Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives has hired three new employees and promoted three staff members at the Worcester-based life sciences incubator. MARSHA ROLLE has been hired as director of advancement to spearhead fundraising efforts and manage grant writing, sponsorships, and strategic partnerships. RONALD COTE has been hired as property manager of the MBI-managed, 500,000-square-foot Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park, to manage day-to-day operations and act as the point of contact for tenant communications, maintenance coordination, and capital improvement projects. JOE METTERVILLE has been hired as maintenance manager of the Research Park to oversee building systems and MBI-managed equipment, such as electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and building management systems. MELINA MATRONI has been promoted to director of workforce & marketing from her previous role of workforce & marketing manager. In her new role, she will work to expand career pathways in biotech and biomanufacturing in addition to managing the incubator’s marketing and outreach strategy. KARRI FREELAND has been promoted to vice president of administration and finance from her role as senior operations manager. She will direct financial management, human resources, and administrative operations. ZU SHEN has been promoted to executive vice president of incubation from his role as vice president. Shen manages MBI’s incubation programs, oversees facilities, and offers mentorship and operational assistance to resident companies.
MARINA ABRAHAMMARINA ABRAHAM has been named the managing attorney of Community Legal Aid’s Worcester office. In her new capacities, Abraham will manage the office’s attorneys, paralegals, AmeriCorps advocates, and support staff while leading community outreach in Worcester County. Abraham came to Community Legal Aid in 2020 as a staff attorney, overseeing the nonprofit’s medical-legal partnership with UMass Memorial Health in Worcester, before being promoted to MLP coordinating attorney. She graduated from UMass Lowell with her bachelor’s degree and from Suffolk University Law School in Boston with her law degree.
TALLENA WIGGINSTALLENA WIGGINS has joined Fidelity Bank as a home loan specialist at the Leominster-based institution. In her new position, Wiggins will help guide clients through their homeownership financing decisions, including financing a primary residence or investing in property. She previously worked for eight years at Waltham-based Lamacchia Realty and attended Marshall University in West Virginia.
Four commercial banking employees have been promoted at Country Bank, headquartered in Ware, including new players in the Worcester market. BEN LEONARD has been promoted to senior vice president, commercial banking executive. In this role, he will lead the bank’s western and eastern commercial banking teams, managing their commercial growth strategies and driving cross-functional sales alignment. This includes oversight of the Worcester market. PAT O’HARA has been promoted to first vice president, commercial banking team leader for Country Bank’s east region. She will oversee its Worcester commercial team, managing business clients and growing the bank’s commercial footprint. RYAN NAUMAN has been promoted to first vice president, commercial banking team leader of the east region, a role in which he will propel growth and bolster the bank’s regional presence. SAM PURSEY has been promoted to vice president, commercial banking, serving Worcester's business market.
MICHELLE FULLER has been named managing director of strategy & operations and senior wealth advisor at Bartholomew & Co., an investment and wealth management firm out of Worcester. In these new capacities, Fuller will work with the company’s leadership team to pursue strategic growth efforts, enhance productivity, and promote client experiences while providing comprehensive planning and advisory relationships to private wealth clients. Prior to joining Bartholomew, Fuller served in leadership roles at PIMCO, headquartered in California, and John Hancock Investment Management and State Street Global Advisors, both based in Boston.
MARK DISTEFANO
Carr Financial Group in Worcester has hired MARK DISTEFANO as an associate financial planner. In his new position, DiStefano collaborates with senior advisors to develop comprehensive financial and retirement plans. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Bryant University in Rhode Island.
