Vega to lead WMass Economic Development Council
SPRINGFIELD — After a nationwide search that yielded over 100 applicants, the board of directors for the Western Mass Economic Development Council today named Aaron Vega as its new president and CEO.
Vega is charged with carrying on the legacy of the Rick Sullivan, who has served the EDC for 11 years and will work his last day in the lead role on Dec. 31. Sullivan is credited with massive economic development in the region and, in the last years of his tenure, securing $70 million in state investments for food science, quantum computing and clean tech.
Vega was a Holyoke city councilor for four years before he was elected in 2012 to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 5th Hampden District, serving four terms.
Since January 2021, Vega has led the Office of Planning & Economic Development in Holyoke. He currently is the board chair for Mass Humanities and also serves on the boards for New England Public Media, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and MassHire Holyoke Career Center.
He lives in Holyoke with his wife, Debra, who is the artistic director for Broadway Brings Joy Musical Academy and board chair for Girls Inc. of the Valley. The Vegas are co-directors and instructors at Vega Yoga Mobile at Open Square.
In his new role, Vega wants to focus on supporting municipalities and their economic development officers so when the EDC invites new businesses into the area, there are mechanisms in place for assuring they can leap the hurdles of site planning, zoning and special permitting.
A second focus will be marketing the Western Mass hub and selling the region’s natural resources, entertainment and quality of life to businesses that visit.
DA’s director of operations retires, replacement named
NORTHAMPTON — After 16 years as director of operations for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Martha (Martie) Murphy Kane retired at the end of October.
Taking over as director is Michelle (Richotte) Palmisano, who has worked in the office since 2000.
Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan hired Kane after he was elected district attorney in November 2010. As director of operations, Kane played an integral role in the development of the office culture, workforce and initiatives. She was responsible for personnel management, daily operations and strategic policy implementation, including progressive criminal justice initiatives in line with criminal justice reform, restorative justice and prevention.
Previously, Kane worked for 22 years at the Hampden District Attorney’s office in a variety of posts that culminated as deputy director of operations.
Kane played a central role in the development of the Western Massachusetts Veterans Treatment Court, the opioid overdose prevention coalitions in the region, the office’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and a host of other programs and daily perational responsibilities.
Palmisano, hired in 2000 by former Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel, started out as a Superior Court secretary, after which she became executive secretary for the district attorney and then executive assistant to the DA.
Moriarty recognized with education service award
HOLYOKE — The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) has announced that Michael Moriarty, executive director of OneHolyoke CDC and a longtime advocate in the movement to advance early literacy in the commonwealth, is a recipient of NASBE’s 2025 Distinguished Service Award, recognizing exceptional contributions to education.
This prestigious award honors three board leaders annually, this year from Massachusetts, Georgia and Tennessee, and represents NASBE’s highest accolade for state board members.
Moriarty recently completed his tenure on the Massachusetts State Board of Education after 10 years of service, during which he chaired the state’s Early Literacy Subcommittee, and was a member of the budget subcommittee and commissioner evaluation committee. Moriarty was also an active member of NASBE’s Early Literacy Working Group.
Prior to chairing Massachusetts’ Early Literacy Subcommittee, Moriarty pioneered tying budget requests to literacy programs, years before it became common in state policy. A final report incorporating Moriarty’s comprehensive 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 school committee and was instrumental in the formation of the Holyoke Early Literacy Initiative (HELI). Moriarty has served as executive director of OneHolyoke CDC since 2013, a mission-driven nonprofit that believes every resident of Holyoke should live in a dignified home and a safe, attractive neighborhood.
Entrepreneur named finalist in pitch competition
EASTHAMPTON — Local business leader Colleen DelVecchio, founder and CEO of Maxady, has been named one of 24 national finalists in the WBENCPitch ACCELERATE competition, a program hosted by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) to spotlight and support innovative women-owned businesses across the United States.
The WBENCPitch competition brings together hundreds of women entrepreneurs each year to showcase their businesses, share their missions, and compete for national recognition and support. As a finalist, DelVecchio will present Maxady’s vision and impact during the live, virtual final round on Nov. 17.
Maxady, based in Easthampton, helps organizations build more confident, human-centered leaders through leadership development programs, team workshops, and executive coaching. The company’s work centers on helping managers thrive, not just by achieving results, but by creating workplaces where people feel valued and supported.
WBENC is the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women entrepreneurs.