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.

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Sullivan served the EDC for 11 years, bringing economic growth and opportunity to the region

SPRINGFIELD—Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of the Western Mass Economic Development Council, announced his retirement this morning at a meeting of the organization’s Board of Directors. His last day in the role will be Dec. 31.

Sullivan came to the EDC as an already-seasoned leader in Massachusetts, and in his 11-year tenure, he focused on growing the organization and its influence with statewide leaders and policy makers. Programming has also greatly expanded, membership has doubled, and the region’s economics are considerably stronger. 

Most recently, Sullivan led the EDC in publishing a white paper early in 2024, outlining where to make multi-million-dollar investments in the region, which led to a recent $70 million award through the state’s Economic Development Bond Bill. The region is now investing in food science, quantum computing, and clean tech. The award was the largest in the region’s history.

“I’m proud of the work that we’ve done,” Sullivan said. “I’m always very mindful of the fact that we’re a team. I’ve been fortunate to have supportive staff here and a board that is really committed to growing the economy of the region. The strength of the EDC is about the people who sit around the table.”

Sullivan added that he is excited to be retiring and plans to travel and spend more time with family, but as with all new things, there is also some trepidation. “It’s a new chapter, and there’s always that anxiety of something new and what retirement will bring,” he said.

Leadership career spanned decades

A partner in a law firm early on in his career, Sullivan was mayor of Westfield from 1994 to 2007, and served as president of the Massachusetts Mayors Association in 1998.

Before coming on board as president and CEO of the EDC, he was chief of staff in the Massachusetts Governor’s Office in 2014 and 2015 and held leadership roles with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Sullivan is 66 and lives in Westfield with his wife, Lisa Oleksak Sullivan, a realtor and Coldwell Banker top agent. They have three children and eight grandchildren. “I could not have done this work if I didn’t have a great support system at home,” Sullivan added. 

Leaders across the state pay homage

Sullivan and his work with the EDC are well-respected across the state. After learning the news of Sullivan’s retirement, leaders in a broad spectrum of industries across EDC’s core region—Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties—and in Boston, said Sullivan is a strong leader, a master convener and collaborator who is dedicated to Western Mass.

Christina Royal, chair of the EDC’s Board of Directors, said Sullivan was gift to the EDC and the community. He came on board in January 2015, “when the EDC was a much smaller version of itself,” Royal said. “It is a testament to Rick’s leadership, political acumen, and commitment to this region that it is so hard to think about how we begin to find a successor.” 

She said Sullivan has contributed in significant ways—expanding the vision of the EDC to strengthen businesses, enhance workforce and economic development, and prioritize equity in the initiatives of the EDC; actively partnering in the creation of the Congressman Richard Neal Cyber Security Center in Springfield; supporting the development of a new, three-year strategic plan that launched in January 2025; and engaging stakeholders, supporting regional initiatives and legislation that positively impacts Western Mass in countless areas.

“This is just a small part of a long list of accomplishments for which Rick has led or was involved in in recent years,” Royal stressed. “His career spanning a decade has elevated our region, created more financial stability and enhanced partnerships with Boston and Worcester that have put Western Mass on the map.”  

Charles L. D’Amour, executive chairman of the Board of Directors of Big Y Foods, Inc. and a member of the EDC board, said Sullivan’s dedication to the region has been evident since he was mayor of Westfield. “His ability to collaborate, to convene business leaders and state leaders and municipal leaders has really proven out to be very effective and to really benefit the region,” D’Amour said. “A culmination of Rick’s work came about a year ago with the publication of the white paper that focused the region on key areas for growth and development. Rick understands the region’s challenges and its assets. We’re going to miss Rick.

“Rick has done a great job of pushing the EDC forward in such a way that we are recognized not only locally but on the state level and nationally,” D’Amour added. “Rick’s also done a great job of bringing more members onto the EDC board. That speaks volumes. People believe in his leadership.”

Governor Maura Healey said Sullivan has dedicated his career to advancing economic growth in cities and towns across Massachusetts, especially in Western Mass. “He has been a great partner in our work to support local businesses, create jobs and grow Massachusetts’ leadership in cutting-edge industries,” Healey said. “We wish him the absolute best in his well-deserved retirement, and we look forward to working with the next leader of the EDC to continue to build on his legacy.”

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said the news of Sullivan’s retirement is bittersweet. “Only mayors know that you have to get things done yesterday, and it was a pleasure to work with Rick. I appreciate his dedicated economic development efforts for Western Massachusetts, and I wish my friend and his family good health and continued success in all his future endeavors.”

Dominick Ianno, head of State Government Relations at MassMutual, congratulated Sullivan on his impressive career and his dedication to the region. “Rick has always been a strong voice in advocating for Western Massachusetts. Whether as mayor, a senior state government official or the head of the EDC, he has always been a champion for a vibrant and prosperous region. We will miss his leadership and wish him well in his retirement.”

Javier A. Reyes, chancellor of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, said Sullivan is leaving a profound legacy of collaboration and advocacy for the Western Massachusetts region. “UMass is proud to be a partner in the work of the Western Massachusetts EDC, and we are grateful for Rick’s leadership over the past 10 plus years,” he said.

Mary-Beth Cooper, president of Springfield College, said Sullivan has been an incredible partner with higher education. “Rick Sullivan’s leadership has played a vital role in strengthening our region’s economy and fostering community growth. His dedication, vision and ability to unite people have made a lasting impact,” she said. “I want to express my sincere gratitude for his years of service and wish him all the best in this next chapter.”

Search for new leader has launched

Royal said D’Amour has been asked to chair the search committee that will seek a new leader for the EDC. 

The EDC Executive Committee has hired Lindauer, an executive search firm with experience in Western Mass, to lead a nation-wide search for the next CEO. 

Royal said Lindauer will first hold feedback sessions with key constituents on the priorities of the position and begin to advertise no later than May, conducting early interviews with candidates before making recommendations to the search committee, which will also conduct a series of interviews.

“I’m hoping we can make an announcement in September or October with a projected start date no later than January 1, 2026,” Royal said. “That’s a pretty good timeline.”

She added that Sullivan has such a broad range of skills, which you don’t normally find in one person, that the task of finding a new leader is daunting. “That’s why we’re engaging a search firm—to help us find another major unicorn, one I feel the EDC landed on when they landed Rick 10 years ago,” she said. “I’m constantly amazed at how many strengths he brings to the position.”

Looking ahead

Sullivan said the next leader of the EDC has exciting growth opportunities in the food science, quantum computing, cyber security and manufacturing sectors. “There’s a lot of good synergy out there that will come together with new energy and vision and grow the initial catalyzing work that we’ve done in those sectors,” he added.

Continued success will come through population growth, diversification of economies and focusing on becoming cutting-edge in one sector, which he predicts could be food science in this region, where the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, is a world leader. 

“It’s important to have some centers of excellence that you’re nationally and internationally known for and those opportunities are right here,” he said. “It won’t happen because it makes sense. People will have to work at it every day to make it a reality.”

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