Eastern States Exposition employees Cliff Hedges, director of security, and Mackenzie Coburn, sales innovation manager, have been appointed chairman of safety and security and chair of the Sponsorship Committee, respectively, by the International Association of Fairs and Expos.
The IAFE is a voluntary, nonprofit corporation that represents more than 1,100 fairs worldwide and has more than 900 members from allied fields. Its purpose is to promote and encourage the development and improvement of agricultural fairs, shows and expositions.
Hedges, of Longmeadow, has an extensive background in public safety beyond his six years as ESE’s director of security. He began his career in law enforcement as a police officer in Dallas. Afterward, Hedges was employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 26 years.
Hedges maintained various roles while working for the FBI in Tampa, Fla.; Boston and Springfield. While in Springfield, he spent five years conducting criminal investigations as a supervisory special agent for the Safe Streets Gang Task Force and Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Task Force. He was a foreign counterintelligence investigator when he concluded his career with the FBI.
Immediately before joining ESE, Hedges was the compliance director and investigator for Regional Care Healthcare where he oversaw the security of five hospitals. At that time, he was simultaneously acting as a security consultant for Bee-Line Security.
As Safety & Security Committee 2025-2026 chairman, Hedges will oversee monthly meetings and instruct multiple courses.
Coburn, of Colrain, began her career at The Big E more than five years ago as a marketing intern after completing her bachelor’s degree in communications at Westfield State University. Soon after, Coburn joined the team as a brand marketing coordinator and oversaw website redesigns for ESE and The Big E, rebranding The Big E’s food competition, refreshing the sponsorship program and more. In July 2022, she became sales innovation manager.
Coburn has also completed the Institute of Fair Management graduate certificate program in November 2023, became an IAFE Ambassador in February 2023 and will now serve as IAFE’s Chair of the Sponsorship Committee from 2025-2026.
As chair, Coburn will lead monthly conference calls for the 120 members of the sponsorship committee, host live discussions, enforce procedures, recommend rules and serve as a mentor for those on the committee.
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American International College has appointed Melisa Loa as dean of students and director of residence life. Loa will lead the Office of Student Affairs and oversee student conduct, support and advocacy.
Loa is the first Afro-Latina to serve as dean of students at AIC.
Loa’s appointment coincides with AIC’s milestone of meeting the threshold for Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) status. Earning this designation will make the college eligible for federal grants to fund initiatives that support Hispanic and other students. The approval process is expected to take up to two years.
Loa joins AIC with more than a decade of experience in and out of higher education. She most recently served as assistant director of residence life for first-year experience at Anna Maria College. Loa began as a resident assistant, steadily advancing in leadership roles.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and sociology with an individualized focus on higher education from Roger Williams University and a master’s degree in student affairs administration from Michigan State University.
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Norfolk County Sheriff Patrick McDermott, Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi and Hampshire County Sheriff Patrick Cahillane have been elected by their fellow Sheriffs to serve, respectively, as president, vice president and associate vice president of the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association.
The change in leadership comes following McDermott’s tenure as vice president. Cocchi will be staying on the leadership team, serving as the new Vice President. The President and Vice President will both serve a two-year term.
The Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association is comprised of the 14 elected county sheriffs serving across the commonwealth.
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The Massachusetts Health Connector joined lawmakers at the State House to recognize representatives from community Navigator organizations, including Springfield-area Navigators from Caring Health Center, Erica Letson and Eddy Correa, for their work to enroll residents into affordable Health Connector plans.
Most people who apply for coverage through the Health Connector qualify for ConnectorCare, which makes coverage more affordable through lower premiums and co-pays, and the elimination of deductibles.
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State Sen. Adam Gomez, D-Springfield, announces that he has added new staff to his team in his State House office.
The new director of constituent services is Silvana Gómez. Gómez has worked at various non-profits advocating for equitable access to services and opportunities for low-income, immigrant and Latino families. She was an intern with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in the office of U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar.
Silvana holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in women’s studies from Harvard.
