Meet Our Panel:
 

Karen Curran, MBA CFP is an experienced  financial planner and investment manager, entrepreneur, and board member. For almost 20 years, Karen has worked with clients to help craft financial plans and an investment strategy that makes sense in the context of each persons unique circumstance. Curran and Keegan Financial was established in 2014 as a female owned, full-service investment advisory firm with a passion for guiding clients to achieve financial wellbeing for their lifetime. The firm's approach provides a safe space for personalized planning and thoughtful investment management.  As an independent, fee-based advisory firm, Curran and Keegan currently supports over 160 individuals/families and oversees and investment portfolio of $180 million  as of 02.27.23. While serving on the Board of Trustees for numerous local non-profit groups, including her current role of Finance Chair/Treasurer for Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Karen has amassed a broad and comprehensive experience in strategy, governance, fundraising and financial matters for organizations with varied mission, size and reach in the community. 

Karen holds her MBA from the University of Massachusetts Isenberg School and BA from the University of Rhode Island. She is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (TM) professional, the highest credential available in the financial planning field. Fewer than 30 percent of practicing financial advisors in the industry cam claim ownership of this rigorours distinction. *

*Hicks, Coryanne. (2022, October 19). CFP Exam 101: Everything Your Need to Know to Pass the CFP Test. U.S. News, Retrieved from https://money.usnews.com/investing/investing:101/articles/cfp-exam-101-everything-you-need-to-know-to-pass-the-cfp-test 





Ashleigh Beadle is an Executive Leader in Human Resources and People Operations with over twenty years of experience. She has served the Commercial Construction, Transportation and IT industries through Human Resources, with a focus on strategic growth planning, employee engagement and development, and talent acquisition. Specializing in building teams, organizational restructuring, acquisitions, recruitment, retentions, and training in both private and public sector environments, Ashleigh views every challenge as an opportunity for growth and evolution. 

Ashleigh's career began with the shocking decision to join a traveling commercial demolition company as a Project Engineer and People Manager as the only female on her team. Knowing she would have to work twice as hard to earn respect, she accepted thje challenge remembering her mentor's words of wisdom, "Business is not about your gender, but what you bring t the team." Having spent the majority of her career in industries often defined as male dominated, Ashleigh leads Sourcepass's newly crafted HR team as the Vice President of Human Resources. In this role, her strategic guidance will enable the next phase of development of her organization and those alike.

Ashleigh is a true trailblazer for women who fiercely advocates for pay equity  and changing the face of the people needs in all industries. She prides herself on being a Human Resources disrupter and champion of "Women can do it all," approaching People and Culture wit a new lens. As a proud single mom, Ashleigh understands the challenges women face as they balance their drive for career growth with raising a healthy family. Ashleigh is a breath of fresh air as she teaches those around her how to build a thick skin and speak your mind. Join us for a panel discussion on what is means for pay to be "equal"! 





Diane Dukette serves as Chief Development Officer for Cooley Dickinson Hospital and Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice. Previous positions include Vice President, Fund Development for the Sisters of Providence Health System and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Executive Director of Development at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Diane is a recipient of the Outstanding Professional Fundraising Executive Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Wester Massachusetts Chapter. 

Diane Holds  BA from Smith College and a MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the West Springfield Public Library.












Joanna Ballantine is Vice President for Philanthropic Services for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Joanna was a Financial Planner with the Davis Financial Group.  Previously, Joanna was the Vice President at The Trustees of Reservations whose mission is to preserve - for public use and enjoyment - places of exceptional scenic, historic and ecological value in Massachusetts. Before her career in conservation, Joanna was the Executive Director of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation for over a decade and was instrumental in creating and growing the organization's signature programs. Joanna has published numerous articles including on "The Powerful Return on Investing in Individuals." Joanna collaborated with the Amherst Chamber of Commerce during the pandemic to convene a panel of powerful women leaders sharing their unique views on "The  SheCessin during COVID and what it will take for us to work toward a SheCovery, while taking stock of our own self-care." Joanna holds a BA from Hampshire College, and an MSW from the University of Maryland. She Lives in Amherst, Massachusetts with her husband Clay, has a son Caleb at Skidmore College and is proud of her daughter Hanna, who graduated from Hampshire College. 





Working Session

Tiffany Espinosa is the founder of Teal Executives and currently serves as the Executive Director for the Professional and Graduate Education Division at Mount Holyoke College, as a Business Advisor for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program, and on the Board of Directors of Girls Inc. of the Valley to help the next generation of leaders be strong, smart and bold.  

The RACI Side of Communication and Collaboration:
As the adage goes, "if you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together. In this session we will explore the RACI framework, a tool that can be used formally and informally to help collaborate more mindfully, communicate more effectively, and be more successful. We will discuss how to use in personal, volunteer and professional settings to keep people in the loop, engaged and well coordinated. 

Attendees of this session will: