

She is a graduate of West Springfield High School and a 1992 magna cum laude graduate of Westfield State with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

She also serves as a director of the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts and is a board member with the Boston Road Business Association.

Cassandra D. Hobgood MD, Joins Department of Psychiatry at Baystate Medical Center

Dr. Cassandra D. Hobgood has joined the Department of Psychiatry at Baystate Medical Center where she will care for patients in the Adult Psychiatric Treatment Unit.

Dr. Hobgood earned her MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) at Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland. She completed her residency in general psychiatry and a fellowship in geriatric psychiatry at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville before coming to Baystate Medical Center.

She also holds a graduate certificate in Public Health Sciences from University of Virginia, School of Public Health Sciences.

Active in numerous professional societies and organizations, Dr. Hobgood is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, Association of Women Psychiatrists, American Association of Community Psychiatrists, and the American Medical Association.

Baystate Medical Center provides inpatient treatment for patients ages 18 and older with psychiatric disorders in a safe, secure setting. Short-term specialized treatment is provided by a multidisciplinary team, using a problem-oriented approach tailored to the needs of the individual. The facilities are licensed to accommodate both voluntary and involuntary patients. Psychiatric coverage is available seven days a week, and emergency admissions are accepted 24 hours a day.

For more information on the many services offered, call Central Intake at

413-794-5555 or visit baystatehealth.org and click on “Behavioral Health” under Services.

Nicole Tavares has joined

Keller & Williams Realty of Longmeadow

Keller & Williams of  Dwight Rd. in Longmeadow is proud to announce that Nicole Travers is now a realtor with their firm.

Nicole holds a  degree and 10 years of experience in sales & marketing along with 22 years of customer service work. Nicole stated “ I believe that I have a lot to bring to the table. Along with my experience, I will apply the three most important values to my work ethic and commitment to you:  honesty,integrity & excellence.  Nicole Tavares can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or you can call her at (413) 265-9018

Longtime Leader Sara K. Gould to Depart From the Ms. Foundation for Women

 Ms. Foundation for Women, the leading national social justice foundation committed to building the collective power of women to create positive social change, announced today that its president and chief executive officer, Sara K. Gould, will step down after nearly a quarter century with the foundation. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Susan Wefald, who joined the foundation in 1996, will serve as interim president from Gould's departure on November 19 until a successor can be named, which is expected early in 2011.  

Gould is leaving the Foundation to become the Atlantic Senior Fellow at the Foundation Center, a national nonprofit service organization recognized as the nation's leading authority on organized philanthropy. During this two-year fellowship, funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies, she will work with both organizations, and the broader philanthropic community, to increase the focus on social justice philanthropy and advance thinking in key related areas, such as leadership development and grantmaking with a gender, race and class lens.

The national search for a replacement for Gould is being conducted by nonprofit executive search firm Isaacson, Miller under the direction of the Foundation's board of directors.

"For nearly a quarter century, Sara Gould has made exceptional contributions to the Foundation in its pursuit of a just and safe world where power and possibility are not limited by gender, race, class, sexuality, disability, citizenship, age or any other factor," said Cathy Raphael, chair of the Foundation's board of directors. "Although we will miss Sara terribly, I know that our dedicated staff and active board will take our strategic vision and direction forward into the future."

Gould's expertise on women's economic security brought her to the Foundation in 1986. At a time when "women" and "economic development" were rarely used in the same sentence, she led the Foundation's work in women's economic development for 10 years, spearheading the creation of the Collaborative Fund for Women's Economic Development (CFWED) in 1991, a pioneering grant-making initiative that leveraged more than $12 million from foundations and individuals in support of organizations assisting low-income women to create their own jobs. Gould also created the Institute for Women's Economic Empowerment, which provided thousands of grassroots leaders over a twelve-year period with the skills and resources to help women achieve greater economic independence and to impact public policy at the local, state, tribal and national levels.

Gould is a recognized thought leader, trusted expert and frequent speaker in key arenas, including philanthropy, social justice philanthropy and organizational effectiveness; economic development and women's economic security; and social justice, public policy and women's rights.

"I'm very proud of what we've accomplished at the Ms. Foundation for Women, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of its amazing history," said Gould. "We've always been ahead of our time, trusting women leaders on the ground, taking strategic risks, pioneering innovative strategies and leading by example. I have complete confidence that our next generation of leadership will take these hallmarks of the Ms. Foundation into the future."

