Aaron Vega Named President, CEO of the Western Mass Economic Development Council
The former state representative will succeed Rick Sullivan, the EDC’s leader for 11 years
SPRINGFIELD—After a nationwide search that yielded over 100 applicants, the Board of Directors for the Western Mass Economic Development Council today named Aaron Vega—a Holyoke native known as a well-respected politician, convener and strategic growth engine—as its new president and CEO.
“I’m very excited,” Vega said, noting the screening process was lengthy and worthwhile. “For me now, this role makes total sense on my trajectory, but there’s no way I was planning this. I’m astonished and very thankful to be able to do important work in my home region.”
Flooded with ideas and a developing vision for the EDC, he looks forward to relationship-building, fostering trust and creating new supports and connections for all stakeholders.
“I will take what I’ve been doing in Holyoke to a bigger scale,” Vega said. “My plan is to use the first months of next year to be out there listening to mayors, planning directors, people in the business community, developers, manufacturers. Whether you do or don’t know me, you’re going to know me, and I’m anxious to talk to you next year.”
Succeeding Rick Sullivan
Vega is charged with carrying on the legacy of the successful Rick Sullivan, who has served the EDC for 11 years and will work his last day in the lead role on Dec. 31. Sullivan is credited with massive economic development in the region and, in the last years of his tenure, securing $70 million in state investments for food science, quantum computing and clean tech.
“I was part of the group that hired Rick,” said Charles L. D’Amour, chair of the Search Committee that recruited Vega as well as the executive chairman of the Board of Directors of Big Y Foods, Inc. and a member of the EDC. “My goal in this search, from the beginning, was to find someone who could build on Rick’s leadership and legacy of work and successes. I feel very good about the process and very good about Aaron being chosen to be our next leader. Things have come full circle.”
Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, who has worked closely with Vega for three years on matters of economic development in the city, said, “Aaron is the guy folks understand and respect and will come to the table for to work on strategy to get to an end goal. That makes him a good fit for the EDC role. Our region’s municipalities are vastly different. Securing their commitments through the process is a strength Aaron brought into our city. He will help make sure communities up and down the I91 corridor know the EDC is here to work with all of us.”
Background of a seasoned leader
Vega was a Holyoke City Councilor for four years before he was elected in 2012 to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 5th Hampden District, serving four terms.
Since January 2021, Vega has led the Office of Planning & Economic Development in Holyoke. He currently is the Board Chair for Mass Humanities and also serves on the boards for New England Public Media, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and MassHire Holyoke Career Center.
He lives in Holyoke with his wife, Debra, who is the artistic director for Broadway Brings Joy Musical Academy and board chair for Girls Inc. of the Valley. The Vegas are co-directors and instructors at Vega Yoga Mobile at Open Square.
The son of local activist Carlos Vega, who moved to Holyoke from Ecuador at the age of five, Aaron grew up in South Holyoke, living briefly in New Hampshire and graduating from Mascenic Regional High School in 1988. He attended Holyoke Community College and earned a dual bachelor’s degree from Keene State College in psychology and film studies.
In his first career, he worked as an editor on PBS documentaries and for independent filmmakers. Most notably, he worked on several films with Ken Burns, including on the JAZZ series.
Vega’s hopes, goals, vision
Top on Vega’s agenda in 2026 will be building new relationships, bringing people together and proving that he’s action-oriented and likes to get things done. “I’m a good convener, and I have a way of getting people on the same page. Finding things we can agree on and build on is a skillset I bring to the table,” he said.
He wants to focus on supporting municipalities and their economic development officers so when the EDC invites new businesses into the area, there are mechanisms in place for assuring they can leap the hurdles of site planning, zoning and special permitting. “We want to make sure we are inviting businesses and making the right connections so they have a smooth transition,” he said.
A second focus will be marketing the Western Mass hub and selling the region’s natural resources, entertainment and quality of life to businesses that visit. “You can live in a farmhouse in a Hilltown and be in Springfield in 20 minutes,” he noted.
