(L to R): Senator Harriette Chandler; Action Hero Award Recipient and former WCAC board member Jack Foley, Clark University; Barbara Haller, former City Councilor/WCAC Board Clerk; Steven Joseph, Unum/WCAC Board Vice Chair; Noreen Johnson-Smith, Family Health Center of Worcester/WCAC Board; William Van Dam, NSTAR/WCAC Board Chair; Deborah Penta, PENTA Communications/WCAC Board; Steven Desmarais, Polar Beverages/WCAC Board; Tony Simas, NSTAR/former WCAC Board Chair; Dale Allen, Quinsigamond Community College/WCAC Board; and Michael Keegan, Gosling’s Rum/WCAC Board Treasurer.
View photos from the event below:
(L to R): Senator Harriette Chandler; Action Hero Award Recipient and former WCAC board member Jack Foley, Clark University; Barbara Haller, former City Councilor/WCAC Board Clerk; Steven Joseph, Unum/WCAC Board Vice Chair; Noreen Johnson-Smith, Family Health Center of Worcester/WCAC Board; William Van Dam, NSTAR/WCAC Board Chair; Deborah Penta, PENTA Communications/WCAC Board; Steven Desmarais, Polar Beverages/WCAC Board; Tony Simas, NSTAR/former WCAC Board Chair; Dale Allen, Quinsigamond Community College/WCAC Board; and Michael Keegan, Gosling’s Rum/WCAC Board Treasurer.
Action Hero Award Recipient Christian Olivo, JEC Graduate/AllCom Credit Union; Michelle Ramirez, WCAC GED Instructor; and Debbie Loewe, Imperial Distributors.
Eugene Santos-Roesler and Lynne Ellis, Savers Bank.
Action Hero Award Recipients Jyoti Datta and Michael Kurlan, Bancroft Lower School.
WCAC Chairman William Van Dam welcomes guests.
WCAC Vice Chairman Steven Joseph introduces Action Heroes.
Senator Harriette Chandler presents a senate citation to award recipient Jyoti Datta.
WCAC Vice Chairman Steven Joseph; Action Hero Award Recipient Jyoti Datta, Bancroft Lower School; and Senator Harriette Chandler.
Vice Chairman Steven Joseph and Action Hero Award Recipient Michael Kurlan.
Vice Chairman Steven Joseph and Action Hero Award Recipient Veronica Hachey, Executive Director, Dress for Success Worcester.
WCAC Board Clerk Barbara Haller introduces Action Heroes.
Board Clerk Barbara Haller and Action Hero Award Recipient Jack Foley, Clark University.
Board Clerk Barbara Haller and Action Hero Award Recipient Christopher Clark, Town Manager, Town of Southbridge.
Action Hero Award Recipients: WCAC Job & Education Center Students: Katrell Adams, Christina Olivo, Maleisha Robinson, and Hector Colon.
Michael Sleeper, CEO, Imperial Distributors delivers keynote address.
2013 Action Hero Cape Award Recipients: Michael Sleeper, Imperial Distributors; and Michael Kurlan.
Executive Director Jill Dagilis and Keynote Speaker Michael Sleeper, Imperial Distributors.
(L to R): WCAC GED Instructors Alan Tubman and Michelle Ramirez, Action Hero Award Recipients: Christian Olivo and Hector Colon, WCAC Job Developer Linda Taylor, and recipients Maleisha Robinson and Katrell Adams.
Executive Director Jill Dagilis; Deborah Penta, PENTA Communications/WCAC Board; and Director of Planning and Development Donna McGrath.
Action Hero Award Recipients Jyoti Datta, Bancroft Lower School, and Veronica Hachey, Dress for Success Worcester.
WCAC Board Vice Chair Steven Joseph, Unum, and Board Treasurer Michael Keegan, Gosling’s Rum.
Assistant City Manager/WCAC board member Kathy Johnson and daughter.
WCAC Director of Human Resources Kerry Brennan and Administration and Special Projects Coordinator MacKenzie Buice.
Ginger Navickas and Jeff Van Amburgh with WCAC Director of Planning and Development Donna McGrath.
