Alumni Notes

1978

Donald Jourdain spent 25 years working as a member of the national guard security force at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield. He graduated from HCC with his associate degree in law enforcement, then earned a bachelor’s degree in history and a teaching certificate from Westfield State, followed by six years as a military police officer in the U.S. Air Force. Now retired, he enjoys singing with the Greater Westfield Choral Association, the Second Congregational Church of Westfield and Voices of the Valley in Southampton. In February, Jourdain and his wife, Wendy Taylor-Jourdain ’02, visited the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute for a special culinary arts luncheon. After graduating in 1977 from Tufts with a degree in occupational therapy, Wendy returned to school for a certificate as a pharmacy technician. Together, the Easthampton, Mass., couple often volunteer at area churches and food pantries.

1989

Elizabeth Cole (early childhood education) published her first children’s picture book, Elizabeth and the Magic Mirror. After graduating from HCC, Cole earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. For almost 20 years, she served as owner/director of Dolphin Daycare, an early childhood education center in Northampton. Currently, she is a licensed clinical social worker. 

1992 

Nikki Burnett (arts and science) has been elected to the Monson Savings Bank Board of Directors. After graduating from HCC, Burnett completed a bachelor’s degree in leadership and organizational sciences and a master’s degree in leadership and negotiation from Bay Path University. In the spring, she completed her doctorate in higher education leadership and organizational studies from Bay Path University. Burnett serves as executive director at Educare Springfield and holds numerous leadership positions, including trustee for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, where she co-chairs the distribution committee and serves on the DEI subcommittee and executive committee.

2002

Gerardo Sanchez (business) was promoted to digital banking officer at bankESB. After graduating from HCC, Sanchez completed a bachelor’s degree in business management and human resources at Bridgewater State University and a financial studies certificate from Mass Bankers Association’s New England School for Financial Studies. He has 26 years of banking experience, including positions at Bank of America and Florence Bank.

2003

Francine Murphy (accounting) was promoted to tax supervisor at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. in Holyoke. After graduating from HCC, Murphy completed a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Westfield State University. She is currently a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

2004

Chris Maza (communication) has been promoted to executive editor of The Reminder. Maza previously worked as a journalist for The Reminder and also contributed to the HCC newspaper while he was a student. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Maza is the head coach of the Cathedral High School swimming and diving teams. 

Elizabeth Román (liberal arts) has been promoted to executive editor of New England Public Media. Román joined NEPM as managing editor in 2022 after reporting for nearly two decades at the Springfield Republican newspaper. In her new role, Román will oversee NEPM’s award-winning local newsroom, ascertaining community needs, setting editorial priorities and supervising journalists, local program hosts, freelancers and interns. After graduating from HCC, Román earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from UMass Amherst. At 19, she started reporting for The Republican as an intern. As the bilingual reporter for the Republican and MassLive, she also served as editor of El Pueblo Latino for seven years. She was also the co-founder of Colectivo de Medios Latinos, a network of media organizations and individuals that focus on the representation and empowerment of Latinx communities, particularly through media production and dissemination. 

2008

Kerri Tichy (criminal justice) was named to the Business West 40 Under Forty Class of 2025. Tichy is the senior director of philanthropy at Shriners Children’s New England. Before joining Shriners, Tichy worked at Aero Fastener Co. in Westfield, MassMutual, and Babson Capital, then managed more than 430 philanthropic funds at the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Last year, she led her team to raise over $8 million, 272 percent above their $3.1 million goal. She remains active in her community, volunteering with organizations including the Ladies of the Oriental Shrine of North America, serving as PTO president at her daughter’s school, and is a former board member of Easterseals of Western Massachusetts. 

2011

Liz Martinek (paramedic) was named to the Business West 40 Under Forty Class of 2025. She serves as EMS coordinator for Baystate Health, bridging the gap between EMS agencies and hospitals. During the pandemic, she expanded her role to include more patient outreach and was honored as a Pandemic Response Hero for her patient-assessment efforts at a Westfield assisted-living facility. Martinek serves as Baystate Health’s medical captain for the Ironman competition in western Mass., recruiting and overseeing volunteer services provided by physicians, nurses, paramedics, EMTs, and other emergency responders.

2012

Wil Morales (business administration) has been promoted to assistant vice president community lending officer at Monson Savings Bank. Previously serving as branch manager and security officer, Morales has been with the bank for more than eight years.

2014

Rosana Colon-Menendez (business administration) is a registered CPA employed at the accounting firm Draffin Tucker, where she was promoted to a senior accountant in the company’s Atlanta office, serving clients in the commercial practice. After HCC, Colon-Menendez continued her education at UMass Amherst, receiving a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She went on to earn two master’s degrees from Mercer University, one in accountancy and the other in business administration. 