As a successful Latino in the region, Vega also wants to urge the Latino community to take ownership of their cities, become elected officials, open a business and make a home here. “My message to all young people, and definitely the Latino community is: Your home is here,” he said, musing that perhaps the region needs a youth ambassador group.
“I want the youth to have a voice in the future of this area,” he added.
The comprehensive search process
Lindauer, an executive search firm with experience in Western Mass, led the nation-wide search for the EDC’s next CEO, supporting an eight-member panel with D’Amour in the lead; he was proud that the team represented a good cross-section of key sectors in the region.
Those Search Committee members were: Dominick Ianno, head of state government relations at Mass Mutual; Kristin Carlson of Peerless Precision Manufacturing; Michael Vedovelli, director of community relations at Eversource; Daniel Keenan, regional vice president advocacy and government relations, Trinity Health of New England; Harry Dumay, president of Elms College; and Megan Burke, CEO, Community Foundation of Western Mass. Gus Kim, vice president and legal counsel for MGM Springfield and the EDC’s board chair, served as an ad hoc member.
The process began in the spring with the committee outlining the attributes it sought in the next leader, with strength in economic development, deep knowledge of the region and proven leadership chief among them.
Lindauer posted the position on its own website as well as on LinkedIn, Indeed, MassLive and other platforms that ensured a wide-reaching and comprehensive candidate pool.
Over 100 applicants responded from Washington to Maine, all of New England, New York and in the Midwest; there was also an internal candidate. D’Amour said the committee culled that initial group down to 13 whose resumes were scrutinized. Seven candidates were interviewed by the committee, four were invited back for more in-depth questioning, and two were finalists also interviewed by the EDC’s Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee chose Vega as the candidate to put before the full board, and his nomination was approved Monday at 10 a.m. by a vote of that panel.
“Aaron proved to be the stronger candidate with his level of experience both as a former legislative leader and current economic development champion, and he’s a small business owner,” D’Amour said. “He understands what it means to have a small business. In a region like ours, all of those things are important. There are the Big Y’s and the Mass Mutuals but the region is also made up of many small businesses and being able to understand all of those perspectives is important; that’s obviously something that Aaron brings to the table.”
Gus Kim, the EDC board chair, said every candidate brought a different set of skills and experiences. “That Aaron landed at the top speaks volumes on his experience, expertise and knowledge. The consensus was that he is solid across the board—the best candidate for the job. I applaud Aaron and look forward to working with him.”
Kim thanked D’Amour and the committee for countless hours of work and their commitment to the process. “They worked hard and diligently, and I also thank Lindauer for a thorough process and a wide palette, from which we could choose Aaron.”
What local leaders value about Vega
Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia and Vega aligned as Garcia’s bid for mayor was winding down in the fall of 2021, about six months into Vega’s role as director of Planning & Economic Development.
“There wasn’t a lot of internal leadership, and Aaron became the de facto go-to person, offering collaboration and facilitation,” Garcia said, noting that Vega became his right-hand guy, assembling his transition team with advisory committees focused on topics raised on the campaign trail. “Aaron helped me lean on those teams to help with that transition into my role.”
He added, “Aaron’s dedication, vision and leadership have been instrumental in shaping Holyoke’s growth and development. I am confident he will bring the same passion and innovative spirit to this new role, further strengthening our region’s economic future. We are proud to have him representing Western Massachusetts and look forward to seeing the positive impact he will continue to make.”
George Timmons, president of Holyoke Community College, said, “We wish our alum and friend Aaron Vega all the best as the new president and CEO of the Western Mass EDC. HCC is committed to the growth of our region and looks forward to a continuation of a comprehensive regional approach that will help all people find opportunity while advancing in this dynamic multicultural area. We look forward to our continued partnership with the EDC and the growth of the 413.”
Rick Sullivan said Vega is walking into a great opportunity in the region with a hugely supportive business community, board of directors and membership all focused on growing the Western Mass economy. “Aaron obviously has a professional lifetime of responsibility to the region, both politically and from an economic development lens, and I think he will do a great job,” he said.