2013 Action Hero Award: Veronica Hachey, Dress for Success Worcester.
2013 Action Hero Award: Christopher Clark, Town of Southbridge.
2013 Action Hero Award: Jack Foley, Clark University.
2013 Action Hero Award: WCAC Job & Education Center Students:, Maleisha Robinson, Hector Colon, Jilary Llanos, Christian Olivo, and Katrell Adams.
WCAC GED Instructor Alan Tubman, award recipient Katrell Adams, Job Developer Todd Smith, recipient Maleisha Robinson, Job Developer Linda Taylor, recipients Christian Olivo and Hector Colon.
Board members Steven Desmarais, Barbara Haller, and Steven Joseph with Executive Director Jill Dagilis.
Board member Steven Desmarais, Polar Beverages; Board member Barbara Haller; Keynote Speaker Michael Sleeper, Imperial Distributors; Executive Director Jill Dagilis, Board Vice Chair Steven Joseph, Unum.
Michael McGuire and Joseph Gerardi, Mutual of America.
Action Hero Award recipient Veronica Hachey, Executive Director, Dress for Success Worcester with husband Scott Hachey.
Action Hero Award recipient Jyoti Datta, Bancroft Lower School with Director of Planning and Development Donna McGrath.
Executive Director Jill Dagilis with Action Hero Award recipient Christopher Clark, Town Manager, Town of Southbridge.
WCAC Administration and Special Projects Coordinator MacKenzie Buice, Director of Energy Resources Mary Knittle, and Director of Job and Education Center and Asset Development Programs Charla Hixson.
John Shaw and Michael Tsotsis, Benefit Development Group.
Board Chairman William Van Dam and Director of Job and Education Center and Asset Development Programs Charla Hixson.
WCAC Director of Human Resources Kerry Brennan and Job Developer Linda Taylor.
Alan Tubman, GED Instructor; Steven Desmarais, Polar Beverages/WCAC Board member; and Todd Smith, Job Developer.
Barbara Guthrie, Director of Early Childhood and Family Services; Evelyn Velez, Director of Family Services for Head Start; Action Hero Award recipient Jyoti Datta, Bancroft Lower School; and Board Clerk Barbara Haller.
Brigid Palcic; Mark Wagner, Worcester State University; and Otla Kodra, Lutheran Social Services.
Former board member Mark Carron and Sheila McCormick.
2013 Action Hero Award Recipients: (back) Christian Olivo, Jack Foley, Hector Colon, Christopher Clark, Katrell Adams, (front) Veronica Hachey, Michael Kurlan, and Jyoti Datta.
Debbie Loewe, Imperial Distributors and Kathy Barron, Accurate Resource Group and Dress for Success Worcester Board Chair.
Barbara Guthrie, Director of Early Childhood and Family Services and Noreen Johnson Smith, Family Services of Worcester/WCAC Board member.
Senator Harriette Chandler and Rob Anderson, Fallon Community Health Plan.
WCAC Board members: William Van Dam, Steven Desmarais, Dale Allen, and Michael Keegan.
WCAC’s 2012 Action Hero Awards receipients: Mauro DePasquale, WCCA TV 13; Stephen F. O’Neil, WTRA; Jordan Levy, WTAG; Bruce Gaultney, Worcester Telegram & Gazette; and Peter Gardner, Curry Printing.
View photos from the event below:
Executive Director Jill C. Dagilis, Director of Early Childhood Education & Family Services Barbara Guthrie, and Head Start Director of Family Services Evelyn Velez with Head Start success story speaker Carlos Colon & family.
Head Start success story speaker Carlos Colon and mother.
Executive Director Jill C. Dagilis with Head Start success story speaker Carlos Colon.
Action Hero award recipient Mauro DePasquale, WCCA TV 13 and daughter Isabella.
Michael Dagilis with Jim & Ruth Reina, family of Executive Director Jill C. Dagilis.
Keynote Speaker Louise Eldridge, Regional Program Officer for Head Start of Administration for Children & Families and Director of Early Childhood Education & Family Services Barbara Guthrie.
2012 Action Hero Award recipients: Jordan Levy, WTAG; Mauro DePasquale, WCCA TV 13; and Stephen F. O’Neil, WRTA.
Keynote Speaker Louise Eldridge, Regional Program Officer for Head Start of Administration for Children & Families and Executive Director Jill C. Dagilis.