Gould pointed to other historic achievements brought about by the Foundation's bold and innovative leadership, including the Women and AIDS Fund, the nation's first—and still the only—national fund solely dedicated to supporting community-based advocacy led by and for women living with HIV/AIDS. The Foundation led other funders in its support of domestic violence shelters and sexual assault hotlines in the 1970s, and again when it shifted its strategy to focus squarely on violence prevention. In 1990, recognizing that states were the next battleground in the fight for women's reproductive rights, the Ms. Foundation led other funders in its support for coalitions and other organizations that have successfully protected women's reproductive rights in dozens of states. Today, the Ms. Foundation for Women is leading the way toward the prevention of child sexual abuse through the creation of a community-based, social justice approach.

MELISSA PERRY PROMOTED AT HMC

Melissa Perry of Northampton has been promoted to the new position of director of Behavioral Health Nursing at Holyoke Medical Center.  The announcement was made by Matthew Haas, director of Behavioral Health Services at HMC.

Perry,  who had previously been Behavioral Health nurse manager, has been with the hospital since 1993 and has proven herself to be an excellent leader on M5, as well as a behavioral health resource for the entire hospital, said Haas.

She is a graduate of Holyoke Community College, where she received her associate's degree in nursing. She received her bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Westfield State College. She also has a bachelor of science in criminal justice degree from Westfield State College. She is certified in psychiatric and mental health nursing.

A native of Northampton, Perry lived for several years in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and also worked as an oncology nurse in Savannah, Georgia, before returning to this area.

Prior to becoming a nurse, she had worked for the Center For Human Development, in the residential and outreach program servicing chronically mentally ill adults in Holyoke. She has also been a trainer for the Department of Mental Health, educating and training staff on the administration of medications.

KATHLEEN HANKEL NAMED TO BOAD OF DIRECTORS AT HOLYOKE MEDICAL CENTER

Kathleen Hankel of Westfield is one of three new members appointed to the Board of Directors at Holyoke Medical Center.

Hankel is currently the Dean of Health at Holyoke Community College.

She was born and grew up in Oakes, North Dakota and is a graduate of the

University of North Dakota and South Dakota State University. She was

employed for 20 years at the University of South Dakota Department of

Nursing as a program director and curriculum chairperson. Hankel has

authored several articles on nursing education and has presented at

regional and national conferences on nursing.

She currently serves on the editorial board for "Teaching and Learning

in Nursing," the official journal of the National Organization for

Associate Degree Nursing and is a consultant for the National League for

Nursing Center of Excellence.

In addition, she is a program evaluator with the National League for

Nursing Accrediting Commission and a consultant to associate degree

nursing programs across the country regarding curriculum, program

evaluation and program development.

Interior Designer Nancy Werneken Joins Masters Touch of Medfield

Masters Touch of Medfield, a one-stop-shop providing architectural, design and construction services, recently announced that renowned interior designer Nancy Werneken has joined their talented team.

Ms. Werneken has many years of full-service design and project management experience. Previous to joining Masters Touch, Ms. Werneken owned and operated Medfield Interior Design Showroom, a full-service interior design firm, for nine years. She also worked at a national advertising agency, Ross Roy Advertising, Inc., as the Art Director and as an Account Executivefor a number of years before becoming an entrepreneur.

Ms. Werneken holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Central Michigan University and a certificate in Interior Design from Rhode Island School of Design. One of her first notable accomplishments as an interior designer was designing the Media Room at the Tara Drive Showhouse in Norwell, MA. She is an Industry Partner member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

“Nancy provides sound design recommendations, color coordination and visual concepts in the form of hand drawings, sketches and 2 and 3-dimensional scaled renderings. Our clients don't need to visualize their new space because Nancy has the capability to provide presentation boards that show clients their new space - complete with carpentry, lighting, paint colors, window treatments, fabrics and so on. We're very pleased to welcome Nancy to our team,” noted Doug Masters, president of Masters Touch.

The Chicopee Chamber Volunteer of the Year 2010 is Michelle Sade, Operations Manager at United Personnel, Inc.

Ms. Sade joined United Personnel in 2001 as an on-site Project Manager where she managed four shift managers and up to 300 temporaries per day.  She advanced to Operations Manager where she is responsible for process implementation, marketing, client satisfaction and development throughout the Massachusetts offices.

Success in her vocation is proof that Michelle has what it takes in the workplace – always the consummate professional.  But, it is her effervescent personality and her philanthropic characteristics that propelled her into the world of giving. According to Michelle, it was her parents and grandparents who taught her to always give back in life and to leave everything that you encounter better than when you found it,” said Gail Sherman, President of the Chicopee Chamber.

“Michelle showed up as a volunteer for the Chicopee Chamber several years ago. Her enormous spirit and fortitude burst out into a gracious and forceful energy that was immediately recognized as a gift to the chamber. It was not long before she was elected to the chamber’s Board of Director where her knowledge of the business community and her strong leadership skills translated into a tremendous contribution to the chamber. Michelle did not stop there. She joined the Ambassadors’ Club, constantly keeping the mission of the chamber evident in the community. She is also a member of the Chamber’s Manufacturing Coalition where she is dedicated to the serious business of workforce development. It’s no wonder that Michelle Sade was chosen as the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year and will be honored by her peers at the April 9th event.”

Michelle is active in several other community affiliations including: Past-President and Co-Founder, Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield; Honorary Chair and Volunteer, Best Buddies of Western Mass; Volunteer, American Cancer Society; Alumnae Association, Regis College. Additionally, Ms. Sade is active in several professional organizations including the American Staffing Association (ASA), the Massachusetts Staffing Association (MSA), the Employers Association of New England (EANE), and the Human Resources Management Association (HRMA).

PITTSFIELD BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB NAMES NEW DIRECTOR OF RESOURCE DEVELOMENT

 Maria Gasbarrone Connors of Lanesborough, Mass. has been named director of resource development for the Boys and Girls Club of Pittsfield.

 In this position, Connors will be responsible for implementing a comprehensive resource development program designed to fund the club’s annual operations and long-term growth.

 Prior to taking on her new post, Connors worked as development director for Maine Initiatives in Augusta, Maine, spearheading strategic development plans, marketing campaigns, and planned-giving programs. She also served as communications director with the United Way of Kennebec Valley, also in Augusta, from 1996 to 2005.

 Peter Bell, executive director of the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Pittsfield, said Connors’ appointment is part of a larger focus on long-term fundraising, donor relations, and club development in response to increasing numbers of children from across Berkshire County utilizing the club’s services.

 “The name Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Pittsfield is almost a misnomer,” said Bell. “We welcome kids and teenagers from all over the region, and while we once had busy times and slower times, that’s all starting to even out throughout the year as we welcome more and more young people to participate in club programs.

 “Because of this pace, it’s more important than ever that the community knows who we are, what we do, and what it takes to open our doors to the community each and every day.”

WINSTANLEY PARTNERS ANNOUNCES JACLYN STEVENSON DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

Winstanley Partners, a marketing, creative design, interactive, and communications firm based in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, has named Jaclyn C. Stevenson of Springfield, Mass. director of public relations. Stevenson has worked with the agency for the last year in a freelance capacity, and this month took on a full-time post Nate Winstanley, president of Winstanley Partners, said the move coincides with a broader company restructure, through which the former Winstanley Associates and its sister company, Lenox Softworks, merged to become one, full-service entity.

“As new media becomes a greater aspect of the work we do – everything from social networking to the development of dynamic, Web-based applications to improve marketing and communications for businesses of all types – it is increasingly important for us to have people within the agency who have their fingers on the pulse of emerging trends and topics,” said Winstanley. “That said, we think we have just such a person handling our public relations and social media efforts on behalf of our clients as well as the agency itself during this mercurial, technology-driven time.”

Stevenson is an active member of New England’s traditional and new-media communities; she co-founded PodCamp Western Mass. in 2009, and also founded an international online networking community called Thirtysomething Bloggers in 2007 – a group that now has more than 1,000 members from around the world. Prior to accepting her new position with Winstanley Partners, Stevenson worked as both a writer and a publicist in several capacities. She’s completed projects as a sole proprietor with such clients as Cigna Healthcare, Disney World Sports, the Sisters of Providence Health System, and GoNomad.com, and also served as the senior writer for BusinessWest magazine from 2004 to 2008, reporter with the Journal Register in Palmer, Mass.,and the assistant director of public relations at American International College. Stevenson holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Bridgewater State College and a master’s degree in organization development from American International College, and has also studied abroad at Spa Lingua in Spa, Belgium and Wadham College at Oxford University. Her work has been recognized by the New England Press Association (NEPA) and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), and her community involvement

includes board positions with the Community Music School of Springfield and the Valley Press Club, in addition to a former corporator’s position with the Valley Photographic Center in Springfield, Mass. As director of Public Relations with Winstanley Partners, Stevenson will be responsible for traditional and newmedia- based public relations of all types for clients of the agency, as well as on behalf of the company itself.