People in Business: May 6, 2024

Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Mansion and Museum in Lenox announces the appointment of Chelsea Gaia as its first director of programming and events. Appointed in January, Gaia has programmed a full 2024 season for the mansion, events and programs under the theme “Reviving the Spirit of Festival House.”

Gaia has over 20 years of experience in business development, audience growth, marketing strategy and entrepreneurship. She relocated from the Pacific Northwest to the Berkshires in 2022. Her previous roles in the Berkshires include serving as the director of marketing and box office at Barrington Stage Company and subsequently engaging several local cultural organizations as clients through her public relations and engagement company, Green Bird Business Services.

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The Board of Directors of Big Y Foods Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Colin M. D’Amour as senior director of asset protection where he will lead the asset protection team, develop and execute future strategies, deploy new technologies, build relationships with law enforcement and other regulatory agencies and foster both education and growth within the department. He reports to Nicole D’Amour Schneider, senior vice president of retail operations and customer experience.

D’Amour began working as a service clerk at Big Y Supermarkets in 1998 at the age of 14. From there, he held several positions including produce clerk, warehouse selector, and construction/remodel store projects coordinator.

In 2007, he accepted a commission with the U.S. Marine Corps as second lieutenant, ultimately earning the rank of captain. In 2010, he was deployed to Helmand, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2014, D’Amour left active duty in the Marines and returned to Big Y by entering into the store director training program. His career has included several important and diverse roles including store director, corporate center store sales director, senior manager of procurement, and most recently, senior director of the Big Y Express division. He was also a project manager for the expansion of the Fresh and Local Distribution Center and is a member of Big Y’s Real Estate and Store Design Committees. In addition, he oversees programs and initiatives with Topco, an $18 billion cooperative that provides aggregation, innovation and management solutions to food industry members across the country.

A graduate of Boston College, he holds decorations from his military service including both the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation and Achievement Medals. He is the grandson of Big Y co-founder Gerald E. D’Amour and son executive chairman, Charles L. D’Amour.

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Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, was honored at the Statehouse by the Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts, receiving the 2024 Distinguished Legislator of the Year Award in recognition of her support of the disability community and her work to file and pass “An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder.”

Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts is a statewide organization that brings together people with autism spectrum disorders, their families and friends to build the capacity of communities to welcome, fully include, and support people with autism spectrum disorders.

In early April, Massachusetts State Police rolled out a blue envelope program in coordination with Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts.

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Husband-and-wife duo Dr. Fred and Mary Kay Kadushin were honored for their community work to help end childhood hunger in the region. The co-founders of Feed the Kids were recognized as part of the Difference Makers Class of 2024, a program of BusinessWest at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Mary Kay Kadushin was also a finalist in the 22 News WWLP Remarkable Women of Western Massachusetts.

After hearing alarming statistics about the number of children in the U.S. who go to bed hungry every night, Dr. Kadushin, a neuropsychologist, and Mary Kay, a retired creative director/graphic artist, knew they wanted to do something tangible to help. They founded Feed the Kids in 2018, with a golf tournament as its primary fundraising vehicle. Since then, they have added an online auction in the weeks leading up to the tournament and have raised more than $350,000 to fight childhood food insecurity in western Massachusetts.

Proceeds from the events benefit local organizations that work to ensure children do not go hungry, including Square One, the Holyoke School Backpack Program and Pioneer Valley Powerpacks.

Square One in Springfield provides breakfast, lunch and snacks to more than 500 preschoolers a day. The Holyoke School Backpack Program in Holyoke and Pioneer Valley Powerpacks in Easthampton and Northampton distribute backpacks of nutritious and easy-to-prepare meals to children at the end of each week to enjoy over the weekend.

The seventh annual Charity Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, July 15, at the Springfield Country Club, 1375 Elm St., West Springfield. To learn more about Feed the Kids, donate or become a sponsor, visit feedthekidsgolf.com.