Executive Director Jill C. Dagilis with Action Hero Award honoree Peter Gardner, Curry Printing.
Human Resources Director Kerry Brennan with Joseph Gerardi, Mutual of America.
Board Member and former Head Start child Steven Joseph, with Head Start success story speaker Carlos Colon & family.
Anthony Pini, WCAC Volunteer of the Year Barbara Hassan and Antonio Simas, NSTAR.
WCAC’s 2012 Action Hero Awards recipients: Mauro DePasquale, WCCA TV 13; Stephen F. O’Neil, WTRA; Jordan Levy, WTAG; Bruce Gaultney, Worcester Telegram & Gazette; and Peter Gardner, Curry Printing.
Director of Early Childhood Education & Family Services Barbara Guthrie with Keynote Speaker Louise Eldridge, Regional Program Officer for Head Start of Administration for Children & Families, and Averil Capers, Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
Board Member Gladys Rodriguez, Congressman James P. McGovern’s Office, Anthony Pini, and Board Member Barbara Haller.
Executive Director Jill C. Dagilis with Board Member Michael Keegan, Gosling’s Rum.
Worcester State University President Barry Maloney, Board Member Gladys Rodriguez, Congressman James P. McGovern’s Office, and Tom McNamara, Worcester State University.
WING GED Instructor Michelle Ramirez and Debbie Loewe, Imperial Distributors.
WCAC Volunteer of the Year Barbara Hassan with Board Chairman William Van Dam, Margaret Coughlin, and Kathleen Orrick, NSTAR.
Board Members Steven Joseph & Barbara Haller.
Director of Planning & Development Donna J. McGrath with Board Member Deborah Penta, PENTA Communications.
Board Members Gladys Rodriguez, Barbara Haller, Steven Joseph, Michael Keegan, Chairman William Van Dam, Kathleen Johnson, and Deborah Penta with Antonio Simas, NSTAR, and Volunteer of the Year Barbara Hassan.
Board Member Winifred Octave and Board Chairman William Van Dam.
Action Hero Award recipient Stephen F. O’Neil, WRTA and Board Member Kathleen Johnson, City of Worcester.
Executive Director Jill C. Dagilis.
WCAC Board Chairman William Van Dam.
Head Start success story speaker Carlos Colon.
Board Member Barbara Haller with Action Hero Award recipient Mauro DePasquale, Executive Director, Worcester Community Cable Access TV 13.
Board Member Barbara Haller with Action Hero Award recipient Peter Gardner, President, Curry Printing.
Action Hero Award recipient Bruce Gaultney, Publisher, Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
Action Hero Award recipient Jordan Levy, Host, WTAG.
Action Hero Award recipient Stephen F. O’Neil, Administrator, Worcester Regional Transit Authority.
2011 Action Hero Award Recipients, (L to R) Christopher Sawyer, Creative Designer; Thomas E. Ellis, Jr., Heery International, Inc.; Dr. Laurie Ross, Clark University; Dr. Gail Carberry, Quinsigamond Community College; J. Christopher Collins, Unum (honoree Kellie Moats, Together By Heart Photography, not pictured).
View photos from the event below:
WCAC 5th Annual Action Hero Awards 2011 Program Book
2011 Action Hero Award Recipients, (L to R) Christopher Sawyer, Creative Director; Thomas E. Ellis, Jr., Heery International, Inc.; Dr. Laurie Ross, Clark University; Dr. Gail Carberry, Quinsigamond Community College; J. Christopher Collins, Unum (honoree Kellie Moats, Together By Heart Photography, not pictured).
WCAC 5th Annual Action Hero Awards 2011
2011 Action Hero Awards Sponsors and Donors.
Generously donated by Sweet Pastry Shop and Dessert Bar.
Delicious donation made by Trader Joe’s.
View from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’ George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Conference Hall.
WCAC’s Development Team in action.
Tony Simas, National Grid; WCAC Board Member Winnie Octave, and WCAC Development Team Charla Hixson and MacKenzie D’Assis.
Worcester City Councilor and WCAC Board Member Barbara Haller and WCAC Development Team.
