The Chicopee Chamber of Commerce announces the recipients of its 2025 Shining Stars: AJ Crane as Citizen of the Year; Ashley Batlle as Volunteer of the Year; the Springfield Thunderbirds as Business of the Year; and Health New England as Nonprofit of the Year.
A lifetime Chicopee resident, crane returned home after college to join the family business, A. Crane Construction, where he now serves as its leader. Under his direction, the company has evolved into a full-service, multi-state commercial construction firm and developer. Among his recent contributions is the construction of the Chicopee Boys & Girls Club’s new Teen Center, Haven. Crane serves as chair of the Board of Directors for both the Westmass Area Development Corp. and the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, a corporator for Monson Savings Bank, and is a board member of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Western Massachusetts.
Since opening Beauty Batlles Lounge in 2018, Batlle has become an indispensable member of the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce. A member of the Board of Directors since 2021, she has played a pivotal role in fostering community engagement, particularly through her leadership as chair of the Thriller 5K committee.
Chicopee is one of the top five communities supporting the Thunderbirds through ticket sales, and the team has reciprocated that enthusiasm by becoming an integral part of the city’s community fabric. Through their Thunderbirds Foundation, the organization donated over $128,000 to charitable causes last season, while players and mascot Boomer made more than 300 community visits, many of them in Chicopee.
As a nonprofit health plan since 2012, Health New England has reinvested nearly $500,000 annually into programs and initiatives that benefit local residents, from partnerships with social service agencies and food pantries to supporting wellness programs, schools and senior centers.
The 40th annual Shining Stars Gala takes place Friday, Feb. 28, from 6 to 10:30 p.m. at the Castle of Knights on Memorial Drive. Tickets are $75 per person. To purchase tickets or inquire about sponsorships, visit www.chicopeechamber.org or call the office at 413-594-2101.
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Stephen Nembirkow began serving as the finance director for the cty of Greenfield on Dec. 2. Nembirkow has worked in government and financial leadership positions for over 25 years, including with Greenfield Public Schools.
Nembirkow is a University of Tennessee graduate, earning a Doctor of Jurisprudence and Bachelor of Science in finance. Nembirkow also accumulated several financial accreditations during his career, including achieving MCPPO (Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official) certification and becoming a licensed Massachusetts attorney.
Nembirkow served as the director of human resources and finance for Chicopee Public Schools for over 17 years.
Nembirkow then transitioned to Franklin County, serving as the director of business and finance for Mohawk Trail Regional Schools before becoming the chief financial officer for Greenfield Public Schools.
Nembirkow most recently served as the assistant superintendent for finance and operations at Weston Public Schools.
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Glenmeadow Inc., provider of senior retirement lifestyle options, recently elected new leadership and new members to its Board of Directors. Michael Tremble, CEO of Valley Communications, will continue as chair. Kelly Koch, probate and family law attorney with Raipher, will continue as Vice Chair. Erin Koebler, executive director of the East Longmeadow Council on Aging, will continue as clerk. Vice president and chief operating offer of Schwerin Boyle Capital Management, Rory O’Brien, was elected treasurer.
The board of Directors welcomed five new members: Justin Ayala, manager, Divisions of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Baystate Health; Donna Durocher, clinic director, ATI Physical Therapy; George Kelly, Glenmeadow resident; Siobhan Matty, assistant vice president, financial advisor at St. Germain Investment Management; and Amanda Sbriscia, vice president of institutional advancement and executive director of the Foundation at Holyoke Community College. Glenmeadow has also welcomed two new corporate ambassadors, Lynn Brown, senior vice president, chief of staff and lending operations, People’s Bank and Suzanne Gile, director of clinical training and assistant professor of graduate psychology at Bay Path University.
In addition, several Glenmeadow staff have taken on new responsibilities: Zhane Stone was promoted to director of sales and marketing; Karlene Smith-Shaw was promoted to assistant director of hospitality; Rania Kfuri joined Glenmeadow as vice president of philanthropy, sales and marketing.
