Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1541925
20 Worcester Business Journal | December 15, 2025 | wbjournal.com MARINA 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 CLA 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 WIGGINS has joined Fidelity Bank as a home loan specialist at the Leominster-based institution. In her new position, Wig- gins 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 at- tended Marshall University in West Virginia. 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 di- rector of advancement to spearhead fund- raising efforts and manage grant writing, sponsorships, and strategic partnerships. RONALD COTE has been hired as proper- ty manager of MBI's 500,000-square-foot Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park to manage day-to-day operations and act as the point of contact for tenant com- munications, maintenance coordination, and capital improvement projects. JOE METTERVILLE has been hired as main- tenance manager of the Research Park to oversee building systems and MBI-man- aged equipment, such as electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and building management systems. MELINA MATRONI has been promoted to director of workforce & mar- keting 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 Can we create a CUSTOM magazine for you? Whether it's the celebration of a major anniversary or the opening of a new headquarters, Worcester Business Journal's Custom Publishing Division can help you create a custom magazine for your business. Our division's top flight team of writers and designers can help you tell your story – and make your business look great! Based on our unique publishing model, it's surprisingly affordable. Call WBJ Custom Corporate Project Director Christine Juetten at 508-755-8004 ext. 270. Worcester Business Journal WBJ Custom Publishing Division 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. Four commercial banking employees have been promoted at Country Bank, head- quartered 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 commer- cial 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 manage- ment firm out of Worcester. In these new capacities, Fuller will work with the com- pany's leadership team to pursue strategic growth efforts, enhance productivity, and promote client experiences while provid- ing 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 Advi- sors, both based in Boston. 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. W MARINA ABRAHAM TALLENA WIGGINS BEN LEONARD PAT O'HARA RYAN NAUMAN MARK DISTEFANO SAM PURSEY