Mark Bilotta, Executive Director of Colleges of Worcester Consortium, with Victor Somma, Quinsigamond Community College.
Executive Director Jill C. Dagilis with parents and children. (L to R) Jesse Dagilis, Ruth Reina, Jim Reina, Jill C. Dagilis, Michael Dagilis.
State Representative John J. Mahoney.
2011 Champion of Sustainability Honoree Unum. (L to R) Unum Staff; WCAC Board Member Steven Joseph, Scott Williams, Sara Harrington, J. Christopher Collins, Kathy Filippone, Nancy Kidd Brown, and Jennifer Roy.
(L to R) Christopher Noonan, Institute for Energy and Sustainability; Dr. Gail Carberry, Quinsigamond Community College; and Dennis Lyons, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Vice President of Worcester and Manchester Campuses.
WCAC Board Member William Van Dam and Keynote Speaker Penni McLean-Conner, Vice President Customer Care, NSTAR.
(L to R) Tony Simas, NSTAR; Keynote Speaker Penni McLean-Conner, Vice President Customer Care, NSTAR; and WCAC Board Member William Van Dam.
(L to R) WCAC Board Members Jean Perkins and Barbara Haller with State Representative John J. Mahoney.
(L to R) Former State Representative Mark Carron; Dennis Lyons, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Vice President of Worcester and Manchester Campuses; and State Representative John J. Mahoney.
Dennis Lyons, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Vice President of Worcester and Manchester Campuses, and J. Christopher Collins of Unum.
Unum’s Sara Harrington and Kathy Filippone.
(L to R) Adrienne Arthur and Thomas E. Ellis, Jr. of Heery International, with Jill C. Dagilis, WCAC Executive Director.
(L to R) Rita Moran, Thomas Smith, and Kevin Shaughnessy, National Grid with J. Christopher Collins, Unum.
Mark Bilotta, Colleges of Worcester Consortium with Victor Somma, Quinsigamond Community College (QCC), and QCC President and Award recipient Dr. Gail Carberry.
WCAC’s 5th Annual Action Hero Awards Event, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, May 5, 2011.
Dennis G. Lyons, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Vice President for the Worcester and Manchester Campuses provides welcome remarks.
WCAC Executive Director Jill C. Dagilis.
Honoree Thomas E. Ellis, Jr., Heery International, Inc. with Worcester City Councilor and WCAC Board Member Barbara G. Haller.
Worcester City Councilor and WCAC Board Member Barbara G. Haller with Action Hero Award recipient Christopher Sawyer, Creative Director for Ralph Lauren, Boston.
Award recipient Dr. Gail Carberry, President of Quinsigamond Community College.
Worcester City Councilor and WCAC Board Member Barbara G. Haller with Champion of Sustainability honoree J. Christopher Collins.
Worcester City Councilor and WCAC Board Member Barbara G. Haller and honoree Dr. Laurie Ross, Clark University.
Action Hero Kellie Moats, Together By Heart Photography.
Keynote Speaker Penni McLean-Conner, Vice President Customer Care, NSTAR.
WCAC Board Chair Deborah Penta.
(L to R) Jill C. Dagilis, WCAC Executive Director, Deborah Penta, WCAC Board Chair, Donna McGrath, WCAC Director of Planning and Development.
(Back Row- left to right): 45th Action Hero Honorees: J. Christopher Collins, Unum; James Howard, Center of Hope; Richard Leahy, Webster Five Cents Savings Bank; Bill Van Dam, NSTAR; Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy; Andy Lacombe, Charter TV3; Lee Gaudette, Blackstone Valley Education Foundation; William Breault, Main South Community Development Corporation (Front Row- left to right):Tony Simas, NSTAR; Kathleen Reville, Seven Hills Foundation; Jeannie Hebert, Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce; Ann Lisi, Greater Worcester Community Foundation; Jean Giguere, Smith & Jones; and Tony Shirley, Energy All Stars.
On May 6, 2009, the WCAC held its Third Annual Action Hero Award event at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Worcester. Six individuals and/or organizations were honored for their monetary contribution, in-kind goods and services, and advocacy to WCAC:
John Laracy, Bagel Inn
Joseph Clouatre, Innovative Business Partners
Debbie C. Guiney and Michael Carroll, AllCom Credit Union
Nancy Concemi and National Grid Call Center staff
WCAC’s Worcester Community Connections Coalition Parent volunteers
Rod Lee, Telegram & Gazette
Dr. Melinda Boone, keynote speaker, was introduced by J. Christopher Collins, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, UNUM.
View photos from the event below:
Betty Rocha, Nancy Concemi, National Grid, Senator Michael O. Moore
William P. Densmore, Dr. Melinda Boone, John F. Monfredo, WPS School Committee
WCCC Parent Center Volunteers, Action Hero Award Recipients
WCCC Parent Center Volunteers, Action Hero Award recipients, Senator Michael O. Moore, Ms. Barbara Haller, City Counselor, Anne Bureau, Director of WCCC, Winnie Octave
WCCC Parent Center Volunteers – AWARD
Senator Michael O. Moore, Dale Allen, WCAC Board Member
Senator Michael O. Moore, City Counselor Barbara Haller, City of Worcester
Rod Lee, The Buzz – AWARD
Rod Lee, Action Hero Award Recipient, & family
National Grid, Customer Service Call Center – AWARD
Nancy Jackson, Charla Hixson, Lisa Johnson, WCAC
Nancy Concemi, National Grid, Action Hero Award recipient
Mr. Rod Lee, Action Hero Award recipient, Senator Michael O. Moore, Ms. Barbara Haller, City Counselor
Mr. Rod Lee, Action Hero Award recipient, Senator Michael O. Moore, City Counselor Barbara Haller, City of Worcester
Mr. Joseph Clouatre, Innovative Business Solutions, Action Hero Award Recipient, Senator Michael O. Moore
Mike Keegan, WCAC Board Member
Mike Keegan, WCAC Board Member, Bill Van Dam, NGRID, WCAC Board Member, Action Heroes
Mike Keegan, WCAC Board Member, Bill Van Dam, NGRID, WCAC Board Member, Action Heroes
Michael Carroll, Debbie C. Guiney, AllCom Credit Union, Edward Lopes, Grafton Suburban Credit Union
Michael Carroll, Debbie C. Guiney, AllCom Credit Union, Action Hero Award recipients, Senator Michael O. Moore
Michael Carroll, AllCom Credit Union – AWARD
Meghan Macieko, UNUM, Lee Joseph, Steve Joseph, UNUM
Mark Carron, Rachel Lemoine, Jason Boucher, artists
Mark Carron, Inquiry Systems
Laura Cummings, AllCom Credit Union, Debbie C. Guiney, AllCom Credit Union, Action Hero Award Recipient
Kathy Dow, Danielle Morrow, Joyce Rowell, Director of Early Childhood & Family Services, WCAC
Kaitlin Beauchamp, The Hanover Group Foundation, J. Christopher Collins, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, UNUM
Joseph Clouatre, Innovative Business Partners – AWARD
John Laracy, The Bagel Inn, Action Hero Award recipient, Senator Michael O. Moore
John Laracy, The Bagel Inn – AWARD
Jill Dagilis, Executive Director, WCAC, Mike Keegan, WCAC Board Member, Bill Van Dam, NGRID, WCAC Board Member
Janet Lee, Director of Administration & Finance, Ann M. Ruder, Center for Living & Working, Jill C. Dagilis, Executive Director, WCAC
J. Christopher Collins, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, UNUM, introducing Dr. Melinda Boone
Grace Clark, WCCC Parent Center Volunteer, Anne Bureau, Director of WCCC, Winnie Octave, WCAC Board Chair
Grace Clark & Sheila Varner, WCCC Parent Center Volunteers, Senator Michael O. Moore, City Counselor Barbara Haller
Ginger Navickas, Priscilla Holmes, WCAC Deputy Director, and Jack Lund
Dr. Melinda Boone, Keynote Speaker, Jill C. Dagilis, Executive Director WCAC
Dr. Melinda Boone, Keynote Speaker, Jill C. Dagilis, Executive Director WCAC
Dr. Melinda Boone, Incoming Superintendent, WPS, Jill C. Dagilis, Executive Director, WCAC