2015

Payton North (communication) has joined the Hampden District Attorney’s office in Springfield as communications director. After graduating from HCC, North earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in public relations, advertising, and applied communication from Western New England University. She comes to the DA’s office after eight years with The Reminder, where she most recently served as executive editor. North began her journalism career as a freelancer for The Reminder during her senior year
at WNEU.

2018

Zachary Towle (business administration) is a senior purchasing agent for BAE Systems US, a Nasua, New Hampshire, based company that develops and manufactures security systems for the defense and aerospace industry. After completing his associate degree at HCC, Towle transferred to UMass Lowell, where he graduated with a dual concentration in management and supply chain. He joined BAE soon after as a procurement analyst. Towle, a native of Westfield, Mass., is the twin brother of Brandon Towle ’19, founder of Camp Words Unspoken, a camp for stuttering youth, the subject of a feature story in the Spring 2025 issue of the Connection. 

2020

Brigid Owino (psychology) was named to the Business West 40 Under Forty Class of 2025. She launched Perinatal Wellness Partners, a company providing trauma-informed, mindful care for women throughout pregnancy, birth, and beyond. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UMass Amherst and working in mental health, Owino began volunteering in perinatal care before pursuing it professionally. Now she’s working toward a master’s degree in mental health at Framingham State University. Owino also serves as a peer mentor doula with Moms Do Care and is a board member with the Green River Doula Network, supporting families and fostering community for birth workers.

2021

Briana Lucia Figarella (liberal arts) has been appointed executive and editorial assistant to the vice president of national programming at GBH, the public broadcasting company formerly known as WGBH. After graduating from HCC, where she was an honors student, a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success, and named to the Dean’s List in 2020, Figarella transferred to Emerson College. There, she earned a bachelor’s degree in media arts production in 2023, served as a senator of the student government association, worked as an off-campus services student ambassador, made the Dean’s List, and was a logistics producer at IMI Productions. Most recently, Figarella served on the features selection committee for Salem Film Fest 2025 before starting her new position at GBH in October 2024.

Samantha Calvao (accounting) has been promoted to senior associate at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. After graduating from HCC, Calvao earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southern New Hampshire University, where she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She went on to complete a master’s degree in business administration from Fitchburg State University. Calvao is currently a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Nicholas Mishol (business administration) has been promoted to audit and accounting senior associate at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. Following his graduation from HCC, Mishol went on to earn a business administration degree from UMass Amherst before beginning his career in accounting.

2023

Angela Gula (English and creative writing) won the first-place award for an essay submission to Westfield State University’s literary arts journal, Persona. Gula is currently maintaining a 3.98 GPA as a student of WSU, majoring in English, literature concentration, with a minor in communications. Gula is a member of several honors societies: Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honors society; and Tau Sigma, a transfer student honors society.

Graciana Phillips (psychology) recently earned a bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology from Bay Path University, where she was inducted into the Maroon Key Honor Society and received the traditional undergraduate award for excellence in psychology. She was accepted to the University of Hartford’s graduate program for school psychology.

Jessica Johnson (nursing) published her first book, It’s Already Mine, a motivational and inspirational guide that helps readers set goals, pursue dreams, and unlock their full potential. Since graduating from HCC, Johnson has earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Capella University. She credits her HCC education for helping her reach her goals. “The foundation I received as a student there gave me the confidence, discipline, and determination to keep pushing forward,” she writes. “The experience, the support, and the education I received were instrumental in catapulting me to the next level, and for that, I am deeply grateful.”

2024

Lorraine Askew (business administration) has been promoted to assistant vice president and retail banking officer at Country Bank’s Ludlow branch. A 23-year veteran of the bank, Askew is a graduate of the Massachusetts Bankers Association School for Financial Studies and remains actively involved in her community through the Ludlow Community Center/Randall’s Boys and Girls Club, the VFW Auxiliary, the Get Your Pink On committee, and the Ludlow Rotary.

Max Bruel (liberal arts and sciences) finished his degree program at HCC with a 3.9 GPA before being accepted into Amherst College to study history and law. He diligently continues to work toward a bachelor’s degree in law, jurisprudence, and social thought.

Emily Colon (business administration) started off 2025 with a new job as the legal administrative assistant II with the Committee for Public Counsel Services, a Massachusetts state agency responsible for providing legal representation to individuals who cannot afford an attorney. For the previous two years, she worked as the executive assistant to the chief administrative and financial officer for the city of Springfield, Mass.

Jacob Kris (business administration) is working on his bachelor’s degree in economics at Amherst College. Kris graduated from HCC with a 4.0 GPA but still made time for extracurriculars. During his time at HCC, Kris tutored students in accounting and mathematics, in addition to interning through the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s Local Finance Commonwealth Fellowship.