1982
Palmer Motorsports Park promoted Al Sandy to membership club director and community outreach director. He joined Palmer Motorsports in 2015 and has played a key role in their marketing and sales department. The park was rated “One of the top ten road courses in North America” by Road & Track Magazine. Sandy earned his associate’s degree from HCC in business administration and continued his studies at Westfield State University.
1989
Dawn Bryden joined Asnuntuck Community College in Connecticut as associate dean of student development after nearly two decades in admissions at Bay Path University. She is president of the New England Transfer Association and a member of the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County.
1991
Jennifer Carr was appointed assistant director of donor stewardship at the University of Hartford. She has been with UHart since 2013 working in various roles in the division of Institutional Advancement. She earned her associate’s degree in early childhood education at HCC and her bachelor’s degree in communication and media studies at UHart.
1993
Christopher Pronovost retired on June 30 as Belchertown police chief. Prior to his service in Belchertown, Pronovost had been a police officer for nearly three decades in Amherst and Granby. He earned an associate’s degree from HCC in 1993 and bachelor of science in law enforcement degree from Western New England College three years later.
1996
Melissa Bourdeau joined Astellas Pharma in Westborough, Mass., as senior quality systems engineer. She previously worked as a quality engineer for both Covidien and Medtronic. She has an associate’s degree in business administration from HCC and a bachelor’s degree from American International College, also in business administration.
2003
Elizabeth Román joined New England Public Media as managing editor for news after reporting for nearly two decades for the Springfield Republican. In recent years, she was editor of El Pueblo Latino, co-founded Colectivo de Medios Latinos, and appeared as a panelist on NEPM’s “The Short List” and “Connecting Point” programs.
2005
Benjamin Sunny is an associate director of clinical operations at Sage Therapeutics. In recent years, he has held research and operations positions with Parexel, Genzyme, and Catabasis Pharmaceuticals. Sunny earned his associate’s degree in biology from HCC and his bachelor’s degree in biology from Gordon College.
2008
Raul Garcia is a clinician in the Opioid Treatment Program at Behavioral Health Network in Springfield, Mass. He has worked in recent years at Habit OPCO, Inc., and the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. He holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice from HCC, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from UMass Amherst, and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University.
Matthew Harrington joined Northeastern University as the assistant director of campus and community events. He previously spent more than nine years as front-of-house operations fellow and guest experience manager for Emerson College’s theater program. He earned his associate’s degree at HCC in liberal arts and his bachelor’s degree in mass communication at Westfield State University.
Ryan Rege is director of vocational programs at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School District in Fitchburg, Mass. Before that he worked for nearly 10 years as vocational director at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School. After graduating from HCC with his associate’s degree in liberal studies, he went on for his bachelor’s degree in vocational education from Westfield State and master’s degree in education from Fitchburg State.
Tasia Williams was appointed as the administrative assistant to the Male Initiative for Leadership and Education at Springfield Technical Community College. After earning an associate’s degree at HCC in liberal studies, Williams completed a bachelor’s degree in communications at American International College.
2009
Julie Warren is a software engineering student at Ada Developers Academy in Seattle, Washington. She earned an associate’s degree in liberal studies at HCC and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Smith College. She has also served as the assistant rowing coach at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.
Iesha Ramos has joined HCC as a career and academic counselor. She previously worked as a family case manager for the Center for Human Development and an academic advisor for Springfield Technical Community College. She earned an associate’s degree in public health at HCC, a bachelor’s degree from Hampshire College, and a master’s degree in public health from UMass Amherst.
2010
Carissa Dagenais, a trauma informed registered drama therapist, is serving on the Youth Advisory Board for the City of Holyoke. She is also an outpatient therapist for the Northampton, Mass.-based Clinical & Support Options and director of educational workshops at Hampshire Shakespeare Company. After studying theater at HCC, she earned a bachelor’s degree in theater at Smith College and master’s degree in drama therapy from New York University.
Florence Bank promoted longtime employee Jean Monska to lead the Easthampton branch. Monska, who lives in Florence, has worked for Florence Bank since 2002. Before her promotion to branch manager in Easthampton, she served as assistant branch manager in the Hadley location for 14 years. She holds an associate’s degree in business administration from HCC and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University.
2011
Jonencia Wood has joined Mount Holyoke College as the assistant vice president of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Most recently, she was the executive director of alumni and family relations at the Rhode Island School of Design. Before that, she was part of the Alumnae Association at Mount Holyoke College, where for five years she held a number of roles, including director of alum inclusion and director of alumnae engagement. Before joining Mount Holyoke, she spent time as a youth organizer with the YEAH! Network and was a project consultant with Baystate Health.
2014
The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women appointed Shaitia Spruell as executive director. Prior to joining the MCSW staff, she served as a state and regional commissioner and worked as a program manager for the Office of the State Treasurer and Receiver General, where she oversaw women’s economic empowerment programming and digital financial education programs. After HCC, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Bay Path University and an MBA from Fitchburg State University.
2015
Andrew Kubin was promoted to employee service representative at Big Y World Class Market. Kubin began working at Big Y in 2013 as assistant customer service manager. After receiving his associate’s degree in American Studies at HCC, he earned a bachelor’s degree at Westfield State University and master’s degree at UMass Amherst.
2016
Laura Whitely is co-founder of Vano Studios, a film and photo rental studio in Eastampton, Mass. Vano Studios opened in June to provide a space for other artists while she and her partner, Bojan Vanovav, continue their own work producing high-quality films, commercials, branded content, and music videos. After earning her associate’s degree in business management at HCC, Whitely transferred to the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst for a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing.
2019
Brandi St. Romain has joined Planned Parenthood Federation of America as a medical assistant. St. Romain earned her associate’s degree in biology at HCC and her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience at Smith College.
2020
Stephania Robert is a loss prevention specialist at the TJX Companies. She previously worked as a security officer at Allied Universal in Springfield. She earned her associate’s degree in criminal justice at HCC and her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and homeland security from UMass Lowell.
2021
Samantha Calvao joined Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. as a paraprofessional. She received her associate’s degree in accounting from HCC and is working toward her bachelor’s degree in accounting at the University of Southern New Hampshire. She was recently awarded the PwC LLP Scholarship from the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.
