DECEMBER 2020
Katelin Cwieka (2017), AVP – Communications Manager, Marketing at Avidia Bank, recently was recognized with the 2020 New England Women in Banking Award by Banking New England Magazine. The Award is presented to women who are outstanding examples of professionalism, achievement, and selfless giving to their communities. These trailblazing women are leading the way for in this once male-dominated area. Read the interview with Katelin here. Katelin is an instructor for the nonprofit Center for Women & Enterprise, and she serves on the LMW Board of Directors.
Dawn Ross (2011) retired as Dir. of Career Services & Employer Relations after an 18-year career, and two degrees, at FSU. Well-known on campus and in the community, a few of her notable accomplishments include Suitable Solutions and Networking Mixers. She is warmly recognized as a master mentor and community collaborator. Dawn is a Navy Veteran and some of her volunteer efforts include Framingham Veterans’ Council and the LMW Board. She received the prestigious Athena Award in 2017, the Unsung Heroines of Massachusetts Award in 2013 and the FSU 2018 RAM Award (Recognition of Achievement & Merit). Dawn now lives in South Carolina.
Estela Shingleton (2012) has joined the Board of Directors of the 495/MW Partnership. Estela is branch manager at Webster First Federal Credit Union in Hopkinton. She also serves on the LMW Board and the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce Board.
Robin Robinson (2010), Director of Education Technology and eLearning at FSU, and her team were recognized by their peers with the Beacon Award, given to members of the FSU community who go above and beyond their responsibilities to make contributions that advance inclusive excellence on campus.
Marina Taylor (2006) is the new senior vice president/commercial lending officer for Clinton Savings Bank. Marina is a financial services veteran with 23 years of experience. She joins Clinton Savings from UniBank, where she was a vice president and prior to that, she was at Middlesex Savings Bank.
Dr. Connie Cabello (2020), Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement at FSU, was named to the prestigious 2020 Millennium Leadership Initiative of the American Assoc. of State Colleges & Universities The MLI has been successful in shaping future college presidents and chancellors from underrepesented backgrounds.
Cindy Frene (1993), is the founder and President of TransAction Associates. Last month the company was featured on The Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work list for the fourth time. The company has been providing strategic consulting services focused on transportation solutions to non-profits, municipalities, and companies nationwide for 30 years. TransAction Associates came in at #21 out of 55 medium-size employers.
Kathy Peirce (2001) recently was named president of the Middlesex County Assessors Association. Kathy has served as Holliston Principal Assessor for many years. She also was elected in 2020 as a member of the Board of Assessors in her hometown of Natick.
Sarah Krawiec (2020) BES Assistant Project Manager, at GRLA in Hopkinton has been selected to the serve on the Boston Building Enclosure Council (BEC) Executive Board for the 2021 term. Boston BEC is a group within the Boston Society of Architects providing education through panels and presentations to design professionals on building enclosure design, construction, and other technical aspects of the building enclosure.
NOVEMBER 2020
Courtney Thraen (2018), Executive Director of Downtown Framingham, Inc., received the 2020 Emerging Leader of the Year Award from the MW Chamber of Commerce, given to a leader in the earlier stages of their career who has made great strides at their organization. Courtney works tirelessly to support and promote the Downtown Framingham business and residential community in creative and collaborative ways.
Lester Baker (2020) has been appointed the new Chief of the Framingham Police Dept.
Lester has served as Deputy Chief of Operations since 2018 and joined the FPD in 2003 as a patrolman before moving up the ranks to Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Deputy Chief.
Mark Knowlton (2015), formerly Field Director at Prison Fellowship, now is Regional Director for the Northeast where he oversees all in-prison programming, employees, and volunteer teams in VA, MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, RI, CT, MA, ME, NH, and VT. The mission of Prison Fellowship is transforming the lives of incarcerated men and women, caring for children and families, and advocating for restorative justice.
Matt Lane (2017), formerly at SMOC, for starting a new position as Director of Real Estate and Strategic Initiatives at Volunteers of America/Massachusetts. The nonprofit serves low-income, homeless, and vulnerable populations throughout Eastern MA.
Julie Nardone (2018), is the author a new book that is part memoir, part art gallery and part feel better guide, Feel More Alive! 30 Brilliant Ways To Reignite Your Inner Spark, just released by Citrine Publishing. Julie also writes stories which have appeared in publications such as Psychology Today, Boston Globe Magazine, and Spirituality & Health.
Anna Cross, Ed.D. (1991) is the 2020 recipient of Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation’s John R. Heerwagen Award. Anna is Executive Director of the MW Nonprofit Nonprofit Network. The Award recognizes a nonprofit leader whose work has significantly benefited the lives and wellbeing of residents within the Bank’s communities.
Jason Homer (2019) is leaving as Director of Morse Institute Library in Natick, and will become Executive Director of the Worcester Public Library. Jason will oversee seven branches, including the Main Library, two mobile libraries, all library staff, and a collection of more than one million items.
Bob Schecter (2004), principal at Bartleby Scriveners, is writing for a client a history of the Massachusetts branch of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, an association of descendants of officers who served the Union during the Civil War.
Danielle Kehoe (2019), Chief Advancement Officer at The Learning Center for the Deaf, was elected to the MW Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors at its recent annual meeting, and Denise also was elected as the Board’s Vice Chair of Education Membership.
