The Springfield Museums reelected five members to its Board of Trustees at the Annual Meeting of Corporators, held on Wednesday, September 25. The reelected trustees are Francis J. Cataldo, Jr., Lydia E. Martinez-Alvarez, John M. O’Brien III, Richard E. Ryall, and Glenn S. Welch. Robin Wheeler was also named to the Trustees Emeriti and 14 new corporators were elected, bringing the total number of Springfield Museums Corporators to 393.

Attendees gathered in the Davis Auditorium in the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts and heard from several of the Museum’s leaders, including President & CEO Kay Simpson, Board of Trustees Chair Cynthia Campbell, Treasurer Sam Hamner, and Governance Committee Chair Mark Keroack, M.D. The presenters touted the Museums’ accomplishments over the past year, reviewed the challenges faced, and looked toward the Museums’ future. Highlights and milestones included:

• The Springfield Museums had its third most well-attended year in the 167-year history of the institution.
• Demonstrating continued fiscal responsibility, the Museums delivered its 8^th consecutive year of surpluses on its operating budget.
• October 2023: Awarded a $800,000 grant from the Art Bridges Foundation for Free First Wednesdays, a program that enables visitors to receive free admission on the first Wednesday of every month for three years.
• October 2023: Received an award for the restoration of the childhood home of Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) from the Springfield Preservation Trust.
• November 2023: Granted reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, a distinction held by only 3% of museums.
• March 2024: Exceeded the 750-application minimum required by the Registry of Motor Vehicles to begin production of a specialty plate honoring Springfield native Dr. Seuss, with proceeds benefiting literacy programs at the Museums.
• April 2024: Continued partnership with the Smithsonian Institution with the opening of Habitat, an outdoor exhibition exploring the critical need for varied habitats, how interconnected and fragile they are, and what we can do to protect them.

About the Reelected Trustees

• Francis J. Cataldo, Jr. is the President of C&W Realty Enterprises, LLC and specializes in Commercial real estate development and management. In addition to his role as a Trustee, Fran serves on the Physical Plant and Finance Committees. Cataldo is a corporator of New Valley Bank and PeoplesBank, serves on the Board for the Springfield Thunderbirds and Springfield Thunderbirds Foundations. He was the former President of the Hartsprings Foundation, Springfield Business Improvement District and Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County and The Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance at Bentley College.
• Lydia E. Martinez-Alvarez served as Assistant Superintendent in the city of Springfield and began her career with Springfield Public Schools 24 years earlier as a substitute teacher. She has held the position of Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal and other leadership positions. Martinez-Alvarez became a first-generation college student completing her undergraduate studies at Westfield State University in three years, earning a bachelor’s degree in business management. She earned a master’s degree in education from Elms College and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate studies from Westfield State University. Lydia is currently a Trustee of Westfield State University and sits on numerous other Boards.
• John M. O’Brien, III is the Managing Partner of the certified public accounting firm, J. M. O’Brien & Company, P.C. The firm’s clients represent a broad range of industries and high net worth individuals. The firm provides an array of business consulting, mergers and acquisitions consulting, tax planning, estate and trust planning to its clients in addition to services such as tax return preparation, audits, reviews and compilations of financial statements. The firm also provides litigation support services and business valuations. The firm is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants private practice section and has received an unqualified peer review report.
• Richard E. Ryall works with the investment management team The Foundation Management Group at Merrill Lynch in Springfield, Mass. Mr. Ryall is a senior consultant and managing director at Merrill Lynch. He has worked in the investment management business for over 50 years and is also a professional management consultant (CIMA) as designated by the Wharton School of Management. He is a past and present member of the Board of Directors of the Springfield Museums and past president and member of the former Colony Club of Springfield.
• Glenn S. Welch has over 30 years of experience in the Financial Services industry in Western MA. He has been the President and CEO of Freedom Credit Union since January 2016. Previously, he was with Hampden Bank rising through the ranks for 17 years until becoming the President and CEO from 2013-2015 until it was acquired by Berkshire Bank in 2015. Welch has been active on many boards throughout the Pioneer Valley including Wayfinders, Develop Springfield, Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, Pathlight, the Advisory Board of the Business School at WNEU, the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the Co-operative Credit Union Association and the Audit Committee of the Springfield Museums.

About the Trustee Emeriti

• Robin Wheeler served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Springfield Museums from 1995-1996. A graduate of Smith College, Robin was known for her volunteer service for a broad array of social service and arts organizations. However, her love for the Museums was paramount. She was a primary leader in the creation of the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden and cochaired the Capital Campaign that funded the project along with fellow Trustee David Starr. The 11 million Campaign launched in 1998 and successfully concluded ahead of goal with 13.9 million in 1999. On multiple occasions Robin traveled to California along with other Trustees to meet with Audrey Geisel and sculptor Lark Grey Dimond-Cates. Robin and her husband Thomas Wheeler (former CEO of MassMutual) gave a significant donation to the Springfield Museums that was recognized by the naming of the large changing exhibition gallery in the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts. As a strong champion of the Museums, Robin set an example which inspired the philanthropic and volunteer contributions of others.

MassMutual is the season sponsor of the Springfield Museums.