Conval, a global manufacturer of high-performance severe service valves in Enfield, Conn., recently announced that Joseph P. Ford has been appointed engineering manager.
A resident of Longmeadow, Ford has over 30 years of experience. He previously served in similar capacities at Linde Advanced Materials Technologies (formerly Praxair) in Manchester, Connecticut; CIRCOR Aerospace and Defense in Warren and Baker Hughes, a General Electric company in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Ford holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
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Whole Children and Milestones, a Northampton-based afterschool and weekend enrichment center for people with disabilities, has named Liana Marks, of Easthampton, as its new manager.
Throughout tenure at Whole Children and Milestones, Marks has contributed her artistic and creative talents to numerous classes, as well as in the Milestones day program, serving adults. Marks has also been a member of the Whole Selves curriculum development team which teaches social skills and sex education to students with disabilities.
She earned her undergraduate degree in special education from Hampshire College, with a focus on art education and inclusion.
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Bay Path University recently announced Jacquida Mars has been appointed the new director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs. The office serves as a cultural resource for students, faculty and staff, as well as providing direction and services for current and prospective students from underrepresented populations.
Mars previously served as the assistant director of alumni and parent engagement for affinity and identity programs at Connecticut College, where she successfully developed a mentoring program for BIPOC students and alumni. She previously contributed to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts as a career programming manager at Trinity College.
Mars earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and crime, law and justice from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in public policy from Trinity College. She is currently enrolled in a doctorate program in Educational Leadership for Social Justice at the University of Hartford.
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The Springfield Symphony Orchestra has announced the hiring of two new staff members: Kim Collins as dudience development and community engagement manager and Caitlin Meyer as education director.
Collins will work to create community connections for the SSO and engage new audiences. Meyer will be responsible for bringing back the hosting of SSO educational performances for public school students as well as creating new educational programming for the organization.
Collins joined the SSO in October. She most recently served as director of member services with the Connecticut River Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Collins has also been a performing artist and educator. As a flutist, she has performed with the SSO for over 25 years, and also served as the SSO’s orchestra librarian for several years. Collins also has performed solo engagements and been a pit musician on Broadway and with nationally touring shows.
Collins has held faculty positions at Choate Rosemary Hall, Fairfield University, the Hartt School Community Division, the Neighborhood School of Music, Southern Connecticut State University, in addition to directing her private music studio. She has also been a guest teaching artist for the El Sistema-inspired Bravo! Waterbury program and has presented arts integration programs to students at schools throughout Connecticut and beyond.
Meyer is an educational leader, music educator and professional musician who has taught in China, Tanzania, Israel and Australia. Before joining the SSO, Meyer served as director of programs for a charter school in Bridgeport, Conn., where she worked with the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants on arts-integrative culturally responsive programs for newcomer students.
Meyer founded the Qingdao Visual and Performing Arts Educators Association, which has allowed students of every background in China to participate in arts initiatives as well as international travel opportunities to Singapore, the US, and Australia. The nonprofit now focuses on teacher development and arts integration for teachers from 13 countries.
She was the music director at Saint Bernard School in Uncasville, Conn., for seven years. She is a current doctoral student at DePaul University in Chicago studying educational leadership.
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At its annual meeting, the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys honored several individuals.
MassNAELA member Mary Paier Powers, of Springfield, was presented the Deborah H. Thomson Advocacy Award, which recognizes a MassNAELA member’s efforts in advocating for elder issues in state government. Powers co-chairs the MassNAELA Advocacy Committee, establishing its legislative priorities.
The John J. Ford Litigation Advocacy Award, which honors a member’s litigation efforts on behalf of seniors and MassNAELA, was bestowed on E. Spencer Ghazey-Bates, of Northampton, for his involvement in MassNAELA’s MassHealth Life Estate Valuation workgroup. He helped clients contest MassHealth’s valuation of their life estate in Superior Court, which led to MassHealth’s return to using the IRS valuation of a life estate.
The annual meeting also included the election of chapter officers and directors. The 2024 officers include president, Michael Couture, Somerville; president-elect, Erin McBee, Harvard; vice president, Gina Barry, Springfield; treasurer, Steven Mann, Waltham; clerk, Ashley Aubuchon; and immediate past president, Abigail Poole. Newly elected directors include Whitney Gagnon, of Newington, N.H.; and Ghazey-Bates